Maroon Machine

The 1977 Benton High School football team achieved what many believe to be the ultimate of high school athletics success: winning the state championship.  And along the way they earned the catchy nickname of “The Maroon Machine” as well. But despite the praise and accolades that come along with this milestone achievement, the things some members of this team take the most pride in are the Benton community itself and the education given to them by the Benton School System.

There are many members of this championship team that still live and work in Benton, three of which are Rick Spivey, Scooter McClure and Charles Reynolds. All three men are very involved in the community, and made commitments a long time ago to give back to the Benton community that has given them so much over the course of their lives. In conversations with them, it turns out they all three had very different, yet amazing experiences during that winning season.

Rick Spivey is a local business owner and was quarterback of the 1977 team. He recalls several favorite memories of their winning season. “My favorite memories were the relationships on the team. All the guys were great athletes and we came together as sophomores knowing we wanted to have a winning season our senior year.” He goes on get even more specific about one of the biggest games of that season. “My biggest memory of our winning year was the game against Hot Springs. We had to go over there to play them. They were the team to beat that year, and we ended up winning in overtime. It was the game that gave us the confidence we needed to have a winning season.”

Spivey left for college, but ultimately came back to Benton. He explains, “My time at Benton High School prepared me for college, and I went to Arkansas State and played football for four years and also got a degree in Business Administration. I graduated college, moved back to central Arkansas, then back to Benton and that was over 30 years ago. I’m so proud to be a part of a community that has so much character. I’m very proud of our school system. I am very proud to own a business that has a product that benefits Benton residents. It’s my hometown and I will always be proud of it.”

Spivey applauds the current football program and especially the new facilities. “The new Benton football facility is a beautiful addition to the program,” he stated. “It’s an amazing complex and something we can all be proud of.”

Scooter McClure is also a local business owner and was a special teams player and safety for the 1977 state championship team, and he clearly recalls how they earned their nickname, “Along the way we earned the name ‘Maroon Machine’ because we were known for our offense.”

McClure shares, “I attribute our success that season to all the different people involved on the team. We had a lot of kids come from the two different junior high schools (East Side and West Side) that created a very strong high school team. There was a lot of competition to make the team and then to make the starting lineup. The competition motivated us.”

Scooter goes on to recall even more details that made 1977 such a special year for the entire student body. “That year, we had a super band, great cheerleaders, and pep squad and the entire school came behind and cheered for the football team. At the same time, when there was a band competition, there were 20 plus football players that showed up in Little Rock to cheer them on. Back in the day there were a lot fewer cliques and it was a very supportive atmosphere.” He surmises that times may be a bit different now, and even back then the student body spirit they experienced in 1977 was something unique to behold.

Of course, no Benton football season is complete without memories of the Salt Bowl, and Scooter remembers the days when the competition was less fierce. “Back then, the Salt Bowl game was a given win for us, and that has changed so much because Bryant has doubled in size and Benton is land-locked. Bryant now has growth in their corner.”

McClure thinks there are lessons to learn from football by saying, “Athletics really does teach kids discipline. It’s important for them to learn that. Our team learned that in a big way. We were on a mission to win that state championship that year, and it took all of us having discipline.”

Charles Reynolds was also a member of the 1977 state championship team, and attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on a football scholarship. He graduated and moved back to Benton as the assistant football coach at Westside Junior High. When that school was combined with Eastside to become Benton Junior High, he stayed on and eventually became their head junior high school football coach for 15 years. In 2005, Charles made the move to the assistant principal role at Benton Junior High, which is the role he still holds.

“I love kids, and junior high is an age that I think I have influence in,” Reynolds stated. “I wanted to expand my influence from just football players to all the students in junior high. My family moved to Benton when I was in the third grade, and I always knew that after I graduated college I wanted to come back and be a part of the Benton community and help others as best I could.”

He continues, “Our state championship team had great successes on the athletic field. But the real success comes with what you decide to do after football. I’m proud to be a part of the Benton educational system and what it does to prepare people for their careers.”

As Chuck, Scooter and Charles can all agree, the experiences given to them through winning the state championship were truly amazing. They can also all agree that the community of Benton is worthy of the pride they feel about it. After all, this thriving community is home to many generations of very dear family and friends. And at the same time, Saline County residents can take pride in their rich football heritage, and how the players of the 1977 state championship team have embraced and committed so much to the Benton community that cheered them on so many years ago.