1964 Broyles tweaked the offense, using an I-Formation with two wide receivers that he dubbed the Wide Slot-T. The senior leadership was excellent, carrying over from the off-season with guard Jerry Jones, O-lineman **** Hatfield and his brother HB/return man Ken, QB-DB Billy Gray, All American LB Ronnie Caveness, and DT Jimmy Johnson as key leaders.
Jones, a converted FB who was a very effective blocker at guard later gained much greater fame as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson, one of the real coaching stars in the Broyles’ constellation, dropped twenty pounds and huge 6’5” tackle Glen Ray Hines more than thirty. Bobby Crockett took over a WR spot with Jerry Lamb moving to TE.
With Jim Lindsey, Harry Jones, and Bobby Burnett in the backfield and QB Fred Marshall in tow, they used top ranked Hatfield’s timely returns, including an eighty-one yarder against Texas that helped to beat the number-one ranked Longhorns by 14-13, to compile a 10-0 record. The defense was outstanding behind the seniors and a pair of All SWC DT’s Loyd Phillips and Jim Williams. Caveness again was the leader, named as a Consensus All American. He had a solid pro career with the Chiefs, Dolphins, Oilers, and Patriots.
Despite shutting out its last five opponents and leading the nation in scoring defense with a 5.7 points-per-game yield, the Hogs watched Alabama get the votes as Number One in the poll taken prior to the bowl games but when Texas defeated the Tide 21-17 in the Orange Bowl, Arkansas received the blessings of The Football Writers Of America after knocking off Nebraska 10-7 in a hard fought Cotton Bowl game. The 11-0 record and National Championship gave Broyles a tie with Notre Dame’s Ara Parseghian as National Coach Of The Year.