Razorback Great Ronnie Caveness Dies

Ronnie Caveness died Saturday at the age of 71. He was a member of the 1964 Razorback national championship football team and a members of the College Football and Arkansas Sports Halls of Fame.

Here is his biography from the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame upon selection to the College Football Hall of Fame.

He was born Ronald Glen Caveness on March 6, 1943, in Houston. Like a number of other Texans, he chose to attend the University of Arkansas to play football for Frank Broyles. He had a stellar career at M.B. Smiley High School in Houston. As is too often the case with urban school districts, M.B. Smiley later went into a long period of decline. A 2007 Johns Hopkins University study referred to it as a “dropout factory,” and the North Forest Independent School District consolidated two schools the following year at the Smiley location, changing the name to North Forest High School.

In the late 1950s and the early 1960s, though, it was a high school that turned out top scholars and athletes. The state of Texas’ loss was Arkansas’ gain when Caveness signed with Broyles.

Following his junior season in 1963, Caveness was named by The Football News as a first-team All-American selection. Even though the team went just 5-5, Caveness received national attention when he made an amazing 29 tackles against the University of Texas, the eventual national champion.

The following year, Arkansas went undefeated with the team being awarded several versions of the national championship after the Razorbacks defeated Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. This time around, the Razorbacks beat the Longhorns during the regular season. Caveness had 25 tackles that night in Austin.

Following the 1964 season, Caveness was named a first-team All-American by numerous outlets that included The Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America and The Sporting News. Caveness was one of the last Arkansas players to start on both offense and defense. He earned first-team All-Southwest Conference honors as both a center and linebacker his senior year.

Caveness still holds the school record for the most tackles made in consecutive seasons at 309. His 29 and 25 tackles in the two games against Texas continue to rank first and second on the school’s rankings for most tackles in a game. Caveness, a team captain, was the Razorbacks’ leading tackler for 21 consecutive games and is also remembered for an interception return for a touchdown that turned the tide against Tulsa in 1964.

“We didn’t coach him,” Broyles said. “We put him in the game and wished him well and told him to go to the football. That’s all we had to do.”

To be considered for College Football Hall of Fame induction, a player must have been a first-team All-American, have played his final season at least a decade prior to induction, have played during the past 50 years and not currently be playing in the NFL.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Caveness told reporters the day after receiving the delivery at his home.

Broyles called it “the greatest honor a college football player can receive.”

The quiet, unassuming Caveness regularly attends Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame events. Those who don’t know him might be surprised to learn that this humble man is among the greatest players ever to wear a Razorback uniform.

“Ronnie was always very humble until he got on the football field,” Broyles said.

Caveness was the 16th pick in the AFL draft and the 121st pick in the NFL draft following his senior season. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and played for them in 1965. He later played three seasons for the Houston Oilers.

The family will hold a celebration of Caveness’ life on June 5 at 2 p.m. at the Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, according to reports in the Southwest Times Record.