Well, it took a few days, but Houston Nutt finally got around to playing the zebra card. You know the drill. After a loss, it was no fault of his, it was bad calls by the refs that cost the Hogs a victory.

He specifically mentioned the personal foul on Freddie Fairchild on an out of bounds tackle of Kodi Burns. Of course, Nutt claimed Burns was in bounds when contact occurred when anyone with eyes could see that was not the case. Not only that, but the sling down of Burns was way beyond the sideline. It was just a typical bonehead play that Nutt's teams characteristically make in big games.

That play put Auburn in the redzone, but they did not even score on that possession anyway. Brad Lester fumbled a play or two later. Therefore that call cannot be used as an excuse for the loss.

Nutt's boneheaded clock management late in the first half had as much to do with it as anything. The Hogs ended the half with at least 1 timeout left and let the clock run down to :02 before stopping it with Auburn having to punt. That did the Hogs a lot of good. If the clock had been stopped sooner, Arkansas could have had the ball at midfield or better with almost a minute left.

But then a pass or two might have been needed. What was the deal with that? Was his phone ringing or something?

On the same night that saw the Hogs fall to 0-3 in the SEC at RRS, just a few blocks away at the Walton Arts Center on Dickson Street, a few hundred dance enthusiasts came to see the Houston Ballet. The Houston Soap Opera and the Houston Ballet performed almost simultaneously.

I doubt that anyone flew a banner over the WAC before the performance. If they did, what would it say? Here are a few suggestions: "The Houston Ballet Dancers Have Two Left Feet!". How about: "Houston Ballet, We Have A Problem". Or: "Houston Ballet, Who Choreographs Your Show, Lisa Nowak?".

In spite of the obvious differences in the two shows, the Demozette's Michelle Parks gave the HB a rave review, while most of the crowd and press assembled at RRS would likely be a little less enthused about the Hogs' "performance". However, there were some similarities. For any Nutt-Huggers reading this, that means they were somewhat alike.

Here goes: at the start of one number, seven male dancers jumped randomly in place, sort of like male cheerleaders, or Houston Nutt and members of his staff on the sidelines. Here's another: The men, described by Ms. Parks as having "chiseled bodies", mimicked one another's movements. Sort of like Nutt in his rah-rah Harry Highschool routine of singing the fight song to the student section. Except for the part about the chiseled bodies, in Nutt's case.

Furthermore, according to the article, the dancers formed a family of 2 parents and 4 children. Like the Nutts. Then, two of the brothers "danced in a flurry". Like Houston and Danny. The same Danny who was in the coaches box for the UK game and who is still padding the payroll.

To top it off, "11 couples moved in unified and individual parts". Kinda like football players. Then at the conclusion of the number, "they all fell flat to the stage", just like the Hogs down the street.

I don't have a clue about such "artsy-fartsy" goings on, just what I read in the article. But, I do know this: if the Houston Ballet had performed "The Nutcracker Suite", it would have brought down the house.

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.

Wee Wally Hall's "column" in the Demozette today is a prime example of Wally Pipsqueek cluelessness. His 10 reasons the Hogs will beat Auburn included a line about Houston Nutt assuring the players he will be back next season.

Guess what Wally? The decision might not be his. Not saying Nutt will be fired, necessarily. Just that with his Protector leaving and fan discontent at a 20 year high, if not the highest ever....anything could happen. After all, Hatfield only had 50,000 in the seats to boo him and Crowe and Ford created fan apathy to the point that the Hog faithful showed their discontent by staying home.

Of course, the Nutt camp spun things during the offseason, touting season ticket sales, etc. when fan discontent was raging way more than the clueless AD let on with his 5 "puh cent" statement last year.

As for this game, let's not forget that Auburn has a record of 18-5 (16-4 in the SEC)on the road the past 5 seasons, the nation's 2nd best road record during that time. That coupled with the Hogs woes at Fayetteville makes Wally's silliness even more moot.

I'll be rooting for the Hogs as usual, but with the realization that we're probably looking at another loss, even if Houston Nutt doesn't bungle things like he so often does. Nutt is all emotion and no logic, like a carnival barker or tent preacher while Tuberville is the opposite, or close to it. That does not bode well when tough decisions have to be made on the sidelines.

One can seldom tell if Tommy T. is winning or losing, but look for Nuttcase to be biting his nails early and often.

What a "Banner" Year for Arkansas football! Just as Houston Nutt's seat couldn't get much warmer, along comes Auburn, with 2 of the state's natives playing for the Tigers. Kodi Burns of Fort Smith Northside and Rogers' Lee Ziemba are playing as true freshmen, with Ziemba starting at RT on the offensive line.

If Kodi Au-Burns the Hogs with a score and the Tigers win, think the heat on Houston is bad now? Just wait.