I just Ken Hatfield

[ocsm158]

Saw Ken Hatfield eating breakfast yesterday at Isabella in HSV. He looks like he could still play. Probably overall my favorite hogs coach to date.

[RagingHawgOn]

I loved Hatfield, too.

[nchogg]

I also liked Coach Hatfield.

[DeltaBoy]

I meet him several  times at FCA events back in the 80's . He was always a super nice man.
Glad to hear HE is doing well.

[hawg IQ]

As a person, he was/is one of the best, but the wishbone was like watching paint dry. I wrote him a letter once asking how he could make his offense more exciting to watch. He replied with a " you go be a fan and I'll go be a coach" answer. So that what I done and we all know what he done.


I like Ken Hatfield, just think he needs to do what he's doing and I'm still a hog fan !

[Thunderhog Jr]

 :razorback:

I lived across the street and 2 doors down from him on College St in Helena back when he played.
He was always nice to us annoying little kids who idolized him because he was a Razorback..

:razorback:

[hogcard1964]

Good man.

[The Hawg Marshal]

He was a great Razorback. Not my favorite coach though.

[ChitownHawg]

Saw Ken Hatfield eating breakfast yesterday at Isabella in HSV. He looks like he could still play. Probably overall my favorite hogs coach to date.

Was our coach when I was a student. Our bowl record was crap, but man it was fun rocking the stadium during the season.

[code red]

I like winning so I like Hatfield.  Super human being and profound Christian.  What's not to like?

[goodguytex]

He's a really great human being,  and the offense he ran at the time was very successful. The Hogs won a lot of games with him as HC. He didnt learn how to adapt his offense to fit the changing times of college football. That inability to adapt ended his coaching career. But his character is undeniably something all should respect.

[oldfart]

has he remarried? i know the loss of his wife was a crushing blow to all who knew her...

[longtimeHogfan]

When we were living in Florida he came to our part of the state on a recruiting trip from Clemson one time.  Saw him in a restaurant down there, said hi, shook his hand, visited.  Thanked him for his time at Arkansas.  Very approachable.  And he remembers that encounter 'cause I saw him in Fayetteville last year, reminded him of our chance meeting and he asked how I'd liked the jumbo shrimp in that restaurant. 

[Vantage 8 dude]

has he remarried? i know the loss of his wife was a crushing blow to all who knew her...

I think I saw something recently that indicated he had. Yeah, I remember when Sandy (?) his first wife passed away. It really hit him hard. Good man as well.

[Biggus Piggus]

Beat a lot of bad football teams. Lost too many of his games against legitimate opponents. That is why Ken Hatfield was unpopular when he left Arkansas. And he was that.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

Beat a lot of bad football teams. Lost too many of his games against legitimate opponents. That is why Ken Hatfield was unpopular when he left Arkansas. And he was that.

There's some truth to that, also a lot of Broyles fans that disliked him immensely and would rather have hired JJ.

If you talked to 10 people that disliked Hatfield, you'd probably get 10 answers. IMO.

[ChitownHawg]

Beat a lot of bad football teams. Lost too many of his games against legitimate opponents. That is why Ken Hatfield was unpopular when he left Arkansas. And he was that.

55-17 with two straight conference titles. That was good enough for me to be happy.

[Birminghog]

I like winning so I like Hatfield.  Super human being and profound Christian.  What's not to like?

I personally like that Martha Harp fresh fried chicken. And those Martha Harp rolls are deLISHious!

[(notOM)Rebel123]

has he remarried? i know the loss of his wife was a crushing blow to all who knew her...

Yes he has.

[warriorlion]

We got lucky enough to run in to him and his wife at the Texas bowl  a few years ago.  He was standing in the crowd waiting on band to enter the stadium and I asked my son who was 13 if he wanted a picture with one of the greatest hog players and coaches of all time.  Coach loved being there and talking to the fans and I apologized to his wife for bringing all of that attention on him cause no one around had recognized him but she said he loved talking to fans and he took pictures with everyone that wanted one. He still loves the hogs and he is still one of my all time favorite coaches.

[East Clintwood]

As a person, he was/is one of the best, but the wishbone was like watching paint dry. I wrote him a letter once asking how he could make his offense more exciting to watch. He replied with a " you go be a fan and I'll go be a coach" answer. So that what I done and we all know what he done.


I like Ken Hatfield, just think he needs to do what he's doing and I'm still a hog fan !

His offense at Air Force was innovative and exciting.  He forgot all of that when he moved to Arkansas and just kept the boring parts.

[Hollywood870]

My favorite coach of the Hogs.

[nchogg]

People don't talk about all the influence Coach Broyles had on our football team once he became AD. He always had his hand in the cookie jar. I liked him as our football coach but did not like his meddling in the football program. He did that with every coach he hired. Yes opinions are like AH's, everybody has one.

[The_Iceman]

I wonder how many newer Hogville people don't understand the threads Title.

[Farmer Hogget]

He was a great Razorback. Not my favorite coach though.

OH, gosh, I know what you mean. . .he only won what?  80% of his games!  What a horrible coach!

[Inhogswetrust]

I like winning so I like Hatfield.  Super human being and profound Christian.  What's not to like?

Overall nice guy but stubborn as a mule and did not like the off field stuff required of a coach.

[PORKULATOR]

Good coach, great Hog, not even top 4 on the list.
Maybe/probably 6.

[threeNout]

Beat a lot of bad football teams. Lost too many of his games against legitimate opponents. That is why Ken Hatfield was unpopular when he left Arkansas. And he was that.

How different that would have been had Atwater caught that easy interception in Miami.

At the peak of what he had built, we did what many thought was impossible and outplayed the #1 team on their turf,  so easily could have been 11-0 playing for an NC.  So I can't challenge your statement, but it deserves that side-note.

Hatfield was a GREAT coach, but like every other Arkansas coach from Broyles on, ending up getting inexplicably snake bit on the largest stage.

[Boardon Hamsay]

I wonder how many newer Hogville people don't understand the threads Title.

10-12, minimally.

[Snizzzo]

Excellent coach.  His teams had talent, but they were also physical, hard-nosed and aggressive.  Though not on par with what the SEC has been, the SWC in the 80's was a pretty solid league with good coaches. 

[1highhog]

Excellent coach.  His teams had talent, but they were also physical, hard-nosed and aggressive.  Though not on par with what the SEC has been, the SWC in the 80's was a pretty solid league with good coaches. 

Heck yeah they were solid teams, they were all cheating bad and SMU who was at one time one of the best team in College Football got hit with the "Death Penalty" because of their incessant cheating.

[Unnamed Source]

Good coach. GREAT MAN.

[Iwastherein1969]

didn't Kenny "croot" Barry Foster, James Rouse, Quinn Grovey, Wayne Martin and Steve Atwater to Arkansas ?  I'd say that's much better than what's going on right now up there as far as "crooting" goes

[Snizzzo]

Heck yeah they were solid teams, they were all cheating bad and SMU who was at one time one of the best team in College Football got hit with the "Death Penalty" because of their incessant cheating.

Correct, they were cheating every bit as much as teams in this league do today.

Hatfield won the SWC in 88 and 89, and got cheated out of it in 84.

There are a lot of great highlights via youtube of those teams btw, pretty enjoyable watching and remembering those teams. 

[hobhog]

Beat a lot of bad football teams. Lost too many of his games against legitimate opponents. That is why Ken Hatfield was unpopular when he left Arkansas. And he was that.

So there is no Razorback coach you like. Got it.

[The Hawg Marshal]

OH, gosh, I know what you mean. . .he only won what?  80% of his games!  What a horrible coach!

Never said he was a horrible coach. Just not my favorite.

[Snizzzo]

Hatfield wasn't alot of fan's favorite.  Winning only 10 games a year wasn't good enough. 

[Atlhogfan1]

Great man.  Great Hog. Was not a great coach.  Won a lot of games against a dying conference.  Got mad at Broyles stopped recruiting and put our program at a huge disadvantage and then bailed.  Took us years to dig out of Hatfield's scorched earth. 

[The Hawg Marshal]

Coach Hatfield is no different from most coaches. When a coach leaves a university it's usually not on a good note. Some people will remember them in a good light others won't, but if they are leaving it's  usually a sign that things were not great when they left for whatever reason.

[threeNout]

Great man.  Great Hog. Was not a great coach. 

The "good" versus "great" coach is getting kicked around a lot in this thread I see.

Depends on the curve you are using.  On a national scale, he was "good".  By Arkansas standards, I think he was a bit better than that, and the numbers back that up.

The idea the SWC was a "bad conference" with a lot of bad teams I don't think is a good argument at all. Having lived my teen and early adult years through the last 15 years of the SWC gives a better perspective, then just looking back on it with the modern game as a guide.

Parity was not where it is today for ANY conference.. The truth is the SWC was as good as any conference right before it broke up,   Every conference had a few heavyweights and then everyone else, just like the SWC did.  Texas, Arkansas were heavyweights for decades, and later SMU and Houston would be as well, with teams like Tech, A&M, and Baylor capable of having good years occasionally.

To say the SWC was weaker than everyone else, and therefore Hatfield winning back to back conference titles wasn't worth much, is too simple minded a statement and lacks proper perspective IMO.

[DeltaBoy]

Most fans today would be tickled to death to win 10 games a year like we did with Ken Hatfield.

[Biggus Piggus]

So there is no Razorback coach you like. Got it.

ROFL. Who the Frank are you?

[prattville pig]

loved to watch the Arkansas and Houston games

[Atlhogfan1]

The "good" versus "great" coach is getting kicked around a lot in this thread I see.

Depends on the curve you are using.  On a national scale, he was "good".  By Arkansas standards, I think he was a bit better than that, and the numbers back that up.

The idea the SWC was a "bad conference" with a lot of bad teams I don't think is a good argument at all. Having lived my teen and early adult years through the last 15 years of the SWC gives a better perspective, then just looking back on it with the modern game as a guide.

Parity was not where it is today for ANY conference.. The truth is the SWC was as good as any conference right before it broke up,   Every conference had a few heavyweights and then everyone else, just like the SWC did.  Texas, Arkansas were heavyweights for decades, and later SMU and Houston would be as well, with teams like Tech, A&M, and Baylor capable of having good years occasionally.

To say the SWC was weaker than everyone else, and therefore Hatfield winning back to back conference titles wasn't worth much, is too simple minded a statement and lacks proper perspective IMO.

Why would you assume I'm looking back using the modern game as a guide?  I was there too. 


1984 SWC - SMU only team finished ranked (8th).  Everyone else 7 wins or less.
1985 SWC - A&M finished ranked 6th 10-2 and won the conference.  Hogs 2nd and ranked 12th.  BU 3rd and 17th nationally.
1986 SWC - A&M, Hogs, BU all finished 9-3 and ranked 13th, 15th and 12th.  We of course were embarrassed in the Orange Bowl. Wasn't even competitive.  Only ranked team we played all regular season at the time of the game was A&M.
1987 SWC - Only one team finished ranked again in AP - A&M at #10.  Texas at 7-5 finished 20th in Coaches.  Hogs managed to get 2nd but that didn't cover up 51-7(which I was in person to witness) or another bowl loss to a mediocre team (UGa in Liberty which I also witnessed).
1988 SWC - Hogs only team which finished ranked - 12th.  UH on probation.  Did almost upset Miami before setting bowl records for futility. 
1989 SWC - 3 teams finished ranked - Hogs 13th, UH 14th, A&M 20th. 

During the Hatfield years, the best a team from the SWC finished nationally was A&M in 85 at 6th.
3 times only 1 SWC was in the final AP poll with the Hogs having one of those.
The highest a SWC team finished ranked over his last 4 seasons was A&M at 10. 

Texas during the Hatfield years:

7-4-1
8-4
5-6
7-5
4-7
5-6

[Inhogswetrust]

Hatfield wasn't alot of fan's favorite.  Winning only 10 games a year wasn't good enough. 

Some fans understand that winning is not the only part of the job.

[longtimeHogfan]

Ken didn't always play nice with the powers that be.  He wasn't into the politics of his position.

[Inhogswetrust]

Ken didn't always play nice with the powers that be.  He wasn't into the politics of his position.

Unfortunately for him that is a big part of the job.

[jvanhorn]

Unfortunately for him that is a big part of the job.

Well if you are Nick Saban you don't have to play nice with the powers that be.  You are the powers that be.

[oldbear]

I had the privilege of sitting with Coach Hatfield and Coach Horton at a Conway High School game, watching Tim play in the 80's. Great and unforgettable night with two incredible individuals. I think they were both great coaches and continue to be great men.

[Inhogswetrust]

Well if you are Nick Saban you don't have to play nice with the powers that be.  You are the powers that be.

Only partly. Some coaches have though the same thing only to lose their job. One of our former coaches did at Clemson and it wasn't Hatfield. It was Ford and he had won a NC.