The 1986 Arkansas State football team set a school record with 12 wins, forging a legacy that continues to resonate 40 years later. Offensive guard Randy Barnhill shares the unvarnished reality of playing for the legendary Coach Larry Lacewell and what it took to reach the 1AAA National Championship.
Barnhill dives into the grueling practices, the lack of modern amenities, and the sheer grit that defined their historic season. He compares the intense commitment of the 1986 squad to the challenges facing today's college football programs, specifically highlighting the impact of NIL and the transfer portal on team cohesion. The discussion details the tactical execution against formidable opponents like Memphis, Ole Miss, and Eastern Kentucky.
For football purists and A-State fans wanting an inside look at the foundational years of the program, this episode provides a unique perspective on the evolution of college athletics. Please subscribe and share this episode with a fellow A-State football fan. What is your favorite memory from the 1986 season?
More About this Episode
The 2026 college football season marks a momentous milestone for Arkansas State football fans. It is the fortieth anniversary of the legendary 1986 Arkansas State football season. That year, the team achieved a school record of twelve wins, finished with a spectacular twelve win, two loss, and one tie record, and marched all the way to the Division One AA National Championship game. To truly understand the magnitude of this anniversary, we have to look back at the men who built the foundation of this program.
Randy Barnhill is a central figure in that story. As a consensus first team All American offensive guard, a member of the 2014 All Centennial team, and an Arkansas State Hall of Honor inductee, his experiences offer incredible insight into what made that era of college athletics so profoundly special. Reflecting on four decades passing, it feels like only yesterday that those players were battling on the gridiron, proving that time truly flies when you are part of a brotherhood forged in the trenches.
The Legendary Larry Lacewell and Building Character
The conversation around the 1986 Arkansas State football season inevitably begins with the legendary head coach Larry Lacewell. For younger generations of Red Wolves football fans who did not get to witness his era, Lacewell was a completely unique personality. He was a quintessential players coach who always wanted the absolute best for his athletes. However, that care came with immense expectations. Lacewell demanded perfection and strict discipline from everyone on the roster. Players were expected to act a certain way and execute their assignments flawlessly. If they failed to meet those standards, there were immediate and strict consequences to pay.
This old school approach to coaching did more than just win football games. It built character. By holding young men accountable, Lacewell and his coaching staff molded them into better adults. College athletics in that era was fundamentally about building resilience. It taught players how to push through adversity, how to avoid giving up when situations became difficult, and how to figure out a way to succeed no matter the circumstances. Playing for someone like Larry Lacewell was a privilege that shaped the rest of his players lives.
Iron Sharpening Iron in the Early Eighties
The remarkable success of the 1986 campaign did not happen overnight. The foundation was carefully laid in the years prior. Many point to the 1983 season as the true turning point when the mentality of Arkansas State football completely changed. Players like Tommy Walker, Marty Bennett, Vinnie McInness, and Tim Langford helped shift the culture, creating a momentum that the program built upon over the next three seasons. The 1984 and 1985 seasons saw the team reach the second round of the playoffs, establishing a permanent standard of winning.
A standout memory from the 1985 season was hosting a playoff game against the Grambling State Tigers and their iconic head coach Eddie Robinson. Competing against a program led by someone of Eddie Robinson's stature was incredibly special. Grambling fielded massive players, including a defensive lineman who stood nearly six feet and nine inches tall and weighed around three hundred and fifty pounds. Arkansas State secured the hard fought victory that day. After the game, taking a moment to speak with Coach Robinson and shake his hand left a lasting impression on the players. Observing and learning from highly successful individuals is a cornerstone of achieving greatness, and that encounter remains a cherished memory in Arkansas State football history.
A Roster of Legends
The roster of the 1986 Arkansas State football team was loaded with exceptional talent from top to bottom. The offensive unit alone featured players who would become absolute legends in Jonesboro. Dwayne Brown anchored the offense at quarterback, Ricky Jimson dominated at running back, Jim Wiseman locked down the center position, and Randy Barnhill controlled the guard spot. The offensive line was particularly fierce. True freshmen were stepping up and moving massive amounts of weight against seasoned upperclassmen. Back in their early days on the scout team, this group was so effective that they would frequently frustrate the starting defense by successfully running opposing teams plays up and down the practice field.
The defensive side of the ball was equally formidable. Players like Charlie Frederick at noseguard, Marvin Nellums on the defensive line, and defensive backs Greg Lee and Elbert Shelley created a defensive unit that was virtually impenetrable. The depth of the 1986 team was its true superpower. If a starter needed a break or suffered an injury, the backup stepped onto the field with almost zero drop in overall talent. This level of roster solidity made practices intensely competitive.
Furthermore, the team featured unselfish playmakers like true freshman Fred Barnett. While Barnett did not get a massive volume of touches in that particular offensive scheme, he was electrifying whenever he got the ball. He eventually went on to have a spectacular multiyear career in the National Football League as an All Pro wide receiver. The same goes for the incredible Ray Brown, an offensive lineman who possessed unparalleled athletic ability. Brown could throw the shot put, run relays, and high jump, showcasing a level of athleticism that translated into a remarkable twenty year career in the NFL.
Defining Moments of the Season
The 1986 season was defined by a series of massive tests that forced the team to grow. The schedule featured formidable opponents from the very beginning. After opening the season with victories over Southern Illinois and Northwestern State, Arkansas State traveled to face Memphis. The rivalry with Memphis is the most played in school history, and walking into their stadium is never an easy task. Arkansas State secured a convincing thirty to ten victory. The turning point of that game, and perhaps the entire season, occurred on a goal line stand where the defense stopped Memphis on five consecutive downs. That extraordinary defensive effort set the tone for the rest of the year and proved that this team possessed a truly special level of grit.
The very next week brought a grueling and intensely hot matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels, which ended in a ten to ten tie. While a tie was not the desired outcome, going toe to toe with a major program and refusing to back down demonstrated the sheer fighting spirit of the roster. Following a shutout against Texas A and M Commerce, the team suffered its only regular season loss against a highly ranked Mississippi State squad. Despite the setback, the players never laid down. They were ferocious competitors who demanded perfection from themselves. They closed out the regular season with five consecutive victories, including a tough road win against a well coached Louisiana Tech team.
The National Championship Run
The momentum carried perfectly into the postseason. The playoff run began with a massive blowout victory over Sam Houston State. Then came a challenging road trip to the Northeast to face the Delaware program in the second round. The conditions were incredibly muddy, prompting the equipment staff to issue longer spikes for the players cleats. The elements did not slow down the Arkansas State offense, which racked up over six hundred yards of total offense en route to a dominating victory. It stands as one of the most complete performances in school history against a very talented Delaware team led by future NFL quarterback Rich Gannon.
Returning to Jonesboro for the semifinals, the defense stole the show. In a massive victory over Eastern Kentucky, the defense forced an astonishing six turnovers, proving the old adage that defense truly does win championships. The National Championship game in Tacoma, Washington against Georgia Southern brought a unique set of challenges. Georgia Southern was a powerhouse, and their quarterback Tracy Ham was an absolute force. Looking back at the preparation for that title game, the Arkansas State practices were incredibly intense. The coaching staff ran the players through grueling sessions that mirrored the physical toll of August training camp. By the time the championship game arrived, many players felt the effects of dead legs. Georgia Southern capitalized, scoring consistently in the first half. While the outcome was not a national title, securing twelve wins and reaching the pinnacle of the classification remains an achievement of monumental proportions.
Modern College Football Versus Old School Brotherhood
Reflecting on the achievements of the 1986 Arkansas State football season naturally brings up comparisons to the modern landscape of college football. Today, the sport is heavily dominated by Name Image and Likeness deals and the immediate freedom of the transfer portal. While players absolutely deserve to benefit from their hard work, the current system has fundamentally changed the concept of team commitment.
In the eighties, players endured grueling practices together. There were no limits on practice hours, and teams stayed on the field until every single play was executed perfectly. That shared suffering and collective drive forged an unbreakable brotherhood. The selfishness that sometimes permeates modern college athletics was entirely absent from the 1986 team. Black or white, offense or defense, starter or backup, nobody cared about individual statistics or personal glory. The only thing that mattered was winning football games for Arkansas State.
It is difficult to imagine modern athletes enduring the same level of physical and mental exhaustion without instantly looking for a new program via the transfer portal. This is evident when looking at the modern era of Arkansas State football. For instance, the teams from 2010 to 2013, which included players like Brock Barnhill, endured an unprecedented coaching carousel. They played for five different head coaches in a very short span. Yet, because the transfer portal did not exist in its current form, those players stayed together. They won multiple conference championships and built a bond that remains active to this day. They bonded through sheer adversity. Today, college programs routinely see dozens of players transfer in and out every single offseason. Maintaining long term alumni engagement and preserving the deep familial culture of a football program becomes incredibly challenging when the roster is completely overhauled every twelve months.
Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future
Despite the shifting landscape of college football, the legacy of the 1986 Arkansas State football team remains a crucial pillar of the university athletic history. The pride associated with this program spans generations. Watching the Red Wolves compete on a national stage today brings immense joy to the alumni who helped pave the way. The facilities have drastically improved, and the transition to the FBS level has brought new levels of national recognition. The current coaching staff continues to field competitive teams that fight hard and represent the university with honor.
As the fortieth anniversary of the 1986 season is celebrated, the focus is rightfully placed on preserving history. Dedicated alumni have successfully raised funds to install commemorative plaques outside the stadium to honor the 1985 and 1986 teams. These plaques will ensure that future generations of fans can read the names of the men who elevated Arkansas State football to a national standard. The upcoming reunions will bring these legendary players back under the tailgate tents in Jonesboro. They will share food, swap the exact same stories they have been telling for four decades, and laugh about the grueling practices and the strict coaches. Time may have passed, and they may be scattered across the country, but when that group gets together, it is as if they never left the locker room.
The 1986 Arkansas State football season was not just about winning twelve games. It was about a group of unselfish and fiercely dedicated young men who came together to create something much larger than themselves. Their legacy is etched in the foundation of the stadium, in the record books, and in the enduring brotherhood that continues to define what it means to be a champion in Jonesboro.