Barry accepted an athletic scholarship and played football at the University of Arkansas, where he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon. During his senior season of 1959, he was one of the Razorbacks' "Tri-Captains", leading Arkansas to a 9-2 record, a share of the Southwest Conference championship, a victory over Georgia Tech in the 1960 Gator Bowl, and a #9 final ranking in the polls, all in Frank Broyles second season as head coach. After graduation, he did a brief stint in the U.S. Army and then returned to Arkansas as an assistant coach under Broyles.