November 17, 2007
Canned Nutt? Coach out at end of Razorbacks season
ESPN and KHBS-TV in Fort Smith are reporting that Arkansas coach Houston Nutt will not return to the Razorbacks football team following this season.
A Fort Smith, Ark., TV station also reported Friday night that Nutt wouldn't return to coach the Razorbacks next season. KHBS-TV reported on its Web site that multiple sources confirmed Nutt will be "leaving at the end of the season. Sources could not confirm whether Nutt would offer his resignation, be fired or possibly accept another position."Earlier this week, multiple sources told ESPN.com that new Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long, who officially takes over when long-time Razorbacks AD Frank Broyles retires Dec. 31, was leaning toward replacing Nutt as the school's football coach.
Officials at Arkansas are standing by previous claims that Nutt's future would be decided after the season.
"Coach Nutt hasn't resigned and he hasn't been fired," Arkansas sports information director Kevin Trainor said. "The chancellor and athletics director haven't made a decision yet."
A large segment of Razorback fans have been calling for Nutt's to be replaced since the middle of last season, but the momentum really picked up with the departures of star QB Mitch Mustain and OC Guz Malzahn this summer.
Depending on the terms of Nutt's departure, the Razorbacks could owe Nutt $5 million dollars.
Sources told ESPN.com that Arkansas could owe Nutt as much as $5 million, including deferred money, to buy out the remaining five years of his contract. Nutt received a one-year extension last season following the Hogs' SEC championship game appearance. He earns about $1.05 million per year, not including more than $400,000 in annual deferred annuities he would be owed by the school.
Comments:
Tom Blogical
posted on November 17, 2007 6:54 PM — 24.95.77.153 — link — abuse?
said:
TE:
You could be right. He could end up going to Nebraska. I can see the decision process now...Houston Nutt?...or Turner Gill?...Nutt?...Gill...?
Since there appear to be no other Nebraska men in the running. That's just unbelievable to me, that a football program with all that tradition, has nobody in the CFB ranks that would be in the running for that job.
1st_and_NOLE
posted on November 17, 2007 7:34 PM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse? said:
I think this may actually be a mistake by Aky to fire Nutt THIS year.
Consider the teams POSSIBLE looking for a new coach at the end of the year:
Michigan
LSU
Tenn
Nebraska
A&MThose teams might hire HCs from other schools like S. Carolina, Auburn, ect ect.
Of course there are plenty of other teams out there I didn't mention.
The point is though, there may be more big name programs looking for HCs this off-season then maybe ever before. It might be hard for Arky to compete with some of those schools. They may only be able to get a 2nd or 3rd tier coach at best.
BMC1157 said:
posted on November 18, 2007 10:59 AM — 72.191.14.43 — link — abuse?
Ref #4: Sweet Home AL, you could be right. IF Arkansas beats LSU (not likely in Baton Rouge), I think there is a possibility that Nutt will have another season in Ark. However, if LSU trounces Ark, then I think the Hawgs will be looking for another head coach. Could it mean the return of Gus Malzahn????
Spartacus
posted on November 19, 2007 5:30 PM — 72.25.84.228 — link — abuse? said:
I don't get it? Why does this guy need to be fired? Is it because he led the Pigs to a ten win season last year (for the 1st time in 1/4 of a century)? Or, is it because Arkansas, at 7-4, is still a very good football team this year (sans Monk)? Somebody help me out here. Arkansas is 17-7 in the last two years, playing in the very tough SEC, and this guy has to go? Why is that?
Is it because Mitch Mustain and Demetrius Williams transferred to Southern Cal? Who says they'll ever get off the pine over here? They're gonna ride that pine at USC also. So, why is this guy on the firing line? Is it simply because McFadden is gonna go pro? I can't even beleive that Frank Broyles is gonna let this guy go. He's the only coach, since Holtz, who has ever been a power at this school. Arkansas is scary for anyone to play and can win any game. LSU better watch out. This is the kinda team, when those runners get hot, that could take them smooth out.Tommie Trojan
posted on November 19, 2007 6:03 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta
said:
If Arkansas fires Nutt, they're going to be real sorry they did, a la Ole Miss and David Cutcliffe.
It just doesn't make a lot of sense to can him. Like Tommie said, one year removed from 10-win season and a decent record this year.
Do it at your own peril, Hawgs...
T-Mac
posted on November 19, 2007 10:32 PM — 66.78.139.117 — link — abuse? said:
WEA, agreed 100%
The one and only person the hog fans should blame for what went down this season is a player named Mustain.
Nutt had him set to be the franchise player...
if you will.
T-Mac says that if Mustain had stayed that Arkansas would be #1 in the SEC West.
At the very worst #2.
Coach Nutt didn't bail on his team.
Mustain did.
Very, very foolish to let Coach Nutt go.
Let's face facts here.
You can have the best tailback in all of CFB.
Without a shotcaller(QB) you lose games.
Plain & simple.
*T-Mac approved this message.
Spartacus
posted on November 24, 2007 9:35 AM — 72.25.84.228 — link — abuse? said:
OOps!
Er, make that 18-7 in the last two years with a win over the #1 team in the country. I think that Arkansas should never let McFadden and Jones get 40 carries in a game. They should let the QB throw it about 58 times a game - sorta like Callahan does it in Nebraska. What is this guy Nutt thinking? Ball control? Game clock? Fire this clown and bring in somebody who knows how to keep their own defense on the field all dayum day long. That's the way to win football games.
Seriously, is there really any ding-dongs left who think that this guy needs to go? You ride that pony till it just don't ride no more. Chances are, if Mustain had not got his panties in a bunch, that Nutt would have changed to a more balanced attack as soon as McFadden left for pro ball. But, using the best back in America over and over again, is not a bad game plan. Remember: here as USC we've had guys called Garrett, Simpson, C.Davis, A.Davis, Bell, White and Allen - just tio name a few. We won an awful lot of games by handin' that thing off to these guys about 40 times a game. In fact, you just about cannot lose.
Tommie Trojan
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OU-Ron
said:
posted on November 17, 2007 6:22 PM — 72.198.24.199 — link — abuse?Nutt would look good in a Turtle Neck