The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation, documentation and display of South Dakota's sports history.

Stewart Ferguson - Inducted 1994



Born Jan. 27, 1900 in Carthage, Mo. Dakota Wesleyan Academy in Mitchell. Dakota Wesleyan University. One of the most innovative and unconventional coaches in the history of college football. In eight years at Arkansas A&M, Ferguson gained national attention with his "Wandering Boll Weevils." It was at A&M that he invented the "swinging gate" offensive formation and guided one of the sport's most unusual teams. In 1939 A&M began its "play for fun" philosophy, players made up their own plays, the team passed more than any other team in the country, and A&M played almost every game on the road. Their ability to put on a show characterized by strange and unusual formations, antics and maneuvers got them games in every section of the country and made the team a media and fan favorite throughout the nation. World War II put an end to Ferguson's stint at A&M. In 1944, Ferguson became coach at Deadwood. For 11.5 years he coached football, basketball and track there. His 1954 team won a state basketball title. Began coaching career in Louisiana, first at Dry Creek and then at Lake Charles and Bolton. After five years in Louisiana, he coached football, basketball and track at Dakota Wesleyan for five years, going 49-5 with four conference titles in basketball, while the football team, winless the year before he arrived, won the conference title in his first year (1929). (IN MAIN PHOTO, FERGUSON IS IN MIDDLE) Other photos courtesy of University of Arkansas-Monticello








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