Arkansas Football: Is Bobby Petrino Just Houston Nutt Without the Personality?
Most of the current Arkansas undergrads don’t remember the excitement that accompanied the arrival of Houston Nutt when the Razorbacks hired him away from Boise State after just one season.
In the initial round of interviews, Nutt was considered by many to be a long shot for the opportunity to be the head coach for Arkansas, but his energy and track record convinced AD Frank Broyles that Nutt was the right guy to lead Razorback football back to glory.
In his initial press conference, Nutt wasted no time in raising the expectations of Hog fans when he made it clear his goal for Arkansas was a national title. It looked as if he was on the way during his first campaign at the helm, as the Razorbacks won their first eight games of the season. Who knows how far the Hogs would have gone without the heartbreaking fumble late in the Tennessee game.
Somewhere along the way it all changed. Razorback fans grew tired of high expectations that went unmet, flirtations with other schools and the Springdale mess. Despite reawakening Arkansas football it was obvious that many had concluded it was time for Nutt to go.
They did not like Nutt’s focus on running the football and his inability to produce a championship defense. They did not like the way he talked. It angered people that he could not seem to keep all the best players in the state at home. Everything was his fault.
bleachereport.com
10/29/10
