By Harry King

LITTLE ROCK — Sitting on a front porch across the road from Razorback Stadium, pencil and large notepad in hand, Dick Bumpas looked every bit a man with a plan.

On this particular summer afternoon, a Razorback teammate inquired about Bumpas’ doings.

“Counting cars,” Bumpas said, elaborating with his findings, “Fourteen VWs, six Fords …”

“I didn’t even ask why,” said the man who posed the question.

Most who played on those great Razorback teams of 1968-69-70 have a story about Bumpas. Peculiar is oft-used to describe the All-American defensive tackle from Fort Smith, but not in a disparaging way.

Peculiar in that his postgame routine was to go to his room for two days, dip snuff, sit on his bed and strum his guitar. He loved his solitude, didn’t hang out much, avoided frat parties, and dated sparingly.

Peculiar in his displays of loyalty like the time prior to the Dec. 5, 1970, Texas game when former coach Frank Broyles broke some news to Bruce James. The defensive end was told that he would read in the paper the next day that he had decided to pass up a trip to Los Angeles to be on the Bob Hope Christmas special with other members of the FWAA All-American team.

Infuriated, Bumpas said he would lead a walkout of practice if James gave the OK. James reminded Bumpas that they played for hard-core disciplinarian Charlie Coffey and the protest died.

Bumpas is testimony to the fact that peculiar and super successful coach are not mutually exclusive.

He always wanted to be a coach, but never THE coach, partly because PR is involved and that is a duty he would prefer to avoid. In his sixth season at TCU, he works for one of his former players, Gary Patterson.

Bumpas’ defense is No. 3 in the country, right behind Texas and Florida, and just in front of Alabama. Note that none of those teams have lost a game.

Last year, the Frogs finished the season No. 1 in the country in total defense and run defense. No doubt, TCU benefits from playing in the Mountain West Conference, but they can state their case in a BCS bowl game if they finish unbeaten.

Looking at film, Bumpas still uses some of Coffey’s ultra-strict grading system. For instance, if a Razorback’s knee touched before he made a tackle, Coffey handed out a minus. A player who did his job, but was no factor, received a zero. Before sacks became part of the vernacular, quarterback traps were worth a double plus. Like Coffey, who subtracted for stepping with the wrong foot even if the guilty player made a tackle, Bumpas is a perfectionist about technique, just as he was as a Razorback.

To play for him, an athlete must be in superb condition and he must be able to run laterally; anybody can sprint straight ahead.

Patterson, probably in consultation with Bumpas, has turned down a couple of jobs, maybe more. They know they have a good thing going, that they can win regularly in the Mountain West.

This week, the Frogs are No. 4 in the BCS and only a Texas upset from possible participation in the national title game. Nationally, there is curiosity about whether they can compete with the best. This week, ESPN’s College Football Gameday will be in town for 9-0 TCU vs. 8-1 Utah.

Such attention is uncomfortable for somebody like Bumpas.

On Monday, he called a friend in Arkansas, just to talk. Anything but football, Bumpas said.
—-

Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.