Houston Nutt

[George S. Patton]

He has had poor quarterback play at that school ever since Clint Stoerner left. He also had no control of that Springdale High pipeline mess. He also isn't coming here.

Matt Jones was a decent QB for them.

A great athlete. Not a good QB -- just my opionion -- thrower not a passer.

[jackspub]

He has had poor quarterback play at that school ever since Clint Stoerner left. He also had no control of that Springdale High pipeline mess. He also isn't coming here.

Matt Jones was a decent QB for them.

A great athlete. Not a good QB -- just my opionion -- thrower not a passer.

patton who is your vote for new coach?

[George S. Patton]

I don't have a clear favorite, but I'm leaning toward Turner Gil. Bowden is maybe second -- provided he surrounds himself with a younger staff.

We just need someone who has a proven record on how to manage games and can delegate authority to his coaches instead of micromanaging, which is what Bennett did.

Above all, please hire a QB coach who will teach all of the components that will go into the position.

[George S. Patton]

I don't have a clear favorite, but I'm leaning toward Turner Gil. Bowden is maybe second -- provided he surrounds himself with a younger staff.

We just need someone who has a proven record on how to manage games and can delegate authority to his coaches instead of micromanaging, which is what Bennett did.

Above all, please hire a QB coach who will teach all of the components that will go into the position.

I am going to amend this and say PASS on Terry Bowden. I would look at Barnett or Mason.

[Sunshine Pony]

In eight years at Arkansas (IN THE SEC), Nutt has gone to 6 bowl games! Won 41 home games. Has won the SEC West several times....We can't claim any of this recently. I think he would be great! Vince Lombardi is not available. Let's get a good coach and support it.

I agree, and personally I would be very excited at the possibility of Houston Nutt leaving Arkansas for this job. He did win 10 games last year and was voted SEC Coach of the Year, which isn't an easy thing to get. He was also voted Easter Seals Arkansan of the year and is a fine Christian man who really seems to have his players best interests at heart. Of course, the bottom line is winning, and while his record could be better, he's had some great victories at Arkansas - including a 2-1 record against Texas. Can we afford him?

[jackspub]

In eight years at Arkansas (IN THE SEC), Nutt has gone to 6 bowl games! Won 41 home games. Has won the SEC West several times....We can't claim any of this recently. I think he would be great! Vince Lombardi is not available. Let's get a good coach and support it.

I agree, and personally I would be very excited at the possibility of Houston Nutt leaving Arkansas for this job. He did win 10 games last year and was voted SEC Coach of the Year, which isn't an easy thing to get. He was also voted Easter Seals Arkansan of the year and is a fine Christian man who really seems to have his players best interests at heart. Of course, the bottom line is winning, and while his record could be better, he's had some great victories at Arkansas - including a 2-1 record against Texas. Can we afford him?

after 10 years at arkansas he has made a ton of money, orsini would be able to negotiate a good package that he will take. nutt does not want to sit out a year

[mathman]

A 1-2 year timeline means a 5-6 year timeline to a Coach. You do realize this right? The player might be recruited under the new Model in 2009 but his redshirt Senior year is 2013. Assuming a Coach has options why chose SMU when he wouldn have a hand tied around his back

Stallion, I agree with you most of the time even though, at times, you are a little gruff (intentional understatement). But I do have to question your timeline here. I agree that if the model is changed to attract better recruits, that it will be longer than 2 years for them to make a significant contribution. However I don't think it will be their redshirt senior year before they do. JW is an example as well as Sanders. I would hope that it would be closer to 3 years before major improvement is seen and by 2013, we would be consistently bowling. I do agree with you that everyone on the board better realize that regardless of who we hire, the next couple of years are going to be rough. For what its worth, I think Gill would be the best fit for us.

[PonyNGalveston]

In eight years at Arkansas (IN THE SEC), Nutt has gone to 6 bowl games! Won 41 home games. Has won the SEC West several times....We can't claim any of this recently. I think he would be great! Vince Lombardi is not available. Let's get a good coach and support it.

I agree, and personally I would be very excited at the possibility of Houston Nutt leaving Arkansas for this job. He did win 10 games last year and was voted SEC Coach of the Year, which isn't an easy thing to get. He was also voted Easter Seals Arkansan of the year and is a fine Christian man who really seems to have his players best interests at heart. Of course, the bottom line is winning, and while his record could be better, he's had some great victories at Arkansas - including a 2-1 record against Texas. Can we afford him?

Hey, Sunshine, you got any ties in Arky? My FIL is an exec veep for Walmart. He's scared to death we're gonna get Nutt. Says Nutt does more with less than any coach in the country. They got some crazy fans who want him gone, but that's just good news for us as far as I'm concerned.

[Sunshine Pony]

No, W's are more important that pictures or resumes. Nutt would be a fine choice, but I don't think he would come to SMU. My sense is that a higher profile program (not to take anything away from SMU, but let's be honest with ourselves) will take a flyer on Nutt before he would agree to coach at SMU. I like Terry Bowden, even if he is only here for a few years. However, before we hire anyone, I agree with Stallion that we need to address the fundamental flaw with our football program - the "Model".

If Orsini can get the university to agree to adjust the model to make us more competitive in recruiting, someone like Bowden, or even Nutt (if he would consider SMU) could come to SMU and make a difference. I think Bowden can be that guy because success at SMU can get him back into a BCS coaching job after a 9 year hiatus.

I see what you are saying, however as far as Nutt goes, I'm not sure that there are currently any "higher profile programs" out there taking much interest in Nutt... either because they don't have the current vacancy, or maybe they see him as more of a lateral move, or whatever.

I think Nutt showed interest in Nebraska a few years ago, and might also have been considered for the Alabama job before they acquired Saban. I don't know what other high profile program right now would realistically be in play for him.

Seems he would make a good fit here, if the money side of the equation can get worked out. Hope Orsini can put something together.

[Sunshine Pony]

In eight years at Arkansas (IN THE SEC), Nutt has gone to 6 bowl games! Won 41 home games. Has won the SEC West several times....We can't claim any of this recently. I think he would be great! Vince Lombardi is not available. Let's get a good coach and support it.

I agree, and personally I would be very excited at the possibility of Houston Nutt leaving Arkansas for this job. He did win 10 games last year and was voted SEC Coach of the Year, which isn't an easy thing to get. He was also voted Easter Seals Arkansan of the year and is a fine Christian man who really seems to have his players best interests at heart. Of course, the bottom line is winning, and while his record could be better, he's had some great victories at Arkansas - including a 2-1 record against Texas. Can we afford him?

Hey, Sunshine, you got any ties in Arky? My FIL is an exec veep for Walmart. He's scared to death we're gonna get Nutt. Says Nutt does more with less than any coach in the country. They got some crazy fans who want him gone, but that's just good news for us as far as I'm concerned.

Galveston, yes - have some family and friends in Arkansas as well as Tulsa, and some RV to the games in Fayetteville. I've heard from them about some of those "crazy" fans as well. Personally, I just don't see how they would want to get rid of a coach who won 10 games last year, the SEC West division, and the SEC Coach of the Year. You'd think they would just enjoy their special coach while they have him. Seems your FIL would have good reason to be scared if Orsini can get on the ball and put something together.

[Ponymon]

I think Nutt showed interest in Nebraska a few years ago, and might also have been considered for the Alabama job before they acquired Saban. I don't know what other high profile program right now would realistically be in play for him.

Seems he would make a good fit here, if the money side of the equation can get worked out. Hope Orsini can put something together.

I would be concerned that NUTT would pull a "Graham" on us unless the contract had specific clauses from entertaining other offers for a specified period of time. We need a high, profile coach that is committed to SMU like PB was and won't jump to the next availability, like Nebraska, the moment that job opened up. Of course, if he did jump to Nebraska, he would have to live in Lincoln, which is a DUMP and have to put up with the cold, long winters that they have up there. Dallas is much more pleasant to be in for most of the year. Of course, its hot as Hades in August and September, but then you can't have everything!

[PonyNGalveston]

I think Nutt showed interest in Nebraska a few years ago, and might also have been considered for the Alabama job before they acquired Saban. I don't know what other high profile program right now would realistically be in play for him.

Seems he would make a good fit here, if the money side of the equation can get worked out. Hope Orsini can put something together.

I would be concerned that NUTT would pull a "Graham" on us unless the contract had specific clauses from entertaining other offers for a specified period of time. We need a high, profile coach that is committed to SMU like PB was and won't jump to the next availability, like Nebraska, the moment that job opened up. Of course, if he did jump to Nebraska, he would have to live in Lincoln, which is a DUMP and have to put up with the cold, long winters that they have up there. Dallas is much more pleasant to be in for most of the year. Of course, its hot as Hades in August and September, but then you can't have everything!

Nutt's been at Arky 4ever. My FIL said he turned down Bama, Miami, and NC State last year. But the fans turned on him cause some qb left.

[Sunshine Pony]

I think Nutt showed interest in Nebraska a few years ago, and might also have been considered for the Alabama job before they acquired Saban. I don't know what other high profile program right now would realistically be in play for him.

Seems he would make a good fit here, if the money side of the equation can get worked out. Hope Orsini can put something together.

I would be concerned that NUTT would pull a "Graham" on us unless the contract had specific clauses from entertaining other offers for a specified period of time. We need a high, profile coach that is committed to SMU like PB was and won't jump to the next availability, like Nebraska, the moment that job opened up. Of course, if he did jump to Nebraska, he would have to live in Lincoln, which is a DUMP and have to put up with the cold, long winters that they have up there. Dallas is much more pleasant to be in for most of the year. Of course, its hot as Hades in August and September, but then you can't have everything!

Understood. Dallas and SMU has so much to offer any prospective coach, especially a good Christian one like Houston Nutt and his family. I don't think Lincoln (or very many other places for that matter) can compete with us. Nutt has been at Arkansas for 10 years, so it would seem he wouldn't be one to just take off after a short time for somewhere else - again, assuming we can put a good contract together for him. I agree.

[Stallion]

ah no. That's from your perspective. From Nutt's perspective as a Football Coach taking the SMU job would be like a Professor resigning from Harvard to teach at Kilgore JC.

[StangMe]

No, W's are more important that pictures or resumes. Nutt would be a fine choice, but I don't think he would come to SMU. My sense is that a higher profile program (not to take anything away from SMU, but let's be honest with ourselves) will take a flyer on Nutt before he would agree to coach at SMU. I like Terry Bowden, even if he is only here for a few years. However, before we hire anyone, I agree with Stallion that we need to address the fundamental flaw with our football program - the "Model".

If Orsini can get the university to agree to adjust the model to make us more competitive in recruiting, someone like Bowden, or even Nutt (if he would consider SMU) could come to SMU and make a difference. I think Bowden can be that guy because success at SMU can get him back into a BCS coaching job after a 9 year hiatus.

I see what you are saying, however as far as Nutt goes, I'm not sure that there are currently any "higher profile programs" out there taking much interest in Nutt... either because they don't have the current vacancy, or maybe they see him as more of a lateral move, or whatever.

I think Nutt showed interest in Nebraska a few years ago, and might also have been considered for the Alabama job before they acquired Saban. I don't know what other high profile program right now would realistically be in play for him.

Seems he would make a good fit here, if the money side of the equation can get worked out. Hope Orsini can put something together.

We cannot afford not to at least offer him. I have some friends in Arkansas and they tell me Jimmy Sexton is his agent.

The best I remember, Nebraska wanted Nutt mainly due to his contacts in East Dallas and the way he recruits there. He always recruits Texas hard. Just look at their starting QB, [deleted] I believe is his name. Nobody else wanted him, now Nutt has taken him and molded him into an SEC QB.