Like it is: Tuberville wants, needs to beat Arkansas, Nutt

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

There is not going to be any feuding with Tommy Tuberville.
Seriously.
It really doesn't matter who was offered the Arkansas football job first, Tuberville or Houston Nutt (it was Nutt).
Both head coaches seem to have found a place where they fit.
One might not think that with his slicked-back hair and expensive clothes, Turberville would fit on the Plains, but the truth is, he does.
Tuberville and Nutt, who are friends, are both excellent football coaches, but the similarities stop right there.
Nutt is thrilled to drive home in his Yukon.
Tuberville likes limo rides.
Nutt's idea of personal fun is to watch his kids play games or for him to play 2-on-2 basketball with his brothers.
Tuberville likes to play the ponies or live it up in Vegas.
Nutt is a hands-on, play-calling coach who has an open-door policy 24-7, 365.
Tuberville is the CEO type, dealing more with his assistants than the players.
They are just different, but when it comes to coaching and winning and being competitive, they are very similar.
The bookies have made the Tigers a 91/₂-point favorite, but if they knew just how much Tuberville wants to -- no, needs to -- win this game, the line might have been more like three touchdowns.
Since the time when Tuberville and Nutt were both up for the Arkansas job (which Nutt was offered first), they have faced each other twice and Nutt has won both times.
Tuberville is too serious about being a heavyweight contender to not want to start catching up a little.
The first time they met, Tuberville was still the darling of Ole Miss and the Hogs won 34-0. Last season, it was 34-10.
So smart money says Tuberville circled this game a long time ago.
And for the ever optimistic Razorbacks fans, that's why you don't dwell too much on the Tigers' 38-28 victory over Louisiana Tech last week.
Obviously, Auburn was looking ahead.
A small, but not fatal flaw against Tech.
The Tigers won't be looking ahead to next week's open date, and you can take that to the bank.
In fact, you know they will want to go into that break off a victory.
Which they are favored to do, and they are favored for good reason.
Not only have the Razorbacks been assaulted with injuries, but Auburn is playing good football.
Tuberville deserves much of the credit.
Just as he did at Ole Miss, where he took over a program on probation and made it a winner.
Tuberville came to Auburn in the wake of the Terry Bowden fiasco, where Bowden resigned before the end of a 3-8 season.
Tuberville's first season with the Tigers started strong, with three victories, and finished strong. After five consecutive losses, they won two before losing to Alabama respectfully, 28-17.
Auburn suffered a ton of injuries last season, but it also had an anemic running attack, so it went out and signed Rudi Johnson from Butler County (Kan.) Community College.
Johnson was being recruited by several schools, including Arkansas, but the C-D rule got him.
There was Cedric Cobbs to contend with, and Arkansas does not accept D's from transfers.
The Hogs were out of the picture almost before they were in it.
Johnson has rushed for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Auburn is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC, which is good enough for a three-way tie for first place in the West Division.
For the Razorbacks to have a chance, they must stop Johnson. That won't happen with arm tackles -- he's a load.
Of course, they will also have to handle Ben Leard, who is the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the SEC, having thrown for 1,472 yards and nine touchdowns.
Balanced? Like Bill Gates' checkbook.
Auburn has played one more game than Arkansas, but has more than 900 more yards of total offense.
The Tigers should be heavy favorites to win, and even more so when you consider how much this game means to Tommy Tuberville, who finished second to Houston Nutt for the Arkansas job.

This article was published on Friday, October 27, 2000

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