Fans In Frenzy: Razorbacks Unseat Bayou Bengals
Talk Turns To Houston Nutt's Arkansas Future
Last updated Friday, November 23, 2007 10:58 PM CST in News
By The Morning News
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FAYETTEVILLE -- For Josh Lindsey it was a first.
"The last time they did this was five years before I was born," Lindsey screamed after Arkansas beat top-ranked Louisiana State in overtime.
It was Arkansas' first victory over a No. 1 team since the Razorbacks routed the Texas Longhorns 42-11 on Oct. 17, 1981. After that victory, the goalposts came down in Fayetteville. This time, the win came on the road.
About 60 people at Grubs Bar & Grille became instant friends less than a second after Matterral Richardson sealed the win for the Razorbacks.
Richardson, a cornerback for the Hogs, intercepted LSU quarterback Matt Flynn on a two-point conversion to cap a 50-48 victory in Baton Rouge, La.
Lindsey and the rest of the crowd held its breath on every pass as it watched the game at Grubs, a few blocks off the University of Arkansas campus on West Avenue. Fans focused on the televisions as time expired and one overtime led to another. The third one was the charm, and the group roared when Richardson reined in the win.
"Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes," Lindsey shrieked as he hugged his friends, the old ones and the ones made seconds earlier. "We did it."
The news slowly rang from bars and restaurants along Dickson Street. Even some shops got in on the action.
Lori Ray, a pharmacist at Collier's Drug Store, needed some relief.
"It was stressful," Ray said. "I was pacing back and forth. I had to tell another girl what was happening."
Dickson Street was a hub of Hog hysteria following the upset. Even the action at the Lights of the Ozarks took a backseat to the win.
Kandy Lee said she started watching the game at home on television, but when she headed for the town square to see the lights she switched to radio. By the time the Hogs headed off the field in victory, Lee said she was getting periodic updates from a friend on her cell phone.
Talk turned to the future shortly after the win. The fate of head football Hog Houston Nutt dominated the debate.
"I think we are going to hear a lot about his career come tomorrow," Lee said.
Rachel Hunt of Farmington said she wasn't swayed by the Hog's performance.
"I don't like him at all," she said. "I wanted the Razorbacks to win. They deserve it, plus it's the Golden Boot, but I also didn't want them to win so that Nutt would be gone."
Nutt treated Gus Malzahn unfairly last year and it's time for a change, Hunt said. She said she was a former student at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale where Malzahn once coached. She said he was an excellent offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks.
Some fans were going the other way.
Nutt's future should be safe, at least for next season, said Trey King of Fayetteville.
"I think he's secured himself with this win," King said. "He had a lot of pressure, but beating LSU is huge."
Tanner Nutt, a distant relation to the coach, agreed.
"I think people underestimate him sometimes, but when it counts, he seems to pull them off," Tanner Nutt said. "I think he's got a job for sure."
Tyler Cabello-Penn isn't so sure.
"There are a lot of personal questions about him, and I think it will depend on whether there's a moral premise to the decision or whether it's strictly about his performance as a coach," Cabello-Penn said. "He did pull off one hell of a win today."
-- The Morning News' Dug Begley, Dan Craft and Christopher Spencer contributed to this report.
Razorback Central
July 10th, 2009
Reader Comments (52 comment(s))
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Hog Wild wrote on Nov 23, 2007 6:37 PM:
" I love it!!!! If Houston is on his way out...there is no better way to go. I don't think we'll find a better coach for next year. Ton's of coachs make bad calls over and over again, but what about when the players mess up? Our players have screwed up more than our coach has. Everyone deserves a second chance I hope coach Nutt stays!
Go HOGs!!!!! "
greg19670 wrote on Nov 23, 2007 7:07 PM:
" So where's all the mouthy monday morning quarterbacks ready to sack Houston? "
carman wrote on Nov 23, 2007 7:34 PM:
" Well, well, well boys and girls. Just as the Razorback fans had tarred and feathered Houston McNutt and the lynch mob was just feet away waiting to string him on the nearest tree, the unranked Razorback's defeated the #1 LSU team on their home turf. So, now what will the fans do. Why now he is a hero. New contract and pay raise, of course. The fans will place on his brow a laurel of golden oak leaves and on his shoulders a cape of golden fleece. My how things can change, expecially on national TV. Today's disliked coach is now tonight's demi-god. "
howard wrote on Nov 23, 2007 8:00 PM:
" You've got to be kidding! Holding the ball with @30 seconds left in the first half. That almost cost us the game.Hurray for the hogs but still toss NUT. "
ozarks wrote on Nov 23, 2007 8:14 PM:
" I guess you know best howard, Glad to hear something negitive about the best coached and played game ever played on the day after Thanksgiving and everyone on ESPN, FOX, local sport news says so and many fans agree. This is just what (we) that have supported Couch Nutt needed as did the Razorback team as the the State of Arkansas. Thank you Razorback team and coaches for a game that will be remembered. WOO PIG SOOIE! "
WEEKENDWARRIOR wrote on Nov 23, 2007 9:21 PM:
" There is no doubt that this was the best game, that Nutt has coached this year. To me it was because he used a few more pages of his playbook, instead of 3rd and long and Mcfadden up the middle. He finally did a good job and it's about time. But I hope he leaves/get fired/whatever.
The players finally played like they should. Great job by them. I'm happy for the Seniors, something to remember forever.
Hogs are Arkansas!!! ....not Houston.
Everyone has an opinion, some are right some are wrong.
WW "
hog wild wrote on Nov 23, 2007 10:59 PM:
" My question is WHO would want to come to Arkansas to coach, especially after the way fans have acted this season? WHO would do any better next year, much less over a 10 year period? We can't base our coaching preferences off the fact that we don't have a NC...otherwise we would never keep a coach long! Today we were able to throw the ball a little...but why? Dick made some good choices and some receivers chose to actually catch the ball. Coaching would be easy if your players do what their capable of every game, but they don't, which makes coaching difficult. Thus everyone is to blame win we lose and so on when we win. HDN will most likely get a raise to stay and maybe an extension. Go Hogs Go!!!!!!!!! "
baum hog wrote on Nov 23, 2007 11:01 PM:
" I'm simply going to enjoy this win, meaning avoiding the never-ending Houston Nutt debate. Can't you guys let it go for just one night and savor this victory? "
Django wrote on Nov 24, 2007 12:10 AM:
" Congrats Houston on your 2nd road win this year and your first victory over LSU in 5 years.And way to up your 10-year winning percentage to almost 61%.
We're all proud of you and hope you get a contract extension and massive pay increase because you are far and away the best coach Arkansas has ever had.Broyles and Holtz were nothing compared to you. "
ekro wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:23 AM:
" As usual Nutt is going to take all the praise for the win cause we all know he is what won the game and if we had lost he would blame it on the players.. "
Westcoast Hawg wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:52 AM:
" A GREAT ARKANSAS VICTORY OVER #1 LSU! DARREN MCFADDEN TO THE HEISMAN! "
Yokwe wrote on Nov 24, 2007 3:59 AM:
" Don't let this win fool you, after so many years of let-down and disappointment, it's time for Houston Nutt to go. The players deserve a better coach. "
atcncb wrote on Nov 24, 2007 4:48 AM:
" Mcfadden for the Heisman. Tebow has been getting great reviews over playing against lesser rated teams. Get behind Mcfadden & forget the other distractions.
Positive Fl. fan "
chattycat wrote on Nov 24, 2007 7:14 AM:
" Are you kidding me? There would not have been overtime dramatics if we had of gone for a few yards with 30 seconds left and then let Tejada do his thing and been the hero. Is Houston still harbouring hate and resentment against some players from that "that little chicken town" as some of you call it.
I am glad we won...it was a great game to watch...5,22 and 25 you are my heroes! After a win like that surely someone else wants HDN!!! "
sigpooie wrote on Nov 24, 2007 7:25 AM:
" "Overtime swine" We just cost the SEC 7 million in BCS money. IF Nutt could coach that well we would be making the SEC 7 more million playing in the BCS by beating an average AUB team and a below average ALB team. And why oh why do we always give nutt a reason for the bad season. This time he will say it was injuries that cost us the ALB and AUB games. Good point to make here is how could one receiver cost us any game. We have 10 on the roster, can none of them catch or run a good route. This (season) was Nutts chance to make the top ten and we might move up to 25th at best.. and dear God I hope we don't get a big 10 team to play in the cotton bowl.. Nutt should do what he can to help the program and he can see the things we see even better from there. "
bzperson wrote on Nov 24, 2007 8:22 AM:
" Congrats on such a huge win from Wisconsin Badger fan. I have been busy following both the Razorbacks and the Badgers. Watched the game and it was truly a heart stopping game. Cotton Bowl huh? I hope that happens The Razorbacks certainly deseve a bowl game after the LSU game. Terriffic job enjoy the claim to fame. GO PACKERS!!!! "
goodneighbor wrote on Nov 24, 2007 8:33 AM:
" Woooooooopiiiiiiiiigggg!!!!!!!! Razorbacks. Great job! Great game! Fortunately for us you negative people were not on the team or we would have lost. The Razorback's showed all of us that you don't give up. Everybody on the team contributed. The offense had the LSU defense so confused. The defense was so close to picking the pass off the whole game LSU was lucky to get what they did. WOOOOOOPIIIIIIGGGG!! RAZORBACKS!!!!!! "
riptide wrote on Nov 24, 2007 8:58 AM:
" How about Les Miles to Michigan and Houston Nutt to LSU!! Come on let me hear the Nutt haters!!! "
BCR wrote on Nov 24, 2007 9:35 AM:
" It was a great win for the boys. They played their hearts out, and they deserve all of the credit. Houston did a great job of coaching. Why didn't he work that hard all season? Funny how hard someone works when his job and reputation are on the line. Great Win, the boys deserve it. "
mikehog wrote on Nov 24, 2007 10:18 AM:
" Folks, look at HDN's overall record in the SEC. No BCS bowl games in 10 yrs. Look at his record vs. FL, TN, GA, and LSU. NO SEC championships. Consider his poor bowl record. Thousands of text msgs to another woman. He's let the top recruits in the state held elsewhere the past 4 yrs, and we'll see the consequences of this next season.
Finally, remember the way he treated Coach Malzahn and the Springdale 5?
The facts are he is a very mediocre coach and even lesser of a man. We must deal with facts and the facts indicate we need a change in coaches. "
pigfan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 10:24 AM:
" Having a player on the team, I haven't heard of one player that wants to see Coach Nutt leave. They all love him. Get over the Malzahn thing. There's always two sides to every story. Injuries played a big part in why the Hogs are not in the BCS mix right now, not Coach Nutt. The coaches and players coach/play there heart's out every game. I dont see Tulsa beating a #1 team and going to a big bowl game! GO HOGS!! "
ozarks wrote on Nov 24, 2007 10:35 AM:
" Let's see.. AR 50 LSU 48. Time to put it all to bed. Let's get the Cotton Bowl bid and win there and I will be one of the thousands of real fans that make that game & support the Hogs & Nutt. Will be nice to have the Heisman winner playing in the Cotton Bowl, I will add. The only thing that could make this perfect is if all the junors stay one more year and take the Hogs to real greatness next year behind the coaching of Houston Nutt. Woo Pig! We must deal with facts and the facts indicate we do not need a change in coaches. How long is Springdale and Malzahn going to be brought up? If those folks had not of ran off, who knows what this year could have brought us. They quit. They wanted it their way, they got it their way. Nutt was left holding the bag and still pulled out a great win. Cotton Bowl! "
98hogalum wrote on Nov 24, 2007 11:30 AM:
" What a great game. Congrats to all the players, coaches, staff, etc.To go on the road and beat the #1 team in the country is simply amazing. I had this conversation with a coworker of mine (an LSU alum) on Friday morning. Outside of McFadden and Jones, how many of the UA starters could start for LSU? Maybe two or three others that we could think of. Just goes to show what a great job these players did of playing as a team and executing and a fine job by the whole coaching staff of getting them ready and having a great game plan. A win we should enjoy for awhile, because, after all, shouldn't college football just be fun? "
NEW TULSA FAN wrote on Nov 24, 2007 11:39 AM:
" It was great game. There is a lot of offensive talent on the Razorback team and it was on display yesterday afternoon. Let's see that makes the Huckster four and four in SEC games along with four wins over the cupcakes. The Huckster indicated a few games ago that he was "opening up the playbook". The truth is that it isn't the Huckster's old playbook. I think it's a combination of a couple of people's playbooks, just not the Huckster's. Remember David Lee said he called every play against Mississippi State except one. Well now think about this, if the Razorbacks had played with yesterday's balance and deception at the beginning of the season, they could have been 10 and 2 or 11 and 1. Pure desperation made the Huckster do it (turn over the playbook). Last season's bad judgement and two-faced behavior still burns in my mind. My message to the Huckster is, please remember to dodge the screen door. "
hawgballer wrote on Nov 24, 2007 11:52 AM:
" Yes I am a Nutthater, but I will congrats to him for letting "DAVID LEE" call the plays. There 'NO WAY' HDN called those plays...I'm okay with Houston Nutt there as long as he let's his coaches coach. But don't just let one game over LSU is going to save the whole year. But I'll save the negative later for next year when McFAD, Felix, Hillis, leaves.. "
hawgballer wrote on Nov 24, 2007 11:57 AM:
" I guess most of the fans here expect to be in the Cotton Bowl year in year out.. But I admit the LSU game, was probably the best game he coached.. Probably save his job, but I disagree with giving him another 'CONTRACT EXTENSION'.. "
CO-Hog wrote on Nov 24, 2007 12:19 PM:
" It was a win that we woulda, coulda, shoulda had last season also. I am glad Arkansas won yesterday. But anytime your team beats a NC (#1 rated) team, then your team also has what it takes to win a NC. According to Hog wild we will "NEVER" have a NC team; we "need to just get over it". She comes on here and acts like she supports the team?? She supports her man (HDN), don't ya' Donna? Anyhoo, ESPN reports today that, via UA athletcis Dept statement, HDN will NOT resign; HDN stated the university will have to "fire him and buy him out." Way to step up there Houston and show support for a state that took really good care of you and your family for a decade. "
razorrod wrote on Nov 24, 2007 1:06 PM:
" " " I am not certain what game you guys were watching. How many series did we go three and out to open the game? The defense actually kept them in it early because the offense could do nothing. I find it odd that with the wildcat (oh im sorry wild hog) we were able to move the ball. Funny to me that HDN and David lee's new super pro style offense can't move it an inch until they start running the offense brought in by a guy you huggers call highschool. Wow what could have been. Combine the wildcat (wildhog) with an actual passing game and where would they be? Oh that's right most likely undefeated and ranked number one in the BCS. instead nope. We finished with a big win and .500 in conf play. Thanks Houston. I will still pay your uhaul expense out of town. Congrats to the players on a fine effort and can't wait to watch d-mac,felix, and hillis on sundays... " "
"
razorrod wrote on Nov 24, 2007 1:11 PM:
" " To all of you calling out co-hog. I must say. The reason he like I get so worked up and angry is the willingness of some people to accet mediocrity. That was a great win for the Razorbacks. Unfortunately all it did was prove that we have the talent to be undefeated or at worst have one loss. Thanks to a massive HDN ego and his poor coaching ability we finished .500 in conf play yet again. But guess what I saw a poster on yesterdays article saying Nutt for 10 more years. Are some of you crazy, or just don't care? People that say that are the same ones that when we were in the old SWC we can lose every game as long as we beat TX and that's ok. It is absolutely rediculous. To set the record straight I have spoken via telephone with co-hog many times and he is a pretty smart fellow and does have a family. The problem you guys don't understand is he can see beyond the victory yesterday. It was a great win, but it doesn't come close to making up for the disaster HDN has created on the hill. HDN must go and must go now. "
giants911 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 1:35 PM:
" Wake up Razorrod - you wouldn't be happy with any coach. Let's see - Only one coach in the SEC has 2 losses or less. That means 11 teams have 3 or more losses. Based on your expectations, I'm checking ESPN tonight to see if every SEC coach is FIRED! You must be from the SWC era where you were guaranteed 5-6 wins a year plus 3 easy non conference games. We don't have the overall talent like the majority of SEC teams. We have approx. 8-10 excellent players,who will be playing on Sundays. That must be a real downer talking to a person like yourself on a daily basis. "
tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 1:53 PM:
" sorry hogies too little too late there s plenty of better coaches that are waitin to take the job go to the cotton bowl ... another bowl loss wait and see "
Giants911 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:07 PM:
" Tulsa - Give all of us some insight on the Great coaches that are lining up to take the job. "
tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:20 PM:
" didnt say great did i just said better name me some that are better than nutt there s a list out there some are even hs coaches that can call a game better than him "
tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:24 PM:
" shoot give gus that 2.2 mil a yr and 10 yrs im sure that he can do better than 60% "
Giants911 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:25 PM:
" Now your showing your ignorance. Love posters who just throws things out here but don't do their research. "
tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:39 PM:
" welll giants we ll see when the end comes and HDN is on that uhaul ... i ll wave at ya "
98hogalum wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:42 PM:
" I, for one, hope HDN stays. I'll admit he isn't the greatest coach, be he's not nearly as bad as many think. I guess my question is, what are your expectations? Under HDN, we're consistently better than the 2 Mississippi schools, on equal ground with the 2 Alabama schools, and a little behind LSU. That's our division, and that's not bad. "
tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 24, 2007 3:03 PM:
" hey 98hogalum aside from all the other can u explain to me why after all the big money was spent on the new stadium which is great why the field looks like a chew d up cow pasture ...looks tacky but the rest is great "
98hogalum wrote on Nov 24, 2007 3:31 PM:
" Well, I don't think I can explain it. Last time I saw the field up there was the South Carolina game, and it looked pretty good then. "
giants911 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 4:08 PM:
" Tulsa fan - Maybe it's because you sit it the upper deck and you can't see the field very well. I sit on the 7th row and the field looked great. "
eldorado wrote on Nov 24, 2007 5:40 PM:
" What is wrong about wanting excellence from your favorite team?!!! Why are you Nutt lovers willing to settle for the ability to much around with the Missies and Vandies? Why not expect to beat the Floridas, Georgias, USCs, Texas, LSUs, and Alabama rather than go nuts when our Hogs manage to slip up on a top rung team? There is a lot of parity, right now, in the SEC and the coach can make a difference. We just proved that the Razorbacks talent should be playing in the top rung of teams!!! It took an entire season to finally get enough weapons to compete with a good team. "
thewizard16 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 6:24 PM:
" Anyone who says Nutt had the best coached game yesterday is blind. For one thing, there's almost no argument about which team has the better coach... LSU. I think he's leaving,though and distracted. It was a good game. The Hogs did well and I was yelling for them. I still feel Houston Nutt should be gone. He's behaved inappropriately and his actions have reflected poorly on the University and the program, and more importantly, tarnished the reputation making recruiting very difficult. Also, his calls are predictable and dissapointing for someone with those excellent players and big salary. The failure to call a time out in the first half was much like our recent home game where the ONLY reason he caved and called a time out was because virtually the entire stadium was booing or screaming about it.
At any rate, I'm glad we played well, but it's a bittersweet win. We knocked the SEC out of the championship game (which I think we can all agree an SEC team deserves to be in) and we're probably stuck again with one of the most mediocre and predictable head coaches of the conference for at least another year. Keep this thought in mind people: A good game does not make a good coach. Go watch our loss reels over the last two seasons and see how many were the issue of predictable or bad coaching. Kudos to Reggie Herring though, he did well yesterday. That defense was impressive. "
ozarks wrote on Nov 24, 2007 6:33 PM:
" How about them Hogs!! Arkansas: 50 LSU: 48. That is great! I hope for the Cotton Bowl. Looking forward to going and winning! 9-4 would not be bad with all the bologna by some this year and last. Hope to put it all to bed and time for the UA stand behind their coach. LSU game was a great game all the way around and no matter what any silly easy chair quarterback wants to say. Woo Pig Sooie! "
Giants911 wrote on Nov 24, 2007 7:07 PM:
" El Dorado - You're right, our season did turn around when Monk came back. We really missed him the first seven games. More importantly, our defense matured after the first three games. We gave up 109 points the first three games and were 1-2. In our last nine games we gave up 177 points and were 7-2. Defense wins games! Wizard- you ought to read tiger bait - they don't hold the same opinion that you do about Miles. Coach Nutt's calls must not have been predictable to the other coaches, since we scored 478 points this year. That's a AR school record for points in a season. Predictable -do you realize over Nutt's 10 year period, AR teams have rushed for 23,747 yds and passed for 21,181 yds. Most coaches preach for a balance between the two. "
bzperson wrote on Nov 24, 2007 7:27 PM:
" Why such a need to trash a huge win? It's THE TALK all over. The Razorbacks had a good season, and last year they were in the Capitol One Bowl. They are a true team and work vary well together. Here is a hint, if they get the attention of the big ten network will the cable subscribers be able to watch the game or will you have to have satilite? Most of the Badger games (home or away) could not be seen by cable we could listen on the radio but it wasn't the same. Most will miss the Packers and Cowboys on Thursday night because it's only on the big ten network. GO PACKERS!!!!! "
#1 HOG FAN wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:23 AM:
" There are realistic views on both sides of this issue, but trash-talking each others point of view won't help anything either. We're all Hog fans, wheather we like or dislike the coach. I personally, think he's done enough over the past year to let him go, but that is an opinion, not a fact. The LSU game was great, and normally, I would have been jumping up and down, high-fiving everyone, but the atmosphere was different this time, because I knew, deep down, that Nutt would find a way to lose it. He didn't lose it, but I never waivered until the last play, and even then, it wasn't the same, and is still not the same. The better team didn't win Friday evening, but that happens somtimes in college football. LSU wasn't focused in the first half, and as a result, trailed 7-6. Did anyone notice that the Hogs won the toss of the coin, to begin the OT, and elected to play defense? The defense had already been on the field on LSU's last drive, so why are we playing defense? Wouldn't it make more sense to rest them? Wouldn't it make more sense to score first, and put pressure on LSU to score? Oh well, it worked, amazingly, and allowed D-Mac to showcase his talents, and allowed this team to have a much deserved win. I love my Hogs, but I still can't stand that guy!! "
Texas HOGWILD wrote on Nov 25, 2007 11:36 AM:
" One big game should NOT save Nutt's job. If he can get his team to beat the number 1 team in the nation - why did we have so many losses. It was because of POOR PLAY CALLING and that is Houston's job. He had the horses this year to win -- he couldn't do it and one last ditch effort should not determine his career. Houston Nutt's 10 years are up and he needs to leave - with class and not make them fire him - but then again -- he doesn'have that class. "
Ozarks wrote on Nov 26, 2007 12:18 PM:
" Sooie! The team and coaches did a great job. I look forward to our bowl game (Cotton I hope) and Nutt getting the backing from the UA administration is what he deserves. He is a good coach and if he hadn't been left holding the bag last year with the walkout by a few players and deal with Monks injury this year, this year might have been a lot better. But he played the cards he was given and still did a good job. Time to stop the nastiness. "
Not already registered?
ozarks wrote on Nov 23, 2007 6:30 PM: