Ken Tyler

His high school coach “Buster” Gross said, “In my 33 years of coaching I never saw a better high school quarterback.” Gross was talking about Ken Tyler and his three years as the starting quarterback for Arab from 1968-1970.

In Tyler’s 28 starts as quarterback for the Knights, Arab’s record was 20-7-1. Tyler ran and passed for a varsity career total of 42 touchdowns. His senior season, he hit 102 of 150 passes for over 1,000 yards and rushed for 12 touchdowns. Tyler’s career stats include 3,000 passing yards with 19 TDs. He rushed for another 23 touchdowns.

According to Archie Anderson of WRAB, the Tyler years were some of the most memorable moments in Arab football history. As a senior, Tyler led the Knights to a 9-1 record with victories over No. 5 Scottsboro and No. 8 Tarrant. Arab and Lee of Montgomery were the only two teams to beat Scottsboro. Lee ended the season as the state champions.

The 16-14 win at Tarrant on November 13, 1970, has long been recognized as one of the great games played by a Marshall County team. The win may be the greatest in Arab football history. Tyler completed 17 passes and scored two touchdowns, leading Arab to an upset win. On Arab’s last drive, he hit seven passes in a row.

Arab lost only one game in the county during Tyler’s three varsity years and won the county championship twice. Ken was named Most Valuable Player and received the Bemon Lyon Award, Marshall County MVP and Honorable Mention All-State. He was chosen to play in the North – South All-Star Game in Tuscaloosa. Tyler scored the North’s only TD in its 9-7 victory.

Tyler signed with Memphis State and as a freshman set a single game passing record by completing 28 of 48 passes for 312 yards in a frosh game with Chattanooga. The same season he threw two touchdown passes to lead Memphis over Southern Mississippi. As a sophomore, he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his football career.

Ken Tyler, the longtime minister of the Arab Church of Christ, was perhaps the best quarterback to ever play for the Arabian Knights.