There are three letters that, around this time of the season, start to dominate the conversations of both professional and amateur college football analysts alike: B-C-S.
The first Bowl Championship Series rankings of 2008 were released on Sunday. For most Arkansas football fans, however, it was an announcement that went mostly unnoticed.
And that’s understandable. When your team isn’t winning enough to be listed among the ‘elite programs,’ you’re really not too interested in keeping up (at least at this point) with those schools who are on top.
Similarly, when Houston Dale ‘resigned‘ last November, many Hog fans probably didn’t notice that he mentioned the BCS, too.
Nutt: “I just can’t say enough about our program from where it started in 1998 when [...] all they wanted to know was ‘could we beat SMU?’ and now they’re wanting to know when we’re going to get to the BCS. This place, right now, is in very, very good shape and they’re going to get there.”
But the fact that Nutt even mentioned those three letters should’ve made headlines. They were certainly never uttered when he was asked before each season what his team’s goals were for that year.
Now…we’ve already long ago listed the reasons why Houston Dale had to go. The off-the-field antics are well known and were certainly more than enough of a reason.
But the biggest on-the-field reason always seems to be forgotten: Houston Nutt had 10 seasons at Arkansas to earn a bid to a BCS bowl game…and failed. Only Tommy Bowden had a similar streak and now he’s looking for a new helmet to love, too.
The jury is still out on whether Bobby Petrino can lead this program across that threshold. But long before he left Fayetteville, the verdict on Nutt had already been read into the court record and sealed. The expectations of Arkansas fans had changed…and their coach’s ability to deliver on them had not.
Which is why, no matter what happens for the rest of this year, Houston Dale’s first season at Ole Miss has been a success. Why? Because he’s already won a conference game. And that’s one more SEC win than they celebrated in Oxford last year. So…year one…expectations exceeded.
And at some point…after he defeats Mississippi State a few times…or, even better, actually leads the Rebels to a Western Division championship and a trip (but, of course, not a win) to the SEC Championship Game…expectations exceeded.
For Rebel fans who have been starving for a winner, that all sounds pretty amazing…almost unbelievable. And that’s exactly the level of expectations that Nutt has shown he can exceed.
But for Razorback fans…been there…done that…wanting more. Unrealistic expectations? Those who think that the Hogs don’t ever belong among the top tier of those 25 BCS teams ranked on Sunday would say so.
As for the rest of us, we actually agree with what Houston Dale said when he left: “This place is in very good shape…and they’re going to get there.”
Right on target Tipster.
Houston did do a lot for the program in some of his early years, but as exspectations got higher, Hog fans started to see he was only going to up the bar so high.
There was more than once that Houston would pull off a win over an underachieving 'Bama team, or a Miss. ST. team having a mediocra year, or a good LSU team in Little Rock on the last play, after thier defense pretty much dominated us the entire ball game. But, at the same time it's like Hog fans just knew the Hogs lived and died with the big play, usually coming from a Matt Jones, or a D-Mac.
Consistancy was the biggest issue by far for Houston, mainly because of his inability to develope a balanced offense.
When he was actually lucky enough to get a few breaks throughout a season, and lead his team to a div. tital, his coaching was then exsposed to stronger teams in the East div., because of better coaching and better recruiting.
Here's another example of Nutt compared to a better coach:
Matt Jones was trying to deside between Arkansas and OU when he was being recruited by Nutt and Stoops.
It's no secret that Jones wanted to be a QB in college. That's the reason he and his Father decided it was best to transfer from the wishbone offense at Van Buren, to the option I formation at FT. Smith Northside.
Jones wanted to develope more as a QB, but was never known to be a skilled passer, while using his legs as his best weapon.
Stoops told Matt that he more than likely would be a WR at OU, which was the logical choice considering his freakish athleticism and size, while Nutt chose to go out on a limb, promising that Matt would get a shot at the QB position.
Let's cut to the chase; Matt never developed as a QB, nor did any other player recruited for that position by Houston. What position does Matt Jones now play in the NFL? The same one that Stoops knew he would be most sucsessful at years ago.
When Nutt was able to land the #1 QB recruit in the country, back in 2005, it was only because that kid thought Nutt wouldn't be the guy calling the plays.
There was a trust issue that was broken somewhere along the lines of his first season, and as usual, Houston went back to his old self again. (playcalling)
That was the straw that broke the camels back in the state of Arkansas, and the rest is history, but he damn sure brought it all on himself!
That's why the words BCS were never heard around these parts.
I was thinking this past weekend about the Ole Miss game coming up and about HDN leaving last season. We all knew fans were calling for his head after that Springdale incident. I think he knew had one more shot since Darren and Felix were coming back for their Junior year. Although, the noise never settled down that year, so I think he knew he was going to leave early on.
I think he knew the seniors were going to leave and a handful of players to the draft.
I think he knew the season was more or less going to go like it has this year.
If he was still coach this year, and the season went like it is now with Petrino, it seems like the fans would have taken his head themselves. I think he knew, and what better time to fly out of fayetteville to a team he knew he could beat the fan expectations.
Too much to say, too little time. This might be a week of obsession and revenge but, because of last week, and because Dale is hardly worth the effort, because they look like so much the better team and our season has become all about the future, it feels like maybe I will be ready by game time.
Alot has been said about Dale taking a team that couldn't beat SMU and raising expectations but, a look at Ole Miss might tell you that the team and the program have plenty to do with that equation. Dale found a program ready to take off when he got here but also found the local politics more important than coaching. Making Frank his top priority may have been his only choice. Based on his experience and reputation it probably was. It finally took him down. And, yes, he helped.
Arkansas fans love football too much to put up with his coaching and, finally, his weird old mentor. Now we have a coach. We are just waiting on the recruiting. That is the real Nutt Bowl. Dale never did it here. Can Bobby do it on a consistent basis? Right now you have to say he is off to a good start.
Can Michael Smith play after the beating he has taken? Should he? After what they have been through this year is there anything left in the tank for this team? Is Casey a leader or is it finally time for Tyler Wilson? This week is a turning point but, it is for all of the reasons we didn't expect. Maybe that is the best revenge. There is too much football going on here to care about poor Hootie. I just don't care about the drama anymore.