Get to know me!! Houston Nutt - Arkansas

Despite his great initial success in Fayetteville and totally pwn-ing Texas, Coach Houston Nutt enters his ninth season as the Head Hog with his butt firmly implanted on the hot seat.

"I told you, its NOT my porn name"

Nutt began his reign in Fayetteville with a bang - his 1998 squad started out 8-0 before Clint Stoerner developed a little case of dropsy that would be the only thing all non-Arkansas fans would remember him for. Nevermind his otherwise fantastic career and overall fine play in the SEC, if you aren't a fan, you only remember the fumble. Damn you people. Leave the man alone. The Hogs got their revenge the next year over Tennesee and beat old rival (and the only one Arkansas fans care about) Texas in the Cotton Bowl. After a down season that ended with the Las Vegas Bowl, Nutt found himself a freak athlete to base his entire gameplan around for the next four years in Matt Jones. This worked well for three years, including another win over Texas IN Austin in '03..which was followed by a series of disappointing losses after beating Alabama that season. A gimpy Jones could not save the Hogs in '04 as they stumbled to 5-6, and last years extremely young but talented team finished 4-7, including the 70-17 disaster vs. USC and an even more ridiculous loss the week before that to Vandy at home. Added to the disappointing records was the fact that Butch Davis was roaming the state and was available for employment. Nutt helped his cause by revamping his staff with high school head coach and offensive wunderkind Gus Malzahn and an fine recruiting class including Malzahn's Parade Player of the Year QB at Springdale HS, Mitch Mustain.

Frightened deer or All-SEC QB?

While most Hog fans would disagree with Orson's assessment of Coach Nutt as Kim Jong Il, a despot most are awaiting to collapse, it's far from inaccurate to say that his job is in the balance this year. Expectations are high in Fayetteville- almost every major opponent except Auburn is a home game this year (USC, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama), the return of 19 starters, a defensive unit that comes back nearly intact after improving greatly as last year progressed, and the bluestreaks that are Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield (McFadden once he heals)most fans are willing to accept no less than 8 or 9 wins and a return to a quality bowl game.