Houston Nutt Watch: Day 5
There is just no end to the speculation about Houston Nutt’s job status at Arkansas. And it’s really heated up since Saturday, when No. 17 Auburn defeated the Razorbacks 9-7.
Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution didn’t want to miss out on all the fun, so he offered his two cents on Nutt’s shaky status.
How big is this game for Houston Nutt? Arkansas is 0-3 in the SEC. After the Hogs play at Ole Miss on Saturday, they still have to play South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU. Arkansas will be the underdog in at least three of those games. But if Arkansas loses to Ole Miss on Saturday, does that seal Nutt’s fate? Or has this decision already been made?
Maybe the Broyles Complex will take after the Vatican if and when there is a coaching change. When the powers that be have reached a decision on their next hire, they can release a plume of white smoke to let the public know they have made their choice. Then the new coach can address the faithful from the Arkansas Union balcony. Staff and robe not included.
I think it would only be appropriate to include the robe, he can bring his own staff.
AD Broyles has made so many mistakes on hiring and firing football coaches, I believe he will not fire Houston before he turns the AD job over to Long.
Legacy, Frank. Frank, Legacy.
Since everyone is speculating about Houston Nutt’s demise, why not talk about who are the possible replacements? Tommy Tuberville’s name has come up, but I’m not sure the Hog faithful would welcome him with open arms. Besides he’s also been mentioned for the Texas A&M job, if it comes open. Another name that is popping up is USF’s Jim Leavitt. Though it’s doubtful he will leave USF, since he didn’t leave for Alabama. Ok so who else is out there? How about Norm Chow, the former USC offensive coordinator and current Tennessee Titan offensive coordinator can surely bring an effective and balanced offensive attack to the hill. Team him up with LSU’s defensive coordinator Bo Pellini and you’ve got a winning combination. That’s probably not likely to happen, but getting just one of those two guys would be an improvement. Aside from that there is also the possibility of bringing Gus Malzahn back, but that depends on who the head coach is.
There are a lot of rumors that Pellini could be heading to Nebraska when (not if) Callahan is fired. Jim Leavitt is definitely the “in” name for head coaching vacancies, but what about the coach whose team just beat the Bulls, Greg Schiano?
First and foremost…Jeff Long will not be making the decision on H at the end of the year….end of story. I promise you (unless we finish below .500) he will not make this his first big decision (heck, will just be getting started) and nor will Frank because he will no longer be the AD. The decision will be up to John White and I am not sure that he will pull the trigger either. Honestly, I really wonder how long he will be here. The decision will be made by H.
As for coaches, I would take Pellini in a heartbeat but as one poster stated, we will have to battle Nebraska because he should already be the head coach up there instead of Callahan. Leavitt or Schiano might be good options too. There are several others out there but we got a ways to go on that front.
Pellini is a great hire for whoever is smart enough to pick him up–our loss surely will be someone’s gain, and I will hate the day it happens. I wonder if it’s better for him to be HC at a small place, and then work up (like Harbaugh, Nutt, et al), or just plunge in at the big time level and learn as you go. If a major program hired him as HC, and put him with a smart OC, it could be a winner. It sure worked for us when Saban (primarily a defensive guy) was our man, but he also had HC experience coming in. Coordinators aren’t always the best HC’s, but you gotta start somewhere.
The whitehaired wonder will be our new coach.He will have a hell of a job getting this program back to where it was last yr.Nutt has taken a great team and just ruined it in one yr.If we lose tomorrow Nutt needs to go Sunday or maybe we need to run him out of town on a rail lol since hes too stupid to admitt the truth that he is a terrible coach.
an OC or DC making a first move to head coach spooks me. [see Jack Crowe, Joe Kines] let’s make a run on the dude at south florida. the rutgers coach would be the second coming of nutt, with some back getting 40 touches a game, regardless of the situation on the field. better yet, lets put some gold under the rainbow and get jimmy johnson to come back to fayetteville. it will cost money, but there are many coaches, new and old, who would love to be at UA with the facilities in place and incredible fan base. the key is timing and the move needs to be made quickly, as there will be a massive shuffling of college coaches this year. i think les miles will end up in ann arbor. GO HOGS!
ps. another [NFL] OC to head coach would be Charley Weis…. at notre dame. i have a feeling that ol’ charley would love to be back in new england right about now. lets get a proven, successful head coach, who is not afraid to bring in the offensive and defensive minded coordinators. GO HOGS!
I had a co-worker whose wife is friends with Schiano’s dad. Schiano is going nowhere anytime soon. He would take Penn State before he comes to Arkansas. Since the Nebraska job is soon to be open, maybe Nutt could somehow get on that list again. I know it is a long shot since Broyles has passed over Jimmy Johnson in the past, but he is the man to turn this program around. He might just do it for his old alma mater. If the money was equal to Nick Sabans and Franky stays out of the way he just might do one more coaching job where he helped win a national championship. COME ON JIMMY, COME HOME TO THE RAZORBACKS!!! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!
Here is the HDN vs FB interesting conversation overheard lately:
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FB: Well done, nut! I wish u could get the job next year.
HDN: Why not, old-schooler? My contract’s due till ‘12. My latest poll says only 4.99% of fans dissatisfied with the our direction.
FB: Excellent, our fanbase is 0.01% better than last year. We’re heading toward right direction. How ’bout the text-message thing?
HDN: Um, I keep sending with a full smash-mouth of text. Who cares? I bet they wouldn’t ask for Freedom-Information-Act bull***t again.
FB: I like your smash-mouth ol’-school thing, but be careful, kid. What if the sticky-nose do it again like they did last year? What would you do, nut? Go nut, huh?
HDN: Don’t worry old man: We’ll go to Buffalo Wild Wings to enjoy every Saturday.
FD: Brilliant! Brilliant! Go get me a Coors Lite. Hurry up, boy!
HDN: Sorry, ol’, you’re driving.
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Sounds real to me lol