Ouachita Baptist Tigers football

History

The Tiger football team is notable for participating in the first ever Intercollegiate game in Arkansas history, a 24–0 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the fall of 1897. The Ouachita Baptist Tigers compete in the Battle of the Ravine every year. This tradition started in 1895 when Ouachita Baptist played Arkadelphia Methodist College (currently known as Henderson State University), and won 8–0. This historical event was not played from 1951 to 1963 because of the excessive rivalry between the two schools. It resumed after 1963 and is still being played to this day.

The Ouachita Baptist head coach from 1965 to 1995 was former Oklahoma Sooner and Arkansas Razorbacks player Buddy Benson. Coach Benson compiled a record of 161–140–8. He played for Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, and Bowden Wyatt at Arkansas.

The Tiger's head coach since 1999 is Todd Knight. He has led OBU to six conference titles.

The longtime radio voice of the OBU Tigers is Rex Nelson. Nelson is a member of the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

On October 19, 2024, the No. 9 nationally ranked Ouachita Baptist Tigers beat the No. 1 ranked Harding Bisons 17–13, marking the first time in OBU history that the Tigers beat the No. 1 team in nation.

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1897, 1906–1926, 1928–1930)
• No team (1898–1905, 1943–1944)
• Arkansas Association (1927)
• Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (1931–1942, 1945–1994)
• NAIA Division I independent (1995–1996)
• Lone Star Conference (1997–1999)
• Gulf South Conference (2000–2010)
• Great American Conference (2011–present)

Championships

Conference championships

*Indicates co-championship

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division II

The Tigers have made six appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 1–6.

NAIA Division I

Ouachita Baptist made two appearances in the NAIA Division I playoffs, with a combined record of 0–2.

Notable former players

Former NFL players

• Carl Allen, RB/DB, Brooklyn Dodgers
• Cliff Harris, DB, Dallas Cowboys, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Gregory Junior, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Bill LaFitte, E, Brooklyn Tigers
• Ed Neal, OL, Green Bay Packers
• Julius Pruitt, WR, Miami Dolphins
• Chuck Taylor, LB, Brooklyn Tigers
• Chris Rycraw, RB, Green Bay Packers
• Phillip Supernaw, TE, Tennessee Titans

Rivalries

Henderson State

Main article: Battle of the Ravine

References

References

1. "Encyclopedia of Arkansas".
2. (2011-05-03). "Benson lost the ‘Bob,’ not will to win {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette".
3. (2023-09-17). "HIGH PROFILE: Todd Knight, a coach at Ouachita Baptist University, helps develops young men — both on and off the field {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette".
4. "Rex Nelson Interviews".
5. "Rex Nelson (1959–)".
6. (2007-06-08). "Ouachita Baptist Historical Data".