Ouachita Baptist University Athletics

After his performance in Ouachita’s 47-6 win over Henderson in 1925, the sports editor of the Arkansas Gazette labeled Arkadelphia product and Ouachita’s own Carey Selph the “greatest football player in Arkansas.” With those accolades, Selph was undoubtedly the greatest football player on the Ouachita campus and could have been the greatest all-around athlete as Selph would go on to a successful professional baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Selph came to Ouachita in 1922 and did what not many others had done during his first year, play as a freshman. Selph was a four-year starter and letterman on the Ouachita football team and also lettered in baseball. Selph played under fellow 2004 inductee Morley Jennings and was a part of the 1922 Tiger team that defeated the University of Arkansas.

After Selph’s final season, the 1926 Ouachitonian proved how highly regarded Selph was around the state as they bid him farewell with the following: “Carey Selph, the fighting general, who with his brilliant runs…(and) uncanny accurate passing made the pages of Arkansas’ football history more glorious. He is the idol of Ouachita fans…”

Carey Selph bio in the Encylclopedia of Arkansas