Nutt's return causes mixed emotions for Arkansas fans
Matt Watson
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Sports
Despite starting 0-3 in Southeastern Conference play last year, he led unranked Arkansas to a victory over No. 1 LSU. Three days later, he resigned.
That same year prized prospects left the program, lawsuits were filed over e-mails, phone records were seized, an affair was alleged and banners were flown, all defaming his name.
He even spoke with a Super Bowl-winning coach who said he wouldn't take the Razorback head coaching position because it was too tough.
That was the note on which former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt left the university, and that was just 2007.
An up-and-down 10-year career as head Hog went up in flames on Nov. 26, 2007, the day he stepped down as Arkansas coach and hours later agreed to take over at Ole Miss.
By leaving the Razorbacks to go to a rival SEC West-school, Nutt only aggravated the "division in the fan base" that he cited as the reason for his resignation, generating even more animosity between himself and many Arkansas fans.
"I hope he's welcomed with the same 'warmth' that he left with," Lockwood, Mo., native Lance Hayes said. "I'm going to boo him just like everybody else is."
Even some former Nutt supporters have soured on his return to Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"I do [like Nutt], but I don't know how I'm going to feel when he walks on the field," Mountain Home native Bailey Bodenhamer said. "I probably won't boo him, but I think this will be the loudest booing we've heard in a while.
In the midst of a rocky 3-4 start, Razorback fans have been on edge this season
"People are still angry at [Nutt]. I think they're blaming this season on him," Bodenhamer said.
Nutt won 75 games during a decade at Arkansas and led the Hogs to eight bowl bids, but only won the SEC West outright once (2006). In Nutt's first season (1998) the Razorbacks finished tied for first in the West but Mississippi State played in the conference championship because of its win in head-to-head competition. In 2002, Arkansas played for SEC title because the team with the best record, Alabama, was ineligible because of NCAA sanctions.
That same year prized prospects left the program, lawsuits were filed over e-mails, phone records were seized, an affair was alleged and banners were flown, all defaming his name.
He even spoke with a Super Bowl-winning coach who said he wouldn't take the Razorback head coaching position because it was too tough.
That was the note on which former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt left the university, and that was just 2007.
An up-and-down 10-year career as head Hog went up in flames on Nov. 26, 2007, the day he stepped down as Arkansas coach and hours later agreed to take over at Ole Miss.
By leaving the Razorbacks to go to a rival SEC West-school, Nutt only aggravated the "division in the fan base" that he cited as the reason for his resignation, generating even more animosity between himself and many Arkansas fans.
"I hope he's welcomed with the same 'warmth' that he left with," Lockwood, Mo., native Lance Hayes said. "I'm going to boo him just like everybody else is."
Even some former Nutt supporters have soured on his return to Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"I do [like Nutt], but I don't know how I'm going to feel when he walks on the field," Mountain Home native Bailey Bodenhamer said. "I probably won't boo him, but I think this will be the loudest booing we've heard in a while.
In the midst of a rocky 3-4 start, Razorback fans have been on edge this season
"People are still angry at [Nutt]. I think they're blaming this season on him," Bodenhamer said.
Nutt won 75 games during a decade at Arkansas and led the Hogs to eight bowl bids, but only won the SEC West outright once (2006). In Nutt's first season (1998) the Razorbacks finished tied for first in the West but Mississippi State played in the conference championship because of its win in head-to-head competition. In 2002, Arkansas played for SEC title because the team with the best record, Alabama, was ineligible because of NCAA sanctions.
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