We Do What We Do

38 Responses to “We Do What We Do”

1. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 22nd, 2007 12:23 pm

   Unfortunately there wasn’t even a descent highlight of this game out here, except for the td pass to Peyton Hillis. Like I said this is what we can best hope for beating the Sun Belt Conference schools and Missisppi schools. 2 minute offense? You mean like LSU just marched down the field and scored on Auburn when they had to.
2. win is a win on October 22nd, 2007 1:07 pm

   darrell, I’d call 44 points a highlight!! Who cares about highlights, a win is a win!

   It’s crazy….we win a game most on this board expects to lose and rather than be happy folks continue to take jabs. Sounded to me like the coaching was better (defense) and there were a few surprises.

   Stop the negative mentality and get behind the kids!
3. Bluffhawg on October 22nd, 2007 1:08 pm

   What I can’t understand is how Ole Miss can play Missouri, Florida & Alabama to within a play or two of winning and then lay down against us.
4. win is a win on October 22nd, 2007 1:10 pm

   oh…forgot to add…nutt-ball has gotten us 1-2 big plays from being undefeated. We’ve been a position to win every game, so from that standpoint Nutt-ball has kept us very competitive. Unfortunately for you all, it’s difficult to blame Nutt for receivers dropping passes and the offensive line going to sleep in the Auburn game.
5. to bluffhawg on October 22nd, 2007 1:21 pm

   I’m new to this board, but what a strange mentality in your post - coming from a ‘fan’…..you’re assuming Miss laid down rather than concluding that the Hogs had a good game plan and executed well.

   Maybe we’re better than Missouri, FL and Alabama when we play close to our potential :-). And I’d argue we haven’t reached our full potential.
6. Bluffhawg on October 22nd, 2007 1:21 pm

   win is a win, I look at it a little different than you. Every year it appears that HDN finds a way to lose at least two games that he should win. This year, so far, that total is up to 3. You are right, we should be unblemished at this point in the season. But, who’s to take the blame for our poor effort in those games?
7. HogBlogger on October 22nd, 2007 1:26 pm

   win is a win - I think you miss the point. David Lee actually made the point. When we can do what we want to do, things work out ok. When that is taken away from us we have no plan B. So, as long as we can dominate the offensive and defensive line we do well. If either of those plays to a stand off, we don’t do well.

   A win over someone that you are way better than physically is not the same as a win over someone just as good or better than you are.

   Just because we ‘ran’ over Mississippi does not mean all is suddenly right with the world. I totally agree with Tipster’s observations. And David Lee’s.
8. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 22nd, 2007 2:22 pm

   Win is a win, I am always happy when the Razorbacks win a game especially for the players they are doing all of the work as well as the coaches. At some point you have to expect more from the University and this coaching staff. They loss three games this year because we do not have a passing game and from the offensive coordinator’s comments it isn’t a priority when you can get 4 yards on the ground every down.
9. Waldron Hog on October 22nd, 2007 2:22 pm

   win is win - I blame HDN for poor QB and WR play. Either he can’t recruit or develop players necessary to make those positive type positions. BTW, a loss is a loss no matter why. With the RB talent we have, we are still have 3 losses in the SEC. Yes, I can blame the coaching staff for that.

   I wonder how many fans are dumb enough to think we actually opened up the playbook? Keep on preaching Tipster!
10. win is a win on October 22nd, 2007 3:05 pm

    hogblogger, I certainly get the point. But how many teams truly have a plan B that they can execute well? Lee’s comments apply to every team every weekend; if you do what you do when you want to do it (i.e. execute your game plan), you play well. When you drop passes, miss blocks, etc, you don’t do well.

    My biggest critique of this staff is not that they lack creativity, it’s just that they are too conservative to get out of their box a little earlier in the game, rather than wait until it’s almost too late (Auburn game). And, I don’t think things are all right, but it’s nice to take a second to step back from the Nutt smashing (ouch!) and congratulate the team on a win.

    Waldron, I don’t blame Nutt for the current receiver play in terms of dropped passes. It sounds like you and others are expecting Marcus Monk play out of second and third teamers. Is it Nutt’s coaching that caused Monk’s damaged knee, Johnson has a bum ankle, and Cleveland’s neck injury? Is it Nutt’s coaching that caused Crawford’s fumble in space against Alabame, McFadden’s drops in the Auburn game, etc? You can coach, but it’s up to the players to execute.

    I do hold Nutt and Lee accountable for the quality of our route trees and general passing game complexity, or lack thereof. For the QB play, I’m not so sure. I think Casey’s done pretty well considering what he has to work with (coaching and receivers). He is actually doing relatively well compared to other SEC QBs; Dick, Cox, Flynn, Wilson and Stafford are all within 1-2 points of one another in the nation’s effeciency ratings.

    I just think that folks are overreacting about Nutt’s coaching. Sure it’s not great, but were you expecting Spurrier, Miles, Meyer coaching out of Nutt? I do think we deserve it and should go out and get it now that Broyles will be gone.
11. TipsterHog on October 22nd, 2007 4:27 pm

    win is a win…welcome to the site. You’re bringing up some good points to back your opinions.

    I will admit it was hard to write a post like this after a win. When you see how happy those players were in the locker room…you don’t want to keep talking about some of the fundamental flaws. I just felt like no one in the media was talking about them even though they were still very much present during and after the performance on Saturday.

    I appreciate David Lee’s candor. I don’t want to harp on what he says every week (even though we have) only to have him start using the “every win is precious” mumbo-jumbo all the time.

    The part I don’t like in Lee’s quote is the ‘give up’ mentality that is implied. It’s kind of like he’s saying, ‘this is your team, Hog fans, and this is all they can do.’

    That kind of attitude can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. ‘We do what we do because we know we can’t do it (or coach it) to be any better.’ Keep living that mantra and all that will assure us is — at best — a mediocre season.
12. win is a win on October 22nd, 2007 5:00 pm

    TipsterHog, thanks so much to you and others for the warm welcome. I’ve spent some time today looking through the history of posts and feedback. Very impressive! Many of the folks here are insightful; I just wish I would have found this place earlier!

    I agree with your comments re: the give up mentality in Lee’s quote. A couple things occurred to me:

    - if I said something like this at work, I’d be fired. If I told my boss that I couldn’t get it done cause I ‘couldn’t do what I do’ I’d be out that same afternoon. I would hope that Nutt kicked him around after letting that quote slip out.

    - could this comment be a sign of frustration towards Nutt for Lee not having the latitude to ‘do what he (Lee) does’? I don’t know enough about Lee’s history to determine if he is a stifled gunslinger or from the same school as Nutt.

    Regardless, I’m happy I found this place and look forward to reading other posts.
13. Reason Rules on October 22nd, 2007 5:36 pm

    Inability to recruit multiple top receivers and quarterbacks is directly Houston’s responsibility. Look at the performance at those positions over his time here and you can’t argue with it. Look at the players that have transferred and what their positions are. Houston freely turns over the Defense to a defensive coordinator, but he just can’t do it with the offense.
14. HOGFAN23 on October 22nd, 2007 5:41 pm

    Right on, win is a win!
15. BlindHog on October 22nd, 2007 7:37 pm

    I’m just sick of Dale’s act boys. It is an eternal spiral that just winds down into itself. We haven’t had a reciever since Anthony Lucas. 4 years of Wilson and Smith, possession recievers, and 3 years of Monk, a possession reciever. QB after QB after QB run off, 3 play game plans and one reciever patterns. big wins and close losses that always add up to nothing but a bad bowl which is usually a loss. Stories, lies, excuses and oh so much drama but no progress. It is all just too stupid.

    For just a few moments on Saturday before Dale got his lead and went into his shell, ever so briefly and ever so simply I had that sense of the unexpected, of calling plays to keep the defense guessing a little. It was fun and reminded me of Razorback football.

    There is no excuse for all of this except for Dale to hang on to a job. That is not enough of a purpose for Razorback football.

    I can’t enjoy this mess just because it is a win. Now beating Superior and Fulmer I could enjoy. Lets see that. A win is not just a win. Dale has proved that.
16. BlindHog on October 22nd, 2007 7:44 pm

    I’m mean come on guys. He had the national QB player of the year and the Heisman favorite 10 months ago. He runs off the QB, beats the Heisman favorite into a bruised mess against SEC defensive tackles and all to go 6-6 or maybe 7-5. Is there really anything left to discuss here?
17. BlindHog on October 22nd, 2007 8:28 pm

    After losing to Alabama, Kentucky, and Auburn whlle holding 4th quarter leads in each game we are supposed to get excited because we beat Ole Miss? Is this what we have come to?
18. OwassoHog on October 22nd, 2007 9:10 pm

    BlindHog, back to your comment about Houston “going into his shell”… did anybody else notice that this was about the time Houston pulled out his cell phone and began texting somebody?
19. NEA Hog Fan on October 22nd, 2007 9:15 pm

    I am supposed to be excited because we win the “Loser Bowl”??? Last time I looked only Miss has a worse w-l record in the SEC than us. Up until last Saturday’s win we had a worse record than even Vandy. And you want me to be happy that we are now equal to Vandy???

    As I see it, chalk this weekend’s game in the W column, Miss State a maybe (no gimme here) and Ls for the remainder of the season. Let’s see — 5 wins and 7 losses at the worst and 6 and 6 at the best, with NO quality wins. What kind of bowl bid will we get with that?
20. GonzoHog on October 23rd, 2007 8:50 am

    What’s up with Jim Rome? Has anyone else heard the rumor on the discussion Jim had on his show, about Arkansas possibly trying to offer Jimmy Johnson a 3 year deal, worth $15,000,000, and also Larry Coker being brought in by Jimmy to be his top assistant? Supposedly, an Arkansas booster E-mailed this to Rome, about the possibility of this happening. Are you kidding me? Even if it were true that Arkansas was looking at Jimmy, $5,000,000 a year? Give me a break!! You couldn’t sell enough tickets to support that kind of a salery with a stadium capacity of 72,000, not to mention a couple of games every year in the Rock that has a capacity of 55,000. Besides, even if we could come close, the “talking heads” at this university don’t have the brass to take that kind of a chance. Supposedly when asked, Jimmy replied, no comment. Has anyone else heard this redicules rumor?
21. Bluffhawg on October 23rd, 2007 8:56 am

    I know I’d be tickled if that happened. We certainly would not take a back seat to any school in the conference with a staff like that. Recruiting to Fayetteville would become much easier. The only way I can see them supporting that (other than very wealthy alum) is to raise ticket prices. We have some of the cheapest tickets in the SEC.
22. OwassoHog on October 23rd, 2007 10:10 am

    GonzoHog, let’s HOPE that is only a rumor! Some coaches are lucky and some are great. Jimmy falls into the first group.
23. Bluffhawg on October 23rd, 2007 10:28 am

    GonzoHog, you don’t win a National Championship,
    runnerup for another NC and win 2 Super Bowls with just luck. JJ is one of the best, if not the best talent evaluaters to ever coach in college or the pros. If he and Jerry could have gotten along he would have won at least two more Super Bowl rings and possibly a third.
24. OwassoHog on October 23rd, 2007 11:22 am

    Bluff, I’m still going to disagree with respect to his abilities as a Head Coach. At $5M per year, he would be EXTREMELY overpaid and no where as qualified as others at the upper end of the pay scale.
25. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 23rd, 2007 2:11 pm

    Hey Gonzo! In a perfect world we wouldn’t be in this mess. What I want to know is why Frank Broyles decided that Nutt was a better fit for this University than Tubberville those many years ago. I can’t see Jimmy giving us his once a week gig for the grind again and Arkansas doesn’t have money like that $5 million a year for a coach. I am thinking Brent Venerables(DC at Oklahoma or Terry Bowden, Butch Davis long shot. If they decided to pull the trigger, we could be in for the shock of our lives if this guy is still the coach after we lose to Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl
26. reasonrules on October 23rd, 2007 9:11 pm

    University doesn’t have to have that kind of money, just the Waltons and Tysons.
27. Jim Daly Sr. on October 23rd, 2007 9:20 pm

    Some here have wondered why Ole Miss was so close in games with ranked opponents and then laid an egg against Arkansas. Especially at a home game. I think that sports psychology played a role in that the Rebs were not mentally.ready or prepared, in other words they were too far down to get back up. A team can be mad or depressed after a close loss and it appeared that the latter.may have been responsible for Ole Miss’ poor performance. Understand that Arkansas is a relative newcomer to the SEC. Alabama and Ole Miss have been in the conference since its beginning. The rivalry between the two schools goes a long way back. It has not always been so one sided, but it still has great tradition. Ole Miss, when I was at LSU, was still something of a national powerhouse. Simply put, because of that tradition, the game with Alabama meant a whole lot more to Ole Miss than the one with the Hogs. A loss in a game like they endured with ‘Bama must have had a terrible effect on the players psyche. Last year when MSU beat a ‘Bama team with a mediocre record, you would have thought the Dogs had won the Super Bowl.

    Arkansas has never developed a traditional rival in either the SWC or SEC. (for those of you diehard Hog fans who think that there was a rivalry with Texas, ithere was none, not in the traditional sense, anyway. It was not the same for Texas as it was for Arkansas. Texas considered it just another SWC game. Because of that I think that the Hogs choked in a number of games they should have won against the Horns’. Actually there was a really fierce rivalry but it was between Penders and Richardson in basketball,and some of their games rare classics) The closest thing now to a traditional rivalry for Arkansas maybe with LSU because of the following: It is the last game, its a border war, LSU doesn’t have a serious instate rival, and it’s a game that can decide a West championship. In my day the GAME for LSU was with Ole’ Miss. But that rivalry has dimmed considerably because it has been so one sided. But it still raises temperatures at Baton Rouge and Oxford. You probably would have to have followed both the SEC and the SWC for a long time to fully understand what I’m saying here. But it was still a great victory for the Razorbacks, but as others have said, the motor still ain’t working smoothly or to its maximum horsepower.

    To the Win Win comment that most teams do not havie a plan B I would say first that Plan A is usually a balanced offense and B is that you go with what’s working best. Second, Plan B can also be the “Half Time” adjustments, or adjustments from the coaches, although the latter is more difficult.during the game, even in a time out..
28. GonzoHog on October 24th, 2007 10:38 am

    Bluff, I think you were getting my comments mixed up with Owassso’s. I think Jimmy is a great coach, and Jerry Jones made the mistake of his life when he butted heads with him and ran him off. Jerry Jones is nothing more than another Frank Broyles, with money to boot! But I will take my origional statement a bit farther. Some people may diagree, but there isn’t a coach worth paying that much money. Saban is over-payed at $4,000,000 a year, and I’m not so sure that $3,000,000 isn’t too much. Coaching saleries are redicules, because fans take sports way too serious anymore. Some people are just blind to the fact that they are obsessed to the point that there isn’t a boundry put on sucsess. Look at what we are talking about. $3, 4, 5,000,000 a year to coach a college football team? OK, let’s just say we go ahead and raise the ticket prices. Where is your stopping point? Did you get a raise this year? Did your insurance go down? How are you going to afford season tickets for your family when the tickets are $55.00 a piece? Credit card? a small loan maybe?
29. Bluffhawg on October 24th, 2007 10:50 am

    Gonzohog, you are correct, I posted the wrong name and realized it too late to change. Sorry about that. I also agree that Coaches salaries have escalated at a ridiculous rate, but if Bama continues to win, they’d probably give Saban a raise.
30. GonzoHog on October 24th, 2007 10:53 am

    darrell(Hog in LA), I don’t see Jimmy coming here either. He doesn’t have anything left to prove, and I seriouly doubt money is an issue. What is he now, 65? On your comment about Tuberville, I,m not so sure Broyles didn’t want him to begin with. Rumor had it that Tubby was Frank’s first choice, but turned down the job. I think Houston was actually plan B, and he was cheap too. Frank knew Houston was a “rah-rah” guy, and would recieve a warm welcome from the Razorback faithful after a few years of hearing “gloom and doom” from Danny Ford.
31. GonzoHog on October 24th, 2007 11:10 am

    The season is not over yet, but my optimism is gone. 3 or 4 years ago, I would have held on for something better. 2 years ago, I held on and recieved mixed messages last year, with a suprising season, and an SEC Tital shot, but way too much soap opera engineered by none other than the HC himself. After giving him the benefit of the doubt for going 10-4, he proved everything I needed to see this year. I see no reson why $2,000,000 a year wouldn’t get a coach in here that knows how to recruit and coach a balanced offense.
32. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 24th, 2007 11:58 am

    Gonzo, like everything in life it depends on results and experience. I’d say someone like Butch Davis would be on the high end and someone who is defensive/offensive coordinator you could get for cheap but I have a sneaky suspicion the new AD is going to let the Nutt man come back so he can evaluate him more. What would be Nutt’s buyout? Don’t forget Nolan and Stan are still on the payroll. We might want to cross our fingers on this.
33. Bluffhawg on October 24th, 2007 12:22 pm

    Stan is not on the Payroll (He took another job, doing away with his buyout) and Nolan will offically be off the payroll this year.
34. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 24th, 2007 1:34 pm

    Thanks Bluffhawg, well I think Nutt knows he will get a hefty buyout if he is telling people his contract expires in 2011. We should send Frank a Thank you note or make him pay this guy to leave. What do you think Arkansas can afford? $2 million tops?
35. Reason Rules on October 24th, 2007 8:43 pm

    I think you guys are missing the point. It is not what the UofA can afford, but what the Foundation Members can afford and the Waltons and Tysons can afford a great deal.
36. GonzoHog on October 25th, 2007 7:08 am

    Reason, I think your right. The big money people will have the biggest say in this one.
37. Bluffhawg on October 25th, 2007 8:02 am

    There’s not a school in the country with a more wealthy bunch of boosters than the U of A
38. darrell(Hog in LA) on October 25th, 2007 11:39 am

    Reason Rules, you are correct it is whatever the Foundation Members want to pay and what are their trying to accomplish.