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Hogs Accept Cotton Bowl Invite At Uncertain Time

Last updated Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:53 PM CST
in Razorback Central

By Alex Abrams
THE MORNING NEWS

FAYETTEVILLE -- Houston Nutt spent a portion of his final news conference as Arkansas' football coach lobbying for an invite to the Cotton Bowl.

After Nutt resigned last Monday, interim coach Reggie Herring took over the campaigning to get the Razorbacks a trip to Dallas for the New Year.

Apparently, the message got through, even if it came from two very different voices during a particularly uncertain time for the Razorbacks.

No. 25 Arkansas (8-4), ranked for the first time since the second week of the season, accepted an invite Sunday to face No. 7 Missouri (11-2) in the Cotton Bowl.

The game, scheduled for 10:40 a.m. Jan. 1, will continue Arkansas' long-standing tradition of playing in Dallas. That's exactly what Herring -- and Nutt before him -- wanted.

"Our biggest concern in this bowl selection thing was we had our hopes set extremely high for the Cotton (Bowl)," Herring said during a news conference Sunday night to announce the bowl invitation.

"I think now that we know and it's been confirmed, these players will be extremely fired up and ready to play this game."

Arkansas' regular season was filled with plenty of subplots, perhaps more than Nutt, his assistants and his players would have liked. There is no reason why the Cotton Bowl shouldn't be any different.

For starters, the bowl game will showcase two players -- Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel -- who could be invited to New York City for Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony.

McFadden is considered to be in a tight two-man race with Florida's Tim Tebow for the award, while Daniel could accompany them as a finalist.

"I'm not sure there is another bowl matchup out there that has two star players like we will have in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic this year," Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker said.

Meanwhile, Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles will get to enjoy one more trip to the Cotton Bowl before he retires at the end of the year and officially hands over control to incoming athletic director Jeff Long.

Broyles and the Razorbacks have a long tradition of playing in Dallas, dating back to their days in the now-defunct Southwest Conference.

In fact, Broyles clinched his only national championship as Arkansas' coach when the Razorbacks beat Nebraska 10-7 in the 1965 Cotton Bowl.

"I know how special this is to him, how special the Cotton Bowl is to him," Arkansas executive athletic director Bill Gray said of Broyles. "We couldn't have written a script any better."

Not so for Missouri.

The Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the nation heading into this past weekend, but a 38-17 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game ended Missouri's national title hopes.

But perhaps the biggest storyline heading into the Cotton Bowl could be the fact that the Razorbacks are without a permanent head coach.

Nutt turned in his resignation last Monday and quickly turned around and accepted the head coaching job at Ole Miss.

Five assistant coaches, who will be helping Arkansas get ready for the bowl game, have already agreed to join Nutt's staff at Ole Miss. It's a touchy situation.

Herring said the Cotton Bowl invite came as a bright spot in a time "transition" and uncertainty.

"It was imperative that we receive a quality bowl to generate the intensity and the concentration of the players," Herring said. "I can rest now and know that we'll have their full attention."



Reader Comments (24 comment(s))


The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

Swinehunt wrote on Dec 3, 2007 7:12 AM:

" The Hogs beat #1 LSU and have a chance to beat another team that held the # 1 spot this season. I know all the haters, hugers, and "outsiders" will be pulling in unison for the Hogs to win this bowl game. We beat Mizzu a few seasons ago when they had the "hot" QB. "

wildhog1984 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 8:22 AM:

" Right now the players need more support from the fan base than ever. I watched OU thump a very good missouri team last saturday. Even though it was a neutral site, it felt like a home game for OU. I would have to estimate that 75% or more of the crowd was from Oklahoma. We need to generate the same numbers and excitement for our Hogs on Jan. 1. They need a home crowd to play behind with all the transitions and uncertainty they are currently going through. I know that us hog fans travel well, especially to the Cotton Bowl. I hope that we don't let down our team when they need us most. "

jxnjerry wrote on Dec 3, 2007 11:14 AM:

" I, personally, don't think any of the jerks that spent the year cricifying Houson Nutt should be allowed to attend the Cotton Bowl. They spent the entire year trying to dismantle our program. Let them spend the off season whining about something else. I'm surprised that any of our players want to go out on the field and represent the U of A after what has happened this year. "

LRHog wrote on Dec 3, 2007 11:20 AM:

" "This place, for three years, I came here with great expectations, great desires, and I've seen a very proud program slip into a cloud of negativity and self-destruction," Herring said. "All I ask is that it ends, it goes away, for the players' sake." "

LRHog wrote on Dec 3, 2007 11:24 AM:

" The reports of the way Nutt walks or what he said in a locker room to a reporter off the cuff isnt something anyone wants to read about. Who cares? Its nothing but a shot at Nutt once again by the reporters of this state. "

12247 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 11:30 AM:

" I am one of the jerks that wanted Nutt gone. He is gone now. I was never against the players or the assistant coaches. I sincerely hope we go to the Cotton Bowl and beat a very good Missouri team. I trust that coach Lee will put together a decent offensive scheme even though he is going to Ole Miss. after the game. When Lee was the primary play caller this season, our team did pretty well. What do you think, jxnjerry, maybe we should give everyone Houston Nutt crucified during his tenure here a free ticket to the Cotton Bowl. Oh, I think we only get what 5000 tickets so there wouldn't be enough to go round. "

gohogs wrote on Dec 3, 2007 12:16 PM:

" ROB KEYS, WALLY HALL AND ALEX ABRAMS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED IN ANOTHER ARKANSAS FOOTBALL GAME. THEY ALONG WITH THE HELP OF A FEW KIDS HAVE ALMOST DESTROYED OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM. STOP THE HATE. PLEASE "

giants911 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:31 PM:

" 12247 - I hope for your sake the hatred and negative posts are gone. The hatred this program has experienced over the past couple of years has hurt recruiting tremendously and the university as a whole. Regardless of what people think, Nutt did a good job and wish him best at Ole Miss. "

tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:57 PM:

" welll said 12247 "

12247 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 2:01 PM:

" giants911, You and I do not agree on what has hurt the overall football program at Arkansas. I would note that when someone offers that coach Nutt did a good job when the opinions of many fans are that he didn't, then those fans see that as a negative post. I for one will quit posting anti Nutt info when folks quit posting pro Nutt info. I would hope coach Nutt's name quits appearing at all since either way, it sparks off controversy and whar some would consider anti value toward the University. "

LRHog wrote on Dec 3, 2007 2:42 PM:

" The three reporters that are still on a hunt to ruin the Hogs will get what they dish out. Everything you do to hurt people will come back on you. We dont have to try and make you hurt like you have done to the players and fans, coaches..revenge is the Lords. The black shoes are a sad statment to this state over what a handful of reporters and kids did to a man and his family. "

giants911 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 2:57 PM:

" Do the fans realize the symbolism attached to wearing the Black shoes in the Cotton Bowl? It was a nice gesture on the players behalf to honor Nutt for what he has had to put up with this season. I only hope the fans never treat another coach the way Nutt was treated. "

Swinehunt wrote on Dec 3, 2007 3:47 PM:

" On ESPN2 today one pundit who is suposed to be on top coach searches said that Long had interviewed three coaches------Tommy Bowden, Gus Mahlzon and Ron English the defesnive coach at Michigan. "

nyhogfan13 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 3:59 PM:

" hire gus while you can jeff long "

S.CarolinaHog wrote on Dec 3, 2007 4:48 PM:

" the ESPN guys were making fun of Michigan's defense last night on the BCS program. l hope they don't hire that guy. ld rather have Appy State's DC. ld love to get Bowden so l can give some crap to the Clemson fans here. "

hawgballer wrote on Dec 3, 2007 5:04 PM:

" What goes around comes around.. What Nutt had coming finally came. He's a decent cheerleader coach, but give the LSU game to David Lee in running the offense. That's why HDN asked David Lee to join him in Ole Miss.. What we need now is "Leader" that doesn't take credit for calling plays or hides from his mistakes.. The only thing Nutt has done wrong in the past is being able to control the soap opera. Should have had a meeting with his boys and mommas and cleared the air before the season started.... "

cool hog wrote on Dec 3, 2007 5:11 PM:

" iam with nyhogfan 13 , hire Gus and we will do great,, why pay 6 + mill for a coach ,when Gus is better just not proven at this lvl..give hem a try.. any way thats what Iam thinking. "

hawgballer wrote on Dec 3, 2007 5:11 PM:

" I lost respect from Nutt when he told everybody that he was taking 5 assistants along with him. He should have waited until the bowl game to make those kind of announcements. How do you thing the players feel? Even Les Miles, did not want to talk to Michigan after the Champ game... That's a guy with real class even though he pronounced "Ark-Kansas" wrong.. "

longtimehogfan wrote on Dec 3, 2007 5:23 PM:

" Tommy Bowden should be at the top of the list for a new coach We should all give Nutt a rest. John Vaught he will never be. HN has a long row to hoe in front of him-tho his financial condition is very bright this season, Chancellor White will probably send him an extra check for Christmas as well. No mind there tho, not out of his pocket "

giants911 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 5:46 PM:

" Hawgballer - Maybe the team decided to wear black shoes in the Cotton Bowl for the Whole Coaching Staff and not just Nutt. Les Miles didn't talk to Mich because he still had the SEC Championship and a shot at the National game. Ask the Okla ST fans how much class they think Les has? "

chattycat wrote on Dec 3, 2007 6:19 PM:

" I agree that the team needs to wear black "in honor of what they have been through this year." They have been through a saga written by one one of the most deviant writers of all time. Maybe he will write his memoirs one of these days and the bitterness will be semi-sweet considering the amount that he was paid to leave! Man...I wrote all of that and his name was never mentioned. "

98hogalum wrote on Dec 3, 2007 6:49 PM:

" let's just hire herring for a few years and see what happens...his press conferences alone would be worth it. "

Swinehunt wrote on Dec 4, 2007 7:33 AM:

" Lets go with Herring or Gus for a one year contract. As for established coaches available, none look to me worth $2,000,000. At this point, the only program that has fallen lower than the U A is SMU when dealt the death penalty. "

tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Dec 4, 2007 1:10 PM:

" lrhog oh you want me to go to class ok let me do some schoolin here i spent xx amount of time in a branch of our armd services i dont like to go round puffin my chest out but i ll fill ya in on a few things mr nutt does not know anything about leadership and its core values , you never take a player/soldier off the field and let them think for one min you have no faith in them let me tell ya im 52 did my time in the gulf and 90% of my soldiers were young kids if they didnt think for a sec that i or the others didnt have their back ..... i wouldnt be here today , you just dont know slick you want class given bring it on "


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