Special To The Morning News

ROGERS — Now it can be told. George McKinney, one of nine new inductees into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, nearly was a Texas Longhorn.

Instead, McKinney quarterbacked Arkansas from 1959-61 and took part in three Southwest Conference titles.

“No one knows or believes this, but I committed to Darrell Royal at Texas,” said McKinney, a Texarkana, Texas, High graduate. “Texas A&M recruited me, too, although I don’t think Bear Bryant wanted me. Elmer Smith of Magnolia, an A&M assistant, recruited me. But Dixie White recruited me for Arkansas and then I worked a summer job with a big Arkansas fan and decided on the Razorbacks.”

McKinney, who later quarterbacked a 24-23 Hogs upset of Texas in 1960, credited teammate Harold Horton with making a big punt return into Longhorn territory that helped set up Mickey Cissell’s game-winning 30-yard field goal that day in Austin, Texas.

Such golden memories came back quickly to the nine honorees at the Hall of Honor banquet at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center on Friday night.

Ryan Lundquist, Arkansas’ single-season home run leader with 24 in 1997, said, “You get out in the real world, and then to be brought back here and reminisce with coach (Norm) DeBriyn and everybody is wonderful. This honor was very unexpected, and the feeling is hard to even put into words.”

Lundquist, who reached Class Double-A Chattanooga in the Cincinnati Reds chain, now lives in Norman, Okla., and sells orthopedic replacements.

Honoree Rodney Brand, an All-America center for Arkansas in 1969, lives not far from Lundquist in Yukon, Okla., northwest of Oklahoma City, where he sold a successful automotive business in 1996.

“I thought I had enough money when I retired, but with these gas prices I might have to go back to work,” joked Brand, 60.

Brand recalled talking on the sidelines with former teammate Jerry Dossey, while Arkansas led No. 1 Texas 14-0 in 1969, about what kind of diamonds they might add to their SWC championship rings that year.

“About then, there was a big roar and James Street had just scored a touchdown for Texas,” Brand recalled, wincing. “It went downhill from there (and Texas won 15-14).”

Also inducted Friday were former UA middle guard Tommy Brasher, who lettered from 1961-63 and went on to coach for 41 yards, including 24 in the NFL; former Hogs All-America basketball guard Darrell Walker (1981-83); All-America defensive end Bruce James (1968-70); track standouts Daniel Lincoln and Gi-Gi Miller Johnson; and, posthumously, Razorbacks football player and assistant coach Steed White, who served Arkansas as a scout, recruiter, freshman coach and varsity assistant from 1957-67.

Miller narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic team in the heptathlon this year and said she plans to try for the 2012 London Olympics, either in the heptathlon or hurdles.