Whew! After a few weeks of computer problems, spyware and all, I'm back at the ol' keyboard. In my last post, done from the beautiful main branch of the Fort Smith public library, I touched on ESPN's savage piling on of Bobby Petrino and, of course, the not-so-dearly-departed Hootie Nutt.

Just let it go, some say, he's gone, just let him be. The damage done by that egomaniacal cretin to the UA football program will last for a long time. Besides, Hootie will be trying to beat our beloved Hogs every year he stays at Ole Miss. Do you not think he will hoot it up more than ever if he comes into RRS next October and wins?

Do you not think he will try to sabotage anything he can on his way out, or already has? Will he not try to take recruits to Oxford? Your damn right he will on all counts.

Hootie has been the enemy of Razorback football for a few years, now he will be open about it. By that I mean, even though he may have been trying to win here, he was trying harder to serve his own selfish interests. The Mustain email scandal and all the other Springdale related scandals are proof of that.

His abuse of power and serial lying to the fans and press finally came back to haunt him. I and others will not forget what he has and will continue to do to disrupt the UA football program. Thus, I will pass up no opportunity to make fun of, ridicule, and belittle that egomaniacal cult leader wannabe.

Fayetteville= Hootie-Free Zone?

By now, most of you have heard the rampant rumors of Houston Nutt's resignation, I'm sure. Whether it's because he has the Baylor or SMU job in hand or to pursue some other opportunity is unclear.

What I believe is that either he went to White/Broyles late last week or he was told by one or both that he, Hootie, would not be back in 2008. Reports out of Knoxville indicated he was slumped over in a chair with an ashen look even before the drubbing at the hands of the Tennessee Vols. The same Vols Steve Spurrier said the Hogs were 3touchdowns better than. If that's not a scathing indictment of Hootie Nutt's coaching "ability", I don't know what is.

Unless it's Peyton Hillis' comments after the game. When asked by reporters why the Hogs had so much trouble moving the ball last Saturday, Hillis replied: "we have D1 coaches making millions of dollars to figure that stuff out and we were hoping they would".

In an interview with 103.7 The Buzz out of Little Rock, Hootie denied he was resigning this afternoon, but the man has lied so much, particularly the last 2 years, who but the most ardent Hootie-phile can believe anything he says that cannot be confirmed?

He might try to pull a Jim Guy Tucker, resigning only to try to back out. Drama Queens are like that, you know and who is more of a drama Queen than the Hootster? He may only be holding out for a better job than Baylor or SMU. Good luck with that.

In my opinion, the Malzahn/Mustain Springdale fiasco has been bungled so badly by Nutt and his "posse" he has ruined any chances that he will ever coach a major college again. Thus, Hootie will be relegated to a Baylor type bottom feeder if he is able to land in a BCS conference at all. If not, SMU or a mid-major will be as good as it gets. Nuttcase has completely destroyed his reputation for ethics and integrity.

I don't know how he ever got that rep in the first place. Evidently, in his one year at Boise State, he managed to earn the label of "used car salesman" which has followed him ever since. It's actually kind of sad. The guy had potential but has squandered it in pursuit of the BBD. The bigger/better deal is all his monstrous ego will allow him to pursue. He seemed to think he was bulletproof, such was his attachment to Broyles, who was still planning on being AD into his 90's before he was forced out.

His attachment, was of course, that his lips were attached to Broyles' ass. Why else would he have lasted this long? No big-time football school in America would have tolerated his soap opera antics more than 4-5 years, but he lasted a decade here due to his slick talk and schmoozing the powers that be. The question is: could the PTB not see through his BS or did they just enjoy being schmoozed to the point of being satisfied with Nutt's mediocrity?

It's time to bust up the Good Ol'Boy Network at UA, which has come to stand for "Under-Achievers" in athletics. Matt Shanklin, "Darvocet" Dean Weber, Tim Cheney, Kevin "Baghdad Bob" Trainor, all need to go along with the Father and Son duo of Broyles and Nutt. It's long overdue actually, but we can't do anything about that now. Please Jeff Long. If you accomplish nothing else as the new AD, do a "Walking Tall" number on these clowns. Figuratively, I mean.

Hopefully for all concerned, tar and feathers and a rail won't be necessary. But if the GOBN refuses to go quietly into that good night, to borrow a phrase from Hootie, "don't let go of the rope".

Is Norv Turner The Hootie Nutt Of The NFL?

Watching the Sunday night game on NBC tonight, it was almost painful watching the San Diego Chargers try to blow a 23 point lead. And I'm not even a Charger fan. But think about it. Hootie and Norv were both assistants to Jimmy Johnson on teams called the Cowboys. They both have 2 great running backs. Neither can develop a Quarterback. They're both dorks.

The game started with San Diego returning the opening kickoff for a TD. Before you could blink an eye, after a punt return for another TD, the score was 23-0. Then thing s got really strange. Right before the half, Colt kicker Adam Vinatieri, one of the great clutch kickers of all time, hooked a 42 yard attempt wide left.

At the end of the game, the Colts had fought back to get within 23-21 and had an apparent first down at the Charger 6 yard line. Norv the Dork challenged the spot of the ball and got a reversal. It was 4th and about half a yard. I think I would have had to run a QB sneak for the first down with 1:49 still left since a FG would have only given the Colts a 1 point lead. Instead Tony Dungy had his offense try to draw the defense offsides, unsuccessfully.

And like Van Tiffin of Alabama last year, Adam Vinatieri pushed a 29 yard field goal wide right. The Colts got the ball back, but with only :32 left and were unable to get back in FG range and lost. Unlike Hootie Nutt in the 'Bama game this year, even Norv Turner had the good sense not to throw on 3rd and long and stop the clock on the last San Diego possession. That ran an additional 40 seconds off the game clock.

Norv Turner, dork that he may be, at least had the good sense not to elbow the band director out of the way (if they had a band director in SD) or jump into the stands or do anything Hootie-like in celebrating the lucky win.

A real coach is more relieved at winning in such a way instead of jumping around like he just won the lottery ala Nuttcase. Norv Turner is not a real head coach, but one at least has to give him credit for that.

Set The Clocks Back Tonight

Just like Hootie's offense. Yeah, it was a good win. The 20-12 pick of SC was tongue in cheek. I will admit I thought the Ol' Ball Caoch would outsmart Hootie in the 4th quarter and win. I'm still glad it didn't happen that way. I still don't root for our opponents like some fans.

However, I still think Nutt is a mediocre coach and that's all he'll ever be. Not to mention a liar and used car salesman. (Is that redundant?) No bandwagon jumping for me.

I've got news for you Nutthuggers. No matter who the head coach is next year, this team will struggle to win 5 games with no DMac, no Felix, no Hillis, no Monk, a new secondary and Texas taking the place of a directional school on the schedule. Then, either Florida or Georgia, I forget which, will take the place of Tennessee.

We still need to fire Hootie or hope he takes another job, whether it's Baylor, SMU, Memphis or wherever. We need to get a real coach and let them begin to rebuild the depleted roster and try to somewhat reunite the fan base.

Later, new lyrics to Toby Keith and Hootie Nutt's 2006 theme song, only changed to We Still Don't Like You Now

Jersey-Gate

I don't normally take everything Wally Hall writes seriously, but if the story is true about equipment manager Tim Cheney? Together with previous reports of Cheney's harassment of the Springdale players, this is grounds for dismissal. The man should be fired along with Hootie Nutt, Dean Weber, Kevin Trainor and just about everyone in this whole stinking, rotten mess.

Beck Campbell and Mitch Mustain could not be blamed for filing a lawsuit concerning email-gate and if that's what it takes to straighten up this corrupt, good ol' boy clique in the UA athletic department, so be it.

Jeff Long has a lot of work to do to restore the integrity of this sinking ship. Whoever the coach is next year is going to be in for choppy seas with so many player losses and the damage done by Paw-Paw Broyles, Hootie Nutt, Diana Nutt, Teresa Prewitt and "the posse".

It's embarrassing to share a state, not to mention a team with people like these, with the exception of Broyles. I don't think Broyles is inherently corrupt, but like the old saying (oft misquoted), power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The man had absolute power over the UA athletic department for far too long and now UA has a drug scandal, a basketball probation, the Harrod mess, the Nolan messy firing, the track scandal with Lance Brauman and others to show for it.

Hit That State Line Hootie!

There should be new words to the fight song. "Hit that state line, hit that state line, keep on going" is how the song that Hootie loves to sing to the cherry-picked group of sycophants after a victory should go these days. Snatching credit and attention from the players, where attention rightfully belongs is vintage Nutt.

Now I'm not a shrink, I just play one on TV, but perhaps this Hootie habit stems from Nutt's own career being such a monumental flop. I was 2 years ahead of him in school in the eastern part of the state and heard all the hype from his HS career. When Nutt arrived at UA in 1976 I could not believe that this guy was the one who had been hyped so much. I saw very little major college type talent and I don't think Nutt ever recovered from that blow to his ego. Rant over. Well, at least that one.

The Ol' Ball Coach must have drank some Nutty kool-aid at the SEC meetings to talk about how "close" the Hogs are to being undefeated and #1 in the BCS. With that schedule? No way any team gets to the top spot with 4 wins against rumdums like UTC and the Fla. International House Of Cupcakes.

I'll just about guarantee you Spurrier is telling his coaches and players in private if they can keep the game close until the 4th quarter he will outcoach Hootie and win the game.

Due to the benching of Chris Smelley, we are deprived of the much-anticipated Smelley-Dick matchup. Somehow, Mitchell-Dick doesn't have quite the same ring to it although Mitchell is a dirty word to Hootie Nutt. The two teams may not have the glamor of some other SEC Programs, but they do have the best names. Smelley. Dick. Succop(pronounced suck-up, you know like Houston does to Broyles). Talk about a "sexy" matchup.

By the time the Ol' Ball Coach gets to town next Friday, Hootie may have successfully spun the win over the Fla. House Of Cupcakes into a meaningful victory. I'm not buying and seriously doubt if many other fans will either. Speaking of fans, there were a lot of them disguised as empty seats Saturday. The Houstonistas have talked incessantly about the tickets sold and attendance figures in defending the dork.

The OBC doesn't lose 3 in a row very often, but Hootie does. Tennessee was lucky last night, but when haven't they been lucky against us in Knoxville? Mississippi State hardly looks like the automatic win the Hootie-ites have been projecting ever since the schedule was drawn up. And when was the last time the Hogs won in Baton Rouge? 1993, that's when.

As much as I hope the Hogs win the last 4 games, I know that like the sun coming up in the East, Hootie getting outcoached and giving away a couple of games is a virtual certainty.

Arkansas 63- Florida International House Of Cupcakes 3. That's my prediction for tomorrow's game. In spite of what the Blowhard from Hootie And The Blowhard says, this IS a cupcake team and will further the Hogs lowering of standards the last 10 years to winning the Sun Belt title. Without playing Arkansas State, of course.

With the last of the dinosaurs retiring soon, I look for that situation to change. And why not? If we're going to play all their opponents with ASU playing SEC opponents, it's just silly not to. Of course the reason it hasn't happened is Broyles, so with new blood coming in the AD's office, the Arkansas legislature will renew efforts to get such a game together and Beebe is an ASU grad.

The only suspense about the game is if the plane will show up and what the banner will say if it does. Weston Dacus says such things are "childish". How about taking a long look at your head coach, Dacus?

I guess Peyton Hillis didn't get the Reggie Herring memo from yesterday about the Florida International House Of Pancakes not being an easy game. Hillis predicted that DMac and Felix Jones would both have something like 200 yards each against the FIHOC "defense".

Hootie is prominent in rumors about the Baylor job. He is a Baptist, but might have a hard time convincing the Baylor committee that those thousands of phone calls and texts to a certain news anchor who has been divorced multiple times were due to "mutual charitable interests".

I don't know or care if there's anything going on there. What will ultimately put the Nutts in a noose is the email scandal involving their close friend, "Mother" Teresa Prewitt. As far as a figurative mob I say: "Don't let go of the rope".

As if Hootie didn't have enough on his plate, now comes the word that Mitch Mustain's mother has hired Timothy Hutchinson, son of former U.S.Senator Tiny Tim H. to look into the situation.

The Nutt spin all along has been "Mustain hasn't filed any complaints" so everyone else should just let it go. "He's not a student at UA anymore" has been the second part of the spin. That's not in dispute, but MM was a student at the time that putrid email was sent, now his people have filed a complaint and for the benefit of current players and any future ones, this thing needs to be investigated to the max.

If Nuttcase or his brother had anything to do with the email, immediate firing would be too good for a man who always crows about how much he loves his players and tries to shield them. "Do the right thing even when nobody is looking".

Arkansas' favorite self-promoter is at it again. Hootie is proclaiming the team meeting last Sunday to be the turning point of the season. "I called that meeting Brotha"! I can hear it now.

With the next game coming against the Florida School For The Blind or The Florida International House Of Cupcakes or some such bunch of tackling dummies, look for a score of 63-3 or something similar and Hootie will be crowing like a bantam rooster surrounded by hens. "We're on a roll". Yessir. Well, Hootie, we hate to rain on your parade, but you know what they say about too many sweets.

IHOC won't exactly prepare the Hogs for South Carolina and the OL' Ball Coach, Tennessee at Knoxville, Misstake and LSU at Red Stick. You just know the OBC is itching to get at Hootie after last year, not to mention Not As Fat Phil and Less Miles, who will be aiming to keep the Trophy in Cajunland before UA hopefully gives Hootie The Boot.

Well, just as we thought, Hootie is crowing about the victory over hapless Ole Miss yesterday and once again, predicting great things for the Hogs. There is a column in the Stephens Media papers by John Brummett. Brummett, who I often disagree with, makes very vaild points in the piece, entitled: "Time For Nutt To Take Ego And Leave".

I couldn't agree more, especially with his points about Hootie making everything about himself, Nutt's spinning of the facts, and his coaching from timidity and fear. Also Brummett makes good points about Hootie's excuse-making and whining. And the more I find out about the man's wife and some of his friends, the less likable he is.

Time for a change and the outcome of one game against weak opposition doesn't change that. If anything, it only makes it more noticeable how much this team has underachieved this season.

Well, tomorrow's the day.The loser's head coach will indeed be The Biggest Loser in the SEC. Part soap opera, part "reality show". Just wondering if the plane that has been following Nuttcase around the last 2 weeks will show in Oxford. If so, the air space above the Grove and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium could get quite crowded, with Ole Miss possibly having a plane of their own flying a banner touting the firing of Ed Orgeron.

If he goes, could UA get so lucky as to have the Rebs make a play for Nuttball? Just think, the Hogs could improve their own lot and weaken an opponent at the same time. Okay, I guess Nutrageous would be an improvement over Farmer Fran. You know, the guy in the overalls from The Waterboy now serving as the OM head coach. The guy no one could understand most of what he said. We can still hope. Keep hope alive!

Here in Fort Smith, both of the most popular dailies, the Times-Record and the Demozette featured our boy Houston in the cartoons in the editorial section today. Fitting, since the guy is a walking cartoon character. Also the punch line to any number of jokes. Just say the words 'Houston Nutt' these days and get laughs.

Like Will Rogers said: "it's easy being a humorist with the whole government working for you". Just sub Nutt's name or the UA athletic deptartment. Surely the powers that be at UA can't be so clueless as to not see and hear the banners, T shirts, message boards, call in shows, editorial cartoons, etc. Can they?

The expiration date on those Nutts may not be 2012 after all. At least we can hope.

On the KFSM Channel 5 news tonight, there was even a story about a "moral victory" for sale on Ebay featuring Nutt. Speaking of which, Houston has to be the only guy in the state, in the public eye at least, with as obvious a bad dye job on his 'do as 5 Sports Director MIke Irwin. Maybe those 2 have the same hair stylist.

There were several comments coming from Channel 5 viewers about the banners, etc. being "tacky". My question to those people is: #1, so losing is ok and #2 are you going to tell me Houston Nutt is not tacky?

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Words to live by. Or in Houston Nutt's case, to lose your job by. It's hard to jump on the guy for me right now, after such a hard fought game in which the defense finally played a really good game against a name opponent. I almost feel sorry for the guy. I say almost because Nutt has done so much of the damage to himself and the football program due to his own actions with regard to the lies and deceptions to Malzahn and the Springdale kids.

Once again, there was a banner flying over the stadium before the game with a message only slightly different than the one last week in the Rock. This time it said: "Players & Fans Deserve Better-Fire Nutt". I have mixed feelings on that.

On the one hand, I agree with the message. On the other, I cringe at such dirty laundry being aired for the whole world to see. However, the bottom line is: if Nutt had not told so many whoppers, if he had been upfront in his dealings with recruits and assistant coaches, not to mention the fans and the press, much of this current unpleasantness could have been avoided.

I know of several instances in which Nutt has flat out lied to recruits or at best broken promises. There is a current player having a good season who was promised a scholarship long ago on the condition that he win a starting job. He did 2 years ago and I recently learned he still does not have a free ride.

With Halloween fast approaching, that sort of thing usually comes back to haunt you. The whole email mess, the text scandal and Nutt's petulant response, the transfers of the 3 Springdale kids, and on and on. Nutt's refusal to accept responsibility for anything. Going off the field at halftime, the last thing he said to Holly Rowe of ESPN was an excuse about Marcus Monk.

Monk is missed, to be sure. However, injuries are part of the game. One of the biggest factors in football at any level. That's why schools' have 85 scholarships. If Nutt hadn't run Damien Williams off or failed to develop Chris Baker, London Crawford and others, Monk's injury would not be so crippling.

In so seldom throwing anything down the field or in the middle of the field, our "passing game" was so limited, opposing defenses had little respect for it anyway.

I never like to kick a man when he's down, but my take on Houston Nutt is simply that his chickens are coming home to roost. All the spinning and lies can be overlooked by many fans when the team is winning, but at 0-3 in the SEC, 6 losses in the last 7 games vs. real teams, the total lack of discipline and the used car salesman tactics are all combining to form a perfect storm raining down on Houston Nutt. If he wants to face down the one person most responsible, he need look no further than the man in the mirror.

Black shirts in the student section. Anti- Nutt banners flying over the stadium in HDN's hometown, no less. Does a totally out-of-touch administration get the message yet? Or does the message have to come in the form of a text from Teresa Prewitt?

One of the things that drove home the point that Broyles and White were completely clueless about life outside the Ivory Tower of PCU, otherwise known as the University of Arkansas, was Broyles' "5 puh-cent" comment last year. Then, John White's endorsement of Nutt after the email fiasco and the "Mala-zahn" situation.

For those who talk about black shirts and banners being an example of "crazy, out of control fans" or Hog fans being a "laughing stock" in the rest of the SEC or nation, I have a simple message. The rest of the SEC is going to make fun of us no matter what we do. Do you think they weren't making fun of us when Nutt was a hero in the eyes of most of the fans? Of course they were!

As for the rest of the nation, they know little of Arkansas and care even less. Bill Clinton is a native of the state and that's about the extent of their knowledge. The older ones know about 1957. Some know of the state only because of the West Memphis 3 or Bangin' In Little Rock. Why do we still care so much what other states think of us?

And how do football fans wanting rid of a coach define a state? Bill Battle of Tennessee had "For Sale" signs put in his yard years ago. He was subjected to much worse treatment than Nutt, with a much better record. We need to decide which is more important, what the rest of the world thinks of us or whether mediocrity is acceptable. Whether the fans deserve honesty in the way the football or other athletic programs operate, or whether to maintain the status quo.

The answer to me is clear.

Oh, boy. Whether it's the NCAA probation which Houston Nutt used as an excuse for about 5 years, or a banner flying over War Memorial Stadium, Nutt loves to be the martyr. In case you missed it, there was a banner from a plane flying over WMS last night reading: "Nuttin' like being 0-2 in the SEC", which the Hogs have been 5 times in Nutt's 10 year reign of error.

I don't condone that, however, if someone feels that strongly to spend $700, which is the reported cost of such a thing, so be it. If that what it takes for an out of touch AD and administration to wake up and smell the napalm....

And that's in Nutt's hometown, no less. The man is being booed in both Fayette Nam and The Rock. In a recent online poll done by KTHV Channel 11 in Little Rock, the question was: "Do the Razorbacks need to make a coaching change?", yes or no. The last I checked, the numbers were astounding. 2748 votes yes, 115 no. That's 95.9 pct. in favor of Nutt taking his soap opera act elsewhere.

In his inimitable, whiny way, Nutt got that fart-smelling look on his face when asked today and whined " They couldn't find that banner last year when we were 7-0 in the conference". Well, isn't that special? But Nuttcase didn't want to talk about '04 and '05 last year, did he?

Like any good con man or used car salesman (you mean they're not one and the same?) Nutt tells people what they think the listener wants to hear and constantly tries to have everything both ways. They also are good at figuring out what it is people want to hear, and far too many Razorback fans want to hear excuses about injuries or probations or bad calls after losses.

I know. This was not a loss, but as far as the pundits and pollsters are concerned, it may as well have been. Auburn has to be salivating at the prospect of facing the weak rush "D" they will see on film, giving up 160+ yards to Tennessee Chattanooga.

With a rather uninspiring win over what has to be one of the weakest Hog opponents in years, UTC was coming off a 25 point thumping by The Citadel, the Razorbacks head back into SEC play next week vs. Auburn. The same Auburn who throttled Vandy today 35-7. The same Auburn that beat Florida in Gainesville a week ago.

If the Tigers or War Eagles or whatever they are calling themselves this week, are not intimidated by the Swamp, do you really think RRS in Fayetteville will? I didn't think so.

Back to the Hogs. The offense passed for a pathetic 116 yards, with 257 rushing for less than 400 total yards vs a team that gave up 41 to The Citadel. You can feel sorry for the players or coaches if you want. I feel sorry for the fans who paid top dollar for tickets, drove from all corners of the state, fought the ridiculous traffic in the Rock, etc. to see that fiasco.

I know what the Nutt-Huggers will say. Before St. Houston came along, "we were losing games like this". That was then, this is now. While it is nice to be able to count on wins against the cupcakes like UTC and The Citadel, 10 seasons is more than enough to get some wins vs. SEC teams besides Ole Miss and Misstake.

Mr. Mediocrity, Houston D. Nutt will never be able to win consistently enough in the SEC to get to that elusive "next level", in my opinion. He has become so divisive as to be a distraction. It is time for him to move on at the end of the season. Past time, actually, but nothing we can do about that now. Broyles had to be out of the picture before Nutt could be sent packing.

I don't think he will be, I think Nutt will take another job ala Hatfield. The writing is on the wall, and it's getting clearer all the time. There were boos for the Hogs, even in Little Rock tonight following the 65 yard touchdown run for UTC.

Note to Reggie Herring: If you're going to be mouthing off about your defense or the schedule, you look like a fool when your unit plays like that.

One thing about our boy Houston, you never run out of material with the never-ending soap opera that is his life and career. To paraphrase Will Rogers, it's easy being a humorist when you have Houston Nutt and most of the UA Athletic department working for you. Of course, Rogers said that about the government, but the federal and state govs look efficient compared to the goings on on the Hill in recent years.

As for Darren McFadden grabbing the mike during Nutt's rah-rah Harry High School routine the other night. DMac in my opinion is the best player to ever put on a jock in Fayetteville, and the best player in the nation this season and last. But he is all wet with his statement that fans must support the coaches or they don't support the players. HOGWASH!

That's like saying someone must like George W. Bush to be an American. If our Founding Fathers had thought like that, we'd still be wearing powdered wigs and picking hankies out of our sleeves, pledging allegiance to King George. Ok, we are still doing the last part, but at least this King George was elected. Kind of.

There were also some whiny comments from recruits about booing. The players only have to put up with Nutt 4-5 years if they're good enough. The fans have been putting up with his used-car salesman ways for nigh on 10 years now.

Fans who make a fraction of Nutt's $1.2 MILLION per year in a state in the 40's of 50 states in per capita income, who pay $35 or more per ticket, many pay to park, make donations to the Foundation, drive from faraway places like McGehee, Paragould, Crossett, etc. have every right to boo the coach when he makes the same bonehead decisions every year and nothing is done due to an out-of-touch AD and pecksniffian Chancellor.

Hold that. Something was done. After the Teresa Prewitt email fiasco, Nuttsack was assigned to investigate himself and given a raise and contract extension.

Tonight's lopsided win over the North Texas State Green Weenies or whatever they're called, takes a little pressure of Houston Nutt... for now. But in the long term, it doesn't mean much. This team lost to OU 79-10 earlier and gave up 45 to SMU last week. Rent-a-wins like this one define a teams' season only if it loses them.

Until the Hogs beat a real team of the SEC variety or at least a major conference team, of which there are none on the schedule with Tennessee/Chattanooga next on the menu and the Florida School For The Blind or some such tackling dummy later, this writer remains unconvinced. With Houston Nutt on the sidelines and Casey Dick under center, the 2 non-conference games are the only gimmes left.

The 2 Mississippi schools are certainly beatable and Auburn is a winnable game, but the Tigers' win in "the swamp" tonight proves they can win on the road. You know the Hogs will get outcoached against South Carolina and winning at Knoxville is something no Hog coach except Joe Kines has ever done, so 7 or 8 wins looks to be how the season will shake out.

You notice I didn't mention LSU, which will beat us like a drum in Red Stick like they usually do.

The question is: will 8 wins get the team in the Cotton Bowl vs. a Big 12 also-ran? Against this soft schedule, anything less than 8 wins is a bad year. If the Hogs do spend New Year's Day in "Big D", will history repeat itself? You know. Ken Hatfield coached the Hogs in the CB against Tennessee on Jan. 1, 1990, then split for Clemson without even bothering to visit the campus.

It is my belief that Nutt will not be fired. Broyles will leave any major moves like that to Jeff Long, surely. I mean, the Boss Hog has let Houston go this long without being accountable. Do you really think he would fire his boy on his way out the door? I don't. And I don't believe Jeff Long will want to make such a major move that soon in his reign. I believe HDN will take his ball and go to whatever team will have him. He wouldn't have to be that highly paid to make more than his settlement amount at UA.

What with Hillis, Monk, D-Mac and probably Felix leaving, the cupboard will be less than bare next season resulting in a subpar season which would surely make the Nuttcracker Suite a hit. So, why stick around another season to get fired when you could make a new start somewhere else? We can hope. In my opinion, such a parting would benefit both sides and allow a healing of the divisions in Hog Nation.

Houston Nutt is obviously starting to feel the heat with petulant comments the last 2 days such as: "the players and coaches want to win 10 times as much as anybody else" and " I put more pressure on myself than anybody else can".

Ok, let's address the first one. While it's true the players and coaches go through sweltering practices in August, etc., they don't have to pay to get in the games. They don't have to pay for a motel for at least one night per game, much less 2. They don't have to pay $4 for a soda and fight the traffic, walk a mile to their seats.

Mr. Nutt needs to be reminded that the FANS pay the freight or there would be no college football, at least not as we know it. We, the FANS pay his bloated salary whether in the form of tax dollars, ticket sales or contributions to the Razorback Foundation. If there were not 70,000 plus people in the stands for games, does he really think he would still have a job?

People from all corners of this state make the drive from places like McGehee, Paragould, and Texarkana, not to mention other states, to see the same predictable offense, the same boneheaded coaching decisions, and hear the same excuses after losses.

I don't think it's asking too much for a Head Coach making $1.2 million a year in one of the poorest states in the U.S. to level with the fans and tell us the TRUTH. We don't expect the man to tell us the game plan or info that would help opponents. We do have the right to hold the staff accountable when they give us mealy-mouthed used-car-salesman double talk about "there's no dissension on the staff, nothing could be further from the truth". Then we see coaches defect to smaller schools for less money. Then we hear "Mitch hasn't decided what he's going to do, he's just weighing his options" and he announces he's leaving almost immediately.

We're told Nutt knew nothing about the infamous Teresa Prewitt email until after the Bowl game, then we see evidence to the contrary. Why should we believe anything Houston Nutt says when he has been caught in so many lies? When he utters his favorite catchphrase "nothing could be further from the truth", hold on tight to your wallet, he's getting ready to tell a whopper.

You can get away with a lot with the people of Arkansas, but lying repeatedly over a period of time is not one of them.