NUTT TO OLE MISS.
Houston Nutt’s taking his sack of crazy weasels and trucking the family down to Oxford, Mississippi in a hire that…um…we actually can’t say anything bad about at all, really. What the hell is a blogger to do?
In lieu of negative bashing of decision-making, we’ll actually have to discuss what’s good about the hire. Nutt wins games, so that’s an instant improvement over his predecessor, who did not win games this year, something coaches are supposed to do from time to time. Nutt also gets people to play football very, very hard. Not always intelligently, true; but very, very hard, and in very simple schemes they can pick up with ease. They’ll run the daylights out of the ball with Ole Miss’s underrated line on first and second down before the real treat: the return of the Matt Jones offense with Jevan Snead, where he’ll have a one receiver pattern, find it’s not open, and then will have to improvise and “make a play,” a phrase that is the coachspeak equal of 12th century cartographers’ “THARR BE DRAGONS.”
Nutt will also be away from Fayetteville’s now-toxic social environment, where he probably could not send a single text message without a nabob piping in with “HEY, YA TEXTIN’ UR GALFRIEND, HOUSTON?” Oxford’s more laid-back, and the other thing Ed Orgeron forged with three years of yaw-yaw (besides a nice talent base) are the sweet oblivion of low expectations. It’s not like Nutt has to win five games to improve in the SEC. Winning just one would do that.

One game? That’s improvement? WOOOOOO GIGGITY!
As for the dearly departed: Ed Orgeron has been mentioned in rumors surrounding Washington State. If you see a huge Cajun berating bushels of apples for their bruises and lack of toughness in the next week or so, Washingtonians, you’ll know there’s some credence to this scuttlebutt.









1
The Artist Formerly Known as tOSUBuckeyes says:
Nick Saban doesn’t have time for this shit.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:20 am
2
gerry dorsey says:
i have to agree, i think this is a pretty solid hire. i’m guess rebel nation won’t be all that jacked up about it, but what do they know??
and the state of washington has no idea what its getting itself into.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:21 am
3
Edsall is God says:
I love the Matt Jones offense! It’s almost as good as the Darren McFadden offense.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:23 am
4
Will says:
Should make the annual series with Ole Piss more interesting.
If Nutt starts beating Arkansas regularly, there might be state-wide suicide watches.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:23 am
5
Allahver Fist says:
Positive feelings from my Rebba family about the hire. Wooooooo, HogWildBoys package!!!!
November 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am
6
The Artist Formerly Known as tOSUBuckeyes says:
Anything that keeps Nutt in the SEC is a good thing…too bad Nutt can’t take “dat wood” with him to Ole Piss, but there is some talent there and I am looking forward to the Rebel Wild offense…
November 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am
7
Biggus Rickus says:
Dare I hope to see a “Screaming Reb” formation?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:27 am
8
SonofSamford says:
Hewstun may be batshit crazy, but he’s our batshit crazy.
Giggety Motherfuckers!!
November 27th, 2007 at 10:28 am
9
lance harbor says:
As an MSU fan, I’ll be pulling for UM against Arkansas. Only because the Arkansas fanbase upset the batshit craziness of having The Orgeron and Nutt in the same division. That and the Arkansens…Arkansawans….Arkofthecovenants….whatever… just messed with Karma, and Karma is a bitch.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:28 am
10
Year2-Dave says:
I missed the Matt Jones offense; this is fantastic news!
Plus, we keep the Southern crazy in the SEC. I mean really, would Houston Dale really fit in amongst any other set of teams?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am
11
Jerkwheat says:
solid hire by Ole Miss – at the very least, you can count on beating Miss State 9 years out of 10 now.
I was hoping he’d go out of conference, Ole Miss has been picking off good players from the state of Arkansas for years and the presence of the Nutter is only going to assist that cause.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am
12
howboutdemgators says:
In terms of crazy Ole Miss is jumping from the firing pan to the fire.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am
13
Crabapple Buck says:
This is a great hire for one Orson Swindle. It keeps the crazy in the SEC where OS can keep an eye on it.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am
14
howboutdemgators says:
that would by “frying pan”. All of this firing has me confused.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
15
Biggus Rickus says:
The interesting thing is that Mississippi actually has a pretty solid bed of high school talent (if woefully undereducated), moreso than Arkansas. If Nutt can keep most of them home and raid LA, Bama, Georgia and Florida a bit he could actually build them into something.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:34 am
16
notthequarterback says:
Nice to see the sack of crazy weasels staying in the SEC West. Let’s hope the other nutjob in the division stays at LSU..such entertaining theater. And, I’m a Michigan alum.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:34 am
17
RaginCajunRebel says:
I’m happy with the hire. While I loved the O, next year we could have had anywhere from 3 to 7 wins. Now I expect 7. That feels better.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:40 am
18
PW says:
The SEC West should have a requirement that all its coaches switch to another SEC West team every 4-5 years.
Saban to Arkansas!!!
November 27th, 2007 at 10:40 am
19
Brian says:
Well things just got more interesting for the GT-Ole Miss games in 2009&10. I was kindof hoping to roll into Oxford, chase some sluts, and head home victorious x2. Now, might not be so much.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:40 am
20
Eric says:
Dang – and I was hoping Boss Hawg would be running the Wild Jacket formation with Jonathan Dwyer.
Oh well – I can only hope Paul Johnson gets the job here, where he can challenge people to fights in front a major media contingency.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:42 am
21
PW says:
19
You were planning on going to Oxford and heading home victorious? You do realize you’re a GT fan right?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:47 am
22
gerry dorsey says:
i can’t wait for the first installment of “las chronicas locas de colonel reb”
November 27th, 2007 at 10:50 am
23
DevilGrad says:
You mean to tell me that Arkansas paid Nutt over $3 million to “go away” and didn’t even manage to get a non-compete to prevent him from moving to a divisional rival?
*Somebody* in Fayetteville is crazier than a sack of rabid weasels, but it sure as hell ain’t Houston Nutt. He may be having the best week of his professional life.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:50 am
24
Walrus says:
So when the Rebel Yell offense is unleashed, will people be excited about the offense, or offended?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:53 am
25
JC says:
Houston Dale’s on the sideline in a white linen suit with mint julep in hand by week five.
Book it.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:54 am
26
Crabs says:
Thank God for this Hire!
If the SEC lost both Orgeron and Nutt, this site would have to rely solely on Nick Saban and the crazy-as-fuck Bama fanbase for its “OMFG did they really just do/say that” material.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:55 am
27
TIGERinATL says:
Ole mIss is an instatn threat now. The Rebs are surely thrilled. Anyway, I’d love to hear another “colenel reb is cryin’” with a “giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity giggity footbawwwl!” line.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:03 am
28
Clemson327 says:
Houston Dale deserves a slow clap for this move. He gets $3MM from Arky then moves right down the road to Ole Miss to compete in the same division.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:07 am
29
Allahver Fist says:
Swindle shall have a delightful time copping Faulkner lines about Colonel Nutt.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:09 am
30
UgasTexan says:
@28
That’s €3 million, dude, or $4.41 million. GAY MONEY!!!
November 27th, 2007 at 11:14 am
31
Jerkwheat says:
I’m not sure Nutt is getting quite as much money from Arkansas since he’s moving to another SEC school – pretty sure I’ve heard otherwise, but I shall look into it
November 27th, 2007 at 11:28 am
32
cjjags says:
What I’m hearing also is that Texas Tech’s Leach may be in the running for the Arkansas job…
Saban, Miles, Nutt, and Leach would lead to some outstanding smack talk in the most amazing loudmouthed conference ever.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am
33
yoyofutbawl says:
Ole Pi$$ an “instant threat’? To whom – the Memphis TV news & weather chicks?
November 27th, 2007 at 11:37 am
34
hailstate says:
Note to Ole Miss fans: While at LSU, Saban owned MSU too and Tubberville never beat Bama while at Ole Miss. Players win games, not coaches. Nutt won’t have the luxury of only competing with Ark St. for in-state talent.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am
35
rusty says:
cjjags, don’t forget Spurrier out at USC east. He’s the grandfather of snark and smack talk, what with Auburn’s coloring books and the “Citrus without U-T” line. Are there any others I’m missing?
November 27th, 2007 at 11:44 am
36
Scalz1 says:
Cue the Billy Idol “Rebel yell” video with badly superimposed head of Nutt singing.
Last night, I left Ar-kansas
They called me on tha floor
Last night, the rebels
Came thumping on my door
Said come to Oxford baby
And bring your Wild hog
Who cares you got fired ?
We love you Boss hawg !!!!!!
In the midnight hour
They cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell
They cried more, more, more
Wowww
In the midnight hour, babe
More, more, more
With a rebel yell
More, more, more
November 27th, 2007 at 11:50 am
37
Coop says:
#34 is right, in that he will have to compete with Miss State for talent in Miss, although I cannot imagine anyone wanting to play in Starkville over Oxford, and the poachers from LSU and Alabama, and wherever else.
Yes, the talent level in the state Arkansas is not tip top, but Arkansas is the only school in the state, like LSU, and at Arkansas he only had to worry about someone like Tennessee, who is the only school that comes to mind who had legitimate success recruiting the state of Arkansas besides the Hogs.
Nutt will improve Ole Miss, but Ole Miss will never annually compete for the SEC West title with Nutt, or almost anyone for that matter, until Ole Miss pulls some young assistant who is the next Bob Stoops or Steve Spurrier, who will then bolt for greener pastures.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am
38
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
Division 1AA Dept:
Someone needs to let Ole Miss know that it does not belong in Division One, brother. Either go play intramurals, or drop down a division or two. Winning a game or two in the SEC each year ain’t where its at, jack.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
39
WDamnE says:
Glad to have the ole Nutt job still around. Now someone please hire Coach O. We’ve got to keep our crazy ass coaches!
November 27th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
40
hailstate says:
“…. although I cannot imagine anyone wanting to play in Starkville over Oxford.”
Why is that? The Square and the Grove? What does Oxford offer athletes that Starkville doesn’t?
November 27th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
41
jtnhogs says:
It’s true that Hooten didn’t have to compete with any other in-state schools for Arkansas talent. In fact, on the day he was hired, he spoke of “building a fence” around the state to keep the best of our homegrown talent as Razorbacks.
It was only when he started losing so many recruiting wars that he changed his tune to “we only want kids who want to be Razorbacks.”
There is a TON of Arkansas talent playing at other schools besides Tennessee. Off the top of my head we have Mallett at Michigan; Mustain, Williams, and Green at USC(w), Burns and Ziemba at Auburn. And the list goes on…
Enjoy him, Rebels!
November 27th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
42
Will says:
#40 – Mint Juleps and running water. They promise ‘lectric by 2020.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
43
Jim-bo says:
starkville is the armpit of an armpit state…. worst sec town by far
November 27th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
44
kt says:
“Requium for a Nutt”
Apologies to Mr. Faulkner
”Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing…”
November 27th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
45
the croominator says:
hailstate at #40:
I work for State and even I could see why someone would want to live in Oxford over Starkville. The spouse doesn’t even want to live here…we’re looking for houses in Columbus and West Point.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
46
Will (the other one) says:
Starkville is one of the most aptly named towns in the world.
Oh, and #40? Have you seen Ole Miss women?
November 27th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
47
hailstate says:
#46 ….Yes, I married one of the smart ones.
I said “athletes” not middle class, white dudes. Starkville is paradise compared to 99% of the small towns in the rural south — you know where athletes come from, by and large. I never claimed it was Athens of Austin, but it gets a bad rep based on decades old perceptions, lack of hotel space, and comparisons to awesome college towns.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
48
idiotghos says:
Everyone needs to realize the difference between the Wildhog and gen-u-ine Nuttball.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
49
Jeff from LA says:
This is excellent news. I was worried we’d have to go a whole year without hearing about crazy ol’ Houston. It looks like we’re not even going to have go a week without hearing about him now. I just can’t wait to see how Nutt and the Ole Miss fanbase get along.
Luckily for Nutt, I don’t think Ole Miss fans have even heard of the Freedom of Information Act, let alone know how to use it to unleash hell.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
50
yoyofutbawl says:
42
We got ‘lectric. Computers too, wid intynet. And coldbottled beer in bars, which i don’t believe Oxfart has, unless things have changed recently.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:57 pm