Southwest Conference

COLORS: Cardinal and white
BASIC OFFENSE: Split-T
1956 RECORD: Won 6, lost 4
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 19 of 31
WATCH FOR: Exceptional speed from sophomore backs

THE DOPE: The Razorbacks should be considered the most likely dark horse in the upset-ridden, Southwest Conference. Coach Jack Mitchell , a disciple of Oklahoma-style quick-hitting football, has tremendous speed in his backfield, most of it encompassed in a quartet of small sophomore halfbacks. The return to health of Quarterback George Walker insures capable direction for the Arkansas team, and Mitchell has one of the sturdiest fullbacks in the conference in Gerald Nesbitt, a 200-pound senior who was all-conference last season. The most pressing problem Mitchell faces is a lack of defensive strength in the line, especially at tackle. Center Jay Donathan and Guard Stuart Perry are rated among the best in the Southwest, but the ends are only average, and the tackle situation indicates that the Razorbacks will have difficulty taking the ball away from strong running teams like Baylor and Texas A&M. Walker, who had his right knee operated on during the off season, is a better than adequate passer and probably the best operator of the split-T option play in the conference. He has a fine replacement in Don Christian, who ran the Porkers last year in Walker's absence.

1957 SCHEDULE (1956 score):

SEPT. 21 Okla. St. at Little Rock, N (19-7)
SEPT. 28 Tulsa (no game)
OCT. 5 TCU at Little Rock, N (6-41)
OCT. 12 at Baylor, N (7-14)
OCT. 19 Texas (32-14)
OCT. 26 Mississippi at Memphis (14-0)
NOV. 2 Texas A&M (0-27)
NOV. 9 at Rice (27-12)
NOV. 16 at Southern Methodist (27-13)
NOV. 23 Texas Tech at Little Rock (no game)

BAYLOR
Waco, Texas
[11]

COLORS: Green and gold
BASIC OFFENSE: Multiple T
1956 RECORD: Won 8, lost 2
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 18 of 37
WATCH FOR: Tremendous attacking power, running and passing

THE DOPE: The Bears, by the end of the 1956 season, were the best team in the Southwest Conference. Sam Boyd in his first year as head coach spent the early part of the season creating two equally strong lines, and this year Baylor again has two big, strong and experienced lines. The loss of Del Shofner will cost a good deal in pass defense, and Bill Glass, the All-America guard, is gone, too. But Doyle Traylor, a brilliant quarterback who has been hurt in each of his first three seasons, should be well this year. Shofner and Glass were both No. 1 pro draft choices; Traylor and a 6-foot-2, 218-pound senior guard named Clyde Letbetter are potentially as good as the two graduates. With Traylor's passing to lend a deep threat, the Baylor running should be even better than it was last season. Boyd has the principal ingredient of strong running—two immensely powerful lines which can grind down the opposition until it becomes easy to open holes. He has a thumping runner in Fullback Larry Hickman and two big, fast sophomore halfbacks in Jim Millerman and Dobie Craig. Jerry Marcontell, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior end, provides Traylor with a big, easy target for his passes. All in all, Baylor should have possibly an even stronger attack than last year but, because of the loss of Shofner and Glass, a weaker defense.

SEPT. 21 Villanova, N (no game)
SEPT. 28 Houston, N (no game)
OCT. 5 at Miami, N (no game)
OCT. 12 Arkansas, N (14-7)
OCT. 19 at Texas Tech, N (27-0)
OCT. 26 Texas A&M (13-19)
NOV. 2 at Texas Christian (6-7)
NOV. 9 at Texas (10-7)
NOV. 23 Southern Methodist (26-0)
NOV. 30 at Rice (46-13)

RICE INSTITUTE
Houston

COLORS: Blue and gray
BASIC OFFENSE: T
1956 RECORD: Won 4, lost 6
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 21 of 27
WATCH FOR: Strong passing attack built around Quarterback Frank Ryan