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Former football coach recalls days at UCA

By DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
Log Cabin Staff Writer

Much has changed at the University of Central Arkansas since Harold Horton left as football coach following the 1989 season, but a good crowd at the Arkansas Sports Club meeting Monday fondly recalled those heady days.

Horton, now vice president of the University of Arkansas' Razorback Foundation, greeted a roomful of well-wishers, including former players, coaching colleagues and fans at Ryan's.

"They've come a long way at UCA, with the stadium, the budget and the staff," Horton said. "We had three full-time (assistant) coaches, and we filled out a full staff with five or six graduate assistants...




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McCollum's Column: Horton a connecting force in both UCA, UA history

David McCollum

One true measure of an icon may be how many other icons are attracted when he makes a basic speech.

When former University of Central Arkansas football coach Harold Horton made an appearance at the Arkansas Sports Club on Monday, part of the Hall of Fame level audience included:

One former interim president of UCA (Bill Pate).

A former member of the school's board of trustees (Joe White)

A retired state senator (Stanley Russ)...

I never heard anything about Coach Horton other than he is a most decent guy above reproach who was a players coach and who is a real friend of UCA. Lots of what we enjoy today in Bear-ball got underway under his guidance.

GoBears!!

Correct assessment on Coach Horton, however, if you really want to get down to the basics, the upswing really started under Ken Stephens. Ken coached the Bears to their first apperance in the post season in 1976, taking UCA to the championship game before losing to what was then Texas A & I 26-0. UCA was a regular in the playoffs the remaining years that Ken was head coach.

Harold took the program to another level, IMHO. National titles in 84 and 85 and I think it was 10 consecutive AIC titles.

You are correct when you say a lot of what we enjoy today is because of Harold, but I think you just about have to give equal props to Ken.

Didn't mean to go so long.

Burly Bear