The Powder River Play

[DeltaBoy]

OK I have heard about this play all my life. But no one has ever told me the formation. All I know is that it was a 66 yard pass play to Buddy Benson to beat Old Miss.  Can someone enlighten me about these piece of Hog history.

[THROWITDEEP]

I have heard about that, but do not know the formation.  I'm sure it was some altered single wing formation, but I am only guessing.

[oldfart]

I have heard that it was like  a sweep right and then a long throw back to the left.......

[ThisLittlePiggie]

OK I have heard about this play all my life. But no one has ever told me the formation. All I know is that it was a 66 yard pass play to Buddy Benson to beat Old Miss.  Can someone enlighten me about these piece of Hog history.

OK, here you go. Pardon the bad quality of the photos but I made them off a video of the '54 game, which was probably copied from a third generation film that was at least 55 or 60 years old.

The Hogs lined up in Bowden Wyatt's Tennessee Single Wing Offense with a direct snap to Buddy Bob Benson who was known far and wide as Arkansas' "running tailback" as opposed to George Walker who was the more accomplished passer. Preston Carpenter was lined up at his blocking back position and the fullback was about one step and to the side of Benson.

Benson took the snap and started his sprint to his left suckering in Ole Miss safety Houston Patton. Carpenter brush blocked his man and slid through to the outside and into the OM secondary running right by the OM safety Houston Patton who had taken the bait of the run by Benson. But Buddy Bob pulled up an found Carpenter alone down field and lofted a 30 yard pass that PC caught on the run (you've seen the pics I'm sure) and flew down the left sideline and into the endzone. Here is the play.

[Tejano Jawg]

Great job. That's amazing. Always heard of it...never knew what it was all about.

[GorillaJMonsoon]

Awesome!

Buddy Bob is my great uncle.  I got to sit in the locker room and on the sidelines during a few Ouachita Baptist games when he coached there and it was the coolest thing for a kid to be a part of.  It was a big deal.  His son Gary was a ref in the NBA and he would show me tapes of him ejecting Brakley and others.  He was really cool also and would let me borrow his car when I was in highschool.  Great people and I am honored to be in their family. 

[ThisLittlePiggie]

Awesome!

Buddy Bob is my great uncle.  I got to sit in the locker room and on the sidelines during a few Ouachita Baptist games when he coached there and it was the coolest thing for a kid to be a part of.  It was a big deal.  His son Gary was a ref in the NBA and he would show me tapes of him ejecting Brakley and others.  He was really cool also and would let me borrow his car when I was in highschool.  Great people and I am honored to be in their family. 

I knew I had read here that someone was a relative of Buddy Bob. BBB had one of the coolest names of all Razorbacks IMO.

[Hong Kong Sooey]

OK I have heard about this play all my life. But no one has ever told me the formation. All I know is that it was a 66 yard pass play to Buddy Benson to beat Old Miss.  Can someone enlighten me about these piece of Hog history.

OK, here you go. Pardon the bad quality of the photos but I made them off a video of the '54 game, which was probably copied from a third generation film that was at least 55 or 60 years old.

The Hogs lined up in Bowden Wyatt's Tennessee Single Wing Offense with a direct snap to Buddy Bob Benson who was known far and wide as Arkansas' "running tailback" as opposed to George Walker who was the more accomplished passer. Preston Carpenter was lined up at his blocking back position and the fullback was about one step and to the side of Benson.

Benson took the snap and started his sprint to his left suckering in Ole Miss safety Houston Patton. Carpenter brush blocked his man and slid through to the outside and into the OM secondary running right by the OM safety Houston Patton who had taken the bait of the run by Benson. But Buddy Bob pulled up an found Carpenter alone down field and lofted a 30 yard pass that PC caught on the run (you've seen the pics I'm sure) and flew down the left sideline and into the endzone. Here is the play.

Outstanding post.  Thanks for your greeat contribution.

[ThisLittlePiggie]

Thanks for the nice comments guys. What is amazing about the video of the highlites of the 1954 game is that when Carpenter makes the catch, probably only 5 to 10 yards away from the left sideline, the camera caught ONLY the ball in the air but the catch itself was NOT captured on the film. Suddenly Carpenter comes tearing out of the shadows tightroping the sideline with those desperate Rebels in hot pursuit. Oh by the way, Houston Patton was not one of the guys chasing him as captioned above. It was Eagle Day, the Reb QB and a star on defense along with Billy Kinard, who was later a Broyles assistant at Arkansas and a head coach of the Rebels after John Vaught retired.

[HeathWimp]

Maybe we should run this play against Wisconsin, with McFadden and Jones.  Might be interesting.

[DeltaBoy]

Thanks for the infor I had wanted to know this for years!

[HogsGranpa]

Thanks for the nice comments guys. What is amazing about the video of the highlites of the 1954 game is that when Carpenter makes the catch, probably only 5 to 10 yards away from the left sideline, the camera caught ONLY the ball in the air but the catch itself was NOT captured on the film. Suddenly Carpenter comes tearing out of the shadows tightroping the sideline with those desperate Rebels in hot pursuit. Oh by the way, Houston Patton was not one of the guys chasing him as captioned above. It was Eagle Day, the Reb QB and a star on defense along with Billy Kinard, who was later a Broyles assistant at Arkansas and a head coach of the Rebels after John Vaught retired.

Oh, I remember that play so well.  Buddy Bob was not a starter, but was considered the fastest running back on the Arkansas team, so Ole Miss knew it was run.

Both teams were undefeated, and Ole Miss was ranked 4th in the nation by the AP.

Now my memory fails, but I believe Arkansas was ranked 7th,

That was the year that put Razorback football in the national spotlight.

I believe Ole Miss was picked to win by 6.  I was 14, and I predicted to my friends Ark would win by 6.

That play was the only score that day, and Arkansas won by 6-0 at War Memorial Stadium in LR.

After the score, I was listening on the radio, for a full minute, there was nothing but loud cheering on the radio, as Arkansas scored in the 4th qtr, with about 3.50 left in the game.

I think the attendance that day was 33,000, and was a sell out.

[HOG_INSURANCE]

If we lined up like that today, the defense would be soooo confused.  There are tons of variations you could run from that set.

[Hog74]

The expression on the defender's face is priceless.

[PaleHorse]

another pic.

[ThisLittlePiggie]

After re-reading this thread, here is another thought that just popped into my head about the "Powder River Play". Coach Bowden Wyatt came to the U of A from the University of Wyoming where he had turned a moribund football program around after about 40 years of losing football coaching records.

The play known as the "Powder River" got it's name from one of Wyatt's assistants who noted that the Powder River ran nearby the campus of the University of Wyoming and that it ran "about 6 inches deep and a mile wide".
The name seem appropo for the play which utilized most of the width of a football field.

[moses_007]

Guys that's a truly awesome piece of Razorback history.  I didn't start watching the hogs until Broyles' second season, in 1959, when the Hogs beat TCU 3-0 at War Memorial Stadium. :razorback:

[ThisLittlePiggie]

Guys that's a truly awesome piece of Razorback history.  I didn't start watching the hogs until Broyles' second season, in 1959, when the Hogs beat TCU 3-0 at War Memorial Stadium. :razorback:

Freddie Akers kicked the game-winner in the rain. Started a streak of 20 some odd straight wins over the Frogs. That's when the Hogs and Steers took control of the SWC.

[GorillaJMonsoon]

After re-reading this thread, here is another thought that just popped into my head about the "Powder River Play". Coach Bowden Wyatt came to the U of A from the University of Wyoming where he had turned a moribund football program around after about 40 years of losing football coaching records.

The play known as the "Powder River" got it's name from one of Wyatt's assistants who noted that the Powder River ran nearby the campus of the University of Wyoming and that it ran "about 6 inches deep and a mile wide".
The name seem appropo for the play which utilized most of the width of a football field.

Actually, Buddy Bob Benson, who threw the pass, was called the Powder River runner by Wyatt because he would run the entire width of the field just to get another yard.  That tendency reminded Wyatt of the Powder River which was, as you said, a mile wide but only 6 inches deep.

[ThisLittlePiggie]

After re-reading this thread, here is another thought that just popped into my head about the "Powder River Play". Coach Bowden Wyatt came to the U of A from the University of Wyoming where he had turned a moribund football program around after about 40 years of losing football coaching records.

The play known as the "Powder River" got it's name from one of Wyatt's assistants who noted that the Powder River ran nearby the campus of the University of Wyoming and that it ran "about 6 inches deep and a mile wide".
The name seem appropo for the play which utilized most of the width of a football field.

Actually, Buddy Bob Benson, who threw the pass, was called the Powder River runner by Wyatt because he would run the entire width of the field just to get another yard.  That tendency reminded Wyatt of the Powder River which was, as you said, a mile wide but only 6 inches deep.

I was close.

[GorillaJMonsoon]

You still get a cigar!  The only reason that I even know about it is because Buddy Bob is a relative of mine. Others know much more about it than I do.

[Uncle Jed]

The game was a few years before my time.   Yes, the Rebs were ranked number one at the time.  I dont think we were ranked at all.   My Dad has told me the story many time.   He was there.   Said that when "the catch" was made the stadium erupted like he has never seen it since.   

BTW, I love those helmets.    Must have been back in the days when they played smash mouth football.   

[Bacons Rebellion]

For those of you who still want to see the Powder River play, I happened across it this evening. If you don't want to watch the whole game (which you really should), skip to about 18:30:

[LRHawg]

I have nothing to add, just wanted to say my dad played college ball for Buddy Bob and he was a great man and friend to our family.

[pignparadise]

I have a picture of the powder river play autographed by Buddy Benson and Preston Carpenter hanging in my sports room.

[40YrHogFan]

In watching the game film it is interesting that the players never lead with their heads in blocking or tackling. That was probably due to the lack of a face mask.

[DeltaBoy]

It was a great play and win in Hog History!

[Bacons Rebellion]

In watching the game film it is interesting that the players never lead with their heads in blocking or tackling. That was probably due to the lack of a face mask.

I found it interesting that down offensive linemen did not have to stay set. They could move and shift along the line without the modern "false start" whistle.

The only thing I could think was...

Ray Domnguez, you played 60 years too late.

[jdevers]

Ray Domnguez, you played 60 years too late.

Ray would have been a monster back in the day  =)  I would happily wish him back on the team right now though to be honest.

[DeltaBoy]

Yep I miss the older rules.

[ocsm158]

I found it interesting the number of posters that have been duh-duh-duh-deleted in this old post.

[urkillnmesmalls]

I have a picture of the powder river play autographed by Buddy Benson and Preston Carpenter hanging in my sports room.

Forget about that.  Who's the gal in the picture?  Smo  Kin   

[Fayettechill14]

I have a picture of the powder river play autographed by Buddy Benson and Preston Carpenter hanging in my sports room.

You win

[Anon2]

Got home from Korea in November, 1994 and bought tickets to Cotton Bowl.  Took a date and another couple in my new 1955 Ford Fairlane, Aqua and White, beautiful car.  Thought I was in Hog heaven.
Still have the program and plan to give it to his grandson, Benson, who is QB for OBU if he doesn't already have one.

[pignparadise]

Forget about that.  Who's the gal in the picture?  Smo  Kin   

girlfriend

[urkillnmesmalls]

girlfriend

Nice work there...  No offense I hope. 

Thanks for sharing the picture.  And the signed Powder River play photo too.    

[pignparadise]

Even a

Nice work there...  No offense I hope. 

Nice work there...  No offense I hope. 

Thanks for sharing the picture.  And the signed Powder River play photo too.    

Even a blind hog finds a FOX once in a while!

[12247]

Just read this thread for the very first time.  Admit i was totally unaware of this play in history. 

Now someone help me.  I was able, barely, to start my senior year of 64/65 on the High School basketball team.  There was a Buddy Bob Benson who I learned was pretty famous ( I didn't knnow why) that reffed some of our BB games.  This has got to be the same Benson, right. 

[pignparadise]

Just read this thread for the very first time.  Admit i was totally unaware of this play in history. 

Now someone help me.  I was able, barely, to start my senior year of 64/65 on the High School basketball team.  There was a Buddy Bob Benson who I learned was pretty famous ( I didn't knnow why) that reffed some of our BB games.  This has got to be the same Benson, right. 

yes I believe so. In fact his son was an NBA  ref.

[Root66]

I found it interesting the number of posters that have been duh-duh-duh-deleted in this old post.

ThisLittlePiggie is yours truly. I was posting under that name after my 21st or maybe my 38th trip to time out courtesy of the management. Those bouncers were tough back in those days, as you can tell by the deleted accounts.

[Root66]

Got home from Korea in November, 1994 and bought tickets to Cotton Bowl.  Took a date and another couple in my new 1955 Ford Fairlane, Aqua and White, beautiful car.  Thought I was in Hog heaven.
Still have the program and plan to give it to his grandson, Benson, who is QB for OBU if he doesn't already have one.

Man it took you 40 years to get home from Korea? Wow. What did you do, swim home?

[Fayettechill14]

Man it took you 40 years to get home from Korea? Wow. What did you do, swim home?

+1

[urkillnmesmalls]

Man it took you 40 years to get home from Korea? Wow. What did you do, swim home?

  +1   Although, I have to admit I felt a little bad about laughing when it's even remotely close to a VFW who served our country.  Still...pretty funny stuff.  At least he got back just in time to see the Hogs win the NC in basketball though!   :razorback:

[Anon2]

Man it took you 40 years to get home from Korea? Wow. What did you do, swim home?

Got home from Korea in November, 1954 and bought tickets to Cotton Bowl.  Took a date and another couple in my new 1955 Ford Fairlane, Aqua and White, beautiful car.  Thought I was in Hog heaven.
Still have the program and plan to give it to his grandson, Benson, who is QB for OBU if he doesn't already have one.

[Anon2]

It's bad when you're the only one on Hogville that make mistakes but it helps when Jerks like you two bring it to my attention.

[Root66]

I knew that. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to leave that be. Thank you for your service to our country. Too bad we didn't finish North Korea off back then and too bad the Enola Gay didn't make one more flight over Pyongyang.

[Root66]

It's bad when you're the only one on Hogville that make mistakes but it helps when Jerks like you two bring it to my attention.

Please accept our apologies. I especially was wrong.

[urkillnmesmalls]

It's bad when you're the only one on Hogville that make mistakes but it helps when Jerks like you two bring it to my attention.

Whoa man...we've ALL done that sort of thing.  Please, in all seriousness, don't take that wrong.  Some of the funniest moments on Hogville are from mistakes in typing or syntax.  If it offended you, I am genuinely sorry.   

I admit I felt creepy about laughing about it, because there are some POW's who never came home from many of our foreign wars.  I am sincere when I say thank you for your service, and there was nothing harmful intended by that comment.  I've done MUCH worse than that on message boards.   

[Anon2]

Let's just say all three of us were wrong and call it even.  Just a little tired when I saw those remarks. Have done the same thing myself when I see a misspelled word or someone that used I instead of me.
I'm really concerned about our military and civilians in South Korea now with the little guy in charge in N. Korea.
Peace.