Fire The Liar!

Today's win over Misstake means....not much. MSU had never won a game within Arkansas' borders and still hasn't. Where has this Hog team been all season other than when going against directional schools? The wins like this one and South Carolina just show the talent this team has but has not played up to 4 times this season.

And that goes to crappy coaching by Hootie Nutt. His overwrought denials after the game are just more of his lies, unless HE floated these rumors just to try to drum up support from fans or the UA administration. Such a desperate ploy to cling to power would not be surprising from the man at all, given his track record. I'm sick of hearing how much he "loves" the Hogs and the University and the state of Arkansas.

It's time for Hootie to prove how much he loves that trio by LEAVING after the LSU game. Go for the green at Baylor. We all know how much Hootie loves the green, so go for it there and let us get a real coach.

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".

Fire The Liar!

No matter how many directional schools or Mississippi schools or never-wases who had never won a bowl game until a few years ago that Hootie Nutt manages to beat, the man should be fired for his lying, near constant deceptions and mediocrity as a coach.

The biggest problem UA has is fans and boosters who are willing to settle for just beating the creampuffs and more mediocre teams with regularity. Now, the spinners are saying "remember what happened when Hatfield left".

Hatfield was a not ready for prime timer and so is Hootie Nutt. Just don't hire a Jack Crowe to replace him. This program sans DMac, Felix, Hillis, Monk and most of the secondary is going to struggle to win 6 games next season no matter who the coach is.

But if the Hogs get rid of Hootie, at least the next guy, provided he is the right hire, could rebuild the football program in a couple of years and surely do a better job of reuniting the fragmented fan base than Nutt could possibly do.

So many fans are so disgusted with Nutt's tactics and ego tripping, winning the rest of the games would only be a bandaid. He has had long enough with his "National Championship under construction". It's time to give someone else a shot. Someone with integrity and vision. Houston Nutt has neither.

Pork Or Chicken On The Menu? Arkansas-South Carolina Comparisons

First of all, we're talking about two small southern states that have some similarities, but not a long history on the football field. So here are a few contrasts and comparisons:

SC: longest tenured politician: Strom Thurmond. AR: longest tenured politician: Frank Broyles. Broyles appeared in a Civil War movie. Strom Thurmond appeared in the Civil War. Thurmond was in power past the age of 100. Broyles was booted from office in his early 80's. Advantage: SC

SC: home of Hootie and The Blowfish. AR: home of Hootie and the Blowhard (Herring).
Advantage: SC

SC: has the ol' Coach with lots of ball plays. AR: has the coach who plays with his balls a lot. Advantage: SC

SC: has a Quaterback named Smelley. AR: has a coach whose record vs. non-Mississippi schools in the SEC is smelly. Advantage:SC

SC: has a player named Succop (pronounced Suck-up). AR: has a head coach who does suck up. Advantage: even

SC: has a Presidential candidate who is a lawyer with TV evangelist hair. AR: has a Presidential candidate who is a preacher who should sue his hair for abandonment. Advantage: SC

SC: has the nickname of the 'Cocks. AR: has 2 QBs named Dick. Advantage: even.

SC: mascot is a chicken. AR: mascot is a hog. Have you ever heard a meat "tastes like pork?" Advantage: AR

SC: has a receiver named McKinley. AR: has receivers who have hands as soft as Mt. McKinley. Advantage: SC

SC: has a head coach who is a scratch golfer. AR: has a head coach who has won scratch, goes for the green, and has a golf ball with a good lie guaranteed every time. Advantage: SC

One More And We'll Throw A Party!

That's what Hootie-boy was reported to have said when Andrew Norman got his release papers to transfer to Tulsa. Now Ben Cleveland is denied a jersey to take his rightful place on the sidelines last Saturday? Could this be a little retribution for his getting a second opinion on his neck and deciding to redshirt after Darvocet Dean Weber said he could play? Or is just being from Springdale enough? If Hootie didn't need Alex Tejada would he be run off too?

As usual, Hootie's explanation doesn't wash. "He should have just come to me". That will go down with last year's "nothing could be further from the truth" we heard over and over in response to rumors of dissension on the staff and team.

Fire The Liar!

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.

58-10 Hogs win. Yawn. Big Whoop. In extending the nation's longest losing streak, the Hogs once again weren't all that impressive. It's better than losing, sure, but beating up on the nation's weakest team can't get most fans excited.

It's been so long, almost a calender year, since the Hogs beat a major conference team not located in the Magnolia State, that's Mississippi, Hootie fans, that it's hard to remember what's it's like. Of course, I'm sure Hootie rah-rahed it up like the Porkers won the national championship.

The Houstonista spin is that if the Hogs win out they would finish 10-3, better than last year percentage wise. As Daddy Bush might say, "Not gonna happen". The real season starts next Saturday. The OBC is sure to outcoach Hootie, then the Great Pumpkin Fulmer, then a not so fast on counting Misstake as a sure win, then LSU at Red Stick. Losing out is more likely than winning out. My guess is a 7-5 record at best for the Hogs, more likely 6-6 with what would hopefully be Hootie's last game coming in Shreveport.

Fans who are disgusted with this regime, and they are many in spite of Rip Van Broyles' "5 puh-cent" statement, should not give up. Settle for mediocrity and that's what will be delivered in abundance.

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?

Reggie Herring is doing it again. Defending the Hogs joke of a nonconference schedule, I mean. Troy State, TN-Chattanooga, some other rent-a-win and now the Florida International House Of Cupcakes with their 19 game losing streak? Priceless. Making this schedule was so simple, a bald, raving lunatic knuckle-dragger could do it. I'm sure Hootie put Herring up to it, just as the Hogs' spinmeister put DMac up to taking the mike and lecturing the student section about the blackshirts.

Speaking of which, I wonder if da' plane will show up again this weekend? You know, the one Hootie said couldn't be found last year?

I heard today that someone sent a bushel of corn to Hootie's house. Good luck with that. If Nutt really did get offered that job, which I now doubt, he can kiss that one goodbye. Surely Tom Osborne's stint in Washington, D.C. didn't warp his brain to the point that he would hire the Hootster to come to Lincoln. Poor Hootie better stock up on the chapstick regardless, what with a new bosses'@$$ to kiss soon, wherever he is next year.

Jimmy Sexton, Hootie's agent, is based in Memphis I believe. Does Tommy West get another year at Tiger High? If not, Hootie could learn that fight song quicker than you can say 2012.

2 weeks ago, after the putrid offensive performance against Auburn, Hootie Nutt was quoted in the papers saying he had told David Lee "to get more creative" on offnese. Well, he could hardly get less creative could he? Lee was also told to "open it up". Hootie didn't say what "it" was. Was it a can of whupass, a can of worms, a can of 'nutts' (is that redundant?) or what?

Hootie Nutt's idea of "opening it up" on offense is to wait until 4th down to punt or run something besides the draw play on 3rd down.

Now, all we're hearing from the Hill is "it's a 'new' season", "we're 1-0" and Hootie's team meeting the day after the Auburn game has "saved the season". My question is: why did the Hogs wait until the 6th game to play with a sense of urgency? The bottom line is Nutt coaches not to lose, like Broyles post-1970, like Holtz after his first couple of years in Fayetteville, like Hatfield his whole time here, and so on.

The common thread is that every UA football coach since Broyles has gotten more and more conservative the longer they were here after being at least a little daring at first. That common thread is J. Frank Broyles. For all he has done for the football program and the University, it was past time for Broyles to retire, several years past time, actually. There needs to be a house-cleaning at UA from top to bottom, not only in the athletic department but the school as a whole. Here's hoping the hiring of Jeff Long is a start.

With today's convincing win by the Hogs, one might think some of Nutt's critics mught back off, at least for a time. Not this one. A 44-8 win over a winless in the SEC Ole Miss doesn't mean much. It is a win and the players are to be congratulated. Any win over an SEC rival is a good win. However, in the long run, all it means is that the Hogs won't go 0-8 in the league.

It is the first win for the Razorbacks vs a non-directional school since last November's uninspiring win over cross state Misstake in Starkville. The fact is, minus all the wins over the 2 Mississippi schools, Houston Nutt's SEC record is abysmal.

It adds up to 24-11 vs UK, Vandy, SC and the Miss. schools, 15-28 against everyone else. The non-conference record is: 29-1 against non BCS (mostly directional)conference schools, 3-7 in non-conference games and bowls vs BCS conference schools.

It's time to decide whether or not mediocrity is acceptable. When Broyles fired Danny Ford, he said it was not. When he fired Stan Heath the Boss Hawg said just getting to the NCAA tourney was not enough. But just getting to a bowl in Shreveport or Nashville is? Not to an increasing number of fans and boosters.

Today's win makes for good tonic for the troops, but that's about it. At the end of the season will OM even have an SEC win? Maybe they can beat Misstake.

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!

Real Men Of Genius-Houston Nutt is a new video on youtube I happened across tonight. Of course, it's a takeoff on those Bud Lite ads a couple of years ago with the lounge singer guy. With permission fro the producer, you can find it on your left, on the bottom. And, yes it is funny or I wouldn't bother.

Let's see. Is there anything new in the Houston Nutt follies? Well, isn't there always even in the offseason? The guy has just become a walking punch line. Speaking of which, here are a few HDN jokes for your enjoyment:

Did you hear that Houston already has his Halloween costume picked out? Broyles advised him that his "expuhts" had said for Nutt to choose an outfit that no one would associate Nutt with. Something totally unexpected. So Houston's going as a Division 1 football coach.

What do Arkansas football and a Sundae have in common? They'd both be better without the nutts!

What did Danny Nutt say to Houston Nutt when he had the headsets on in the UK game? "Tell Dick to stay in the pocket".

What was Houston's best subject in school? Text education.

Why was Houston so upset when his playbook got stolen? Page 2 hadn't been colored in yet.

What did Houston tell Michael Smith to do if he went to jail? "Don't let go of the soap".

After Nutt's cellphone was stolen, why did the UA not report the theft? 'Cause the thief charged so many fewer minutes.

Why does no one ever ask Houston for change of a dollar? 'Cause he only gives 3 quarters.

Did you hear about Houston getting a prescription for viagra? David Lee told him he couldn't straighten out Dick.

When Broyles advised Nutt to get help passing the football, Houston bought a laxative.

That's 10, enough for tonight. More later.

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?

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, yeah, one more thing. With George W. Bush's appearance in NWA today, the only guy with a lower approval rating than Houston Nutt should have invited Houston up to the podium. I can hear it now: "Nutty, you're doin' a heckuva job!!!".

The two men operate so much alike, it's eerie. Neither ever takes responsibility for anything. Neither has ever been wrong and when things get tough, an assistant falls on the sword. Now that Karl Rove has lots of time on his hands, maybe Jimmy Sexton, HDN's Superagent could enlist Rove's help in restoring his client's image. Or not.

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.

Well, for any so-called "Haters", which has come to be one of the most overworked phrases in the version of English we speak in our country, who might have felt sorry for Houston D. Nutt after the loss last night, it's on! His comments about his contract running until 2012 and "I'm not going anywhere" in his presser today? Red meat to the ever-growing legion of his detractors. "The Army of 'Haters' to the North" is what his wife called them.

As if Nutt's only detractors live in Springdale. I've got news for you Mrs. Nuttcase, in a recent online poll run by KTHV Channel 11 in Little Rock , your husband's hometown, 95.9% of the respondents want a new Head Coach for the football team.

HDN's enemies list is well populated in every corner of the Natural State and sure to grow longer with every loss and asinine statement he makes to the press. In fact, you could call it the "Au Natural State" as more people every day realize the Emperor of the UA football program has no clothes.

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.