Morris idolized Broyles as up-and-coming coach

In this Dec. 6, 1975, file photo, Arkansas coach Frank Broyles is carried from the field by players Teddy Barnes, left, and Richard LaFargue (52) following his team's 30-6 NCAA college football game victory over Texas A&M in Little Rock. (AP Photo/Ferd Kaufman, File)

FAYETTEVILLE — As of his 1 p.m. Tuesday press conference, Arkansas coach Chad Morris hadn’t seen the 14-minute film honoring the legacy of the late Frank Broyles.

But he certainly intends to watch it this evening.

Broyles, who coached Arkansas to its only football national championship and later served as the Razorbacks’ athletics director for 34 years, died one year ago today at age 92 after suffering from Alzheimer’s, the disease from which his first wife, Barbara, died 13 years earlier.

Written by Larry Foley, professor and chairman of Arkansas’ School of Journalism, narrated by Scott Bull, who played quarterback for Broyles, and executive produced by senior associate athletic director Kevin Trainor, the short documentary titled Frank Broyles, Arkansas Legend, details his football career, longtime service to Razorbacks sports and the role he played in uniting the fan base.

“Obviously, we know the impact coach has had not just at this university but the entire state and across college football,” Morris said. “ … I had an opportunity, just in passing, to shake his hand, and I thought that was the coolest thing.”

Morris said he did not know Broyles personally, but bumped into him on occasion at coaching clinics he attended coming up in the profession.

Broyles was a coach he thought a lot of growing up in Texas. Watching the Razorbacks and Southwest Conference football was appointment television.

“As a high school coach you always idolize different coaches across (the country) and you admired the work that they did,” he added. “Coach (Broyles) was one of those guys.”

Since his hiring in December, Morris has made it a priority to recruit the top talent out of Texas. So far, he has gained the signature or commitment of 11 Texas prospects and more are likely on the way as he further establishes himself at Arkansas.

It was Broyles, though, who set the tone at Arkansas in recruiting Texas players and other regional hotbeds. He was among the first Razorbacks coaches to hone in on the state.

“I’m very aware of it,” Morris said. “That’s kind of what we went back and looked at, you know? When Arkansas was really, really in its heyday, what were they doing? They were doing a great job of recruiting in Texas, in Tulsa, in Memphis, and particularly in East Texas.

“That’s part of our footprint. That is our footprint.”