Like it is: Despite losses, 'Houston does not have a problem'

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Houston Nutt knows.
Growing up as a centerpiece athlete, the son of a coach, the oldest of four boys, Nutt understands that not everything in life and football is roses and parades.
He knows a few fans are going to complain from time to time.
Nutt knows they pay a price for that right, and that price helps the football program much more than the grumbling could ever hurt.
The criticism that has been heard over airwaves and read in newspapers this week did kind of sneak up on him after 34 months of being sunshine on a cloudy day.
Going from the guy who returned home and saved the football program from doom and gloom to being called overrated -- with a 4-2 record no less -- was a bit of a surprise.
The harsh critiques -- and understand, some are created by faceless, nameless folks on the radio who are not and never will be Razorbacks fans -- did give Frank Broyles the chance to have his say.
"Houston Nutt is the best football coach in the history of the University of Arkansas," said Broyles Wednesday night. "Houston does not have a problem."
Except with some fans who want more of what he spoon-fed them his first two seasons.
Well, this just may not be the season for that.
Winning two more games with a team that started young and gets younger with every injury could be very difficult.
Not because of play-calling, which some fans of SportsCenter love to whine about because that's what those commentators do, even though the only X's and O's they have ever used were in tic-tac-toe games.
It is not a lack of decision-making.
It is not because of poor planning or poor preparation.
It has nothing to do with coaching changes that were made last season.
Those are just a few of the things that have been heard this week after the Razorbacks lost to South Carolina.
Which is probably the first game the Razorbacks have lost that they were expected to win since Nutt arrived.
On the other hand, his 21 victories at Arkansas include unexpected victories against Alabama (twice), Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Texas. Those victories would most likely have been losses under the previous regime.
The main reason for the losses to Georgia and South Carolina can be found in the training room.
Dean Weber and Kevin Pitts are spending more time with some of the players than is the entire coaching staff.
After six games, left guard La'Zerius White is the only offensive starter who hasn't missed game or practice time because of an injury.
Losing Cedric Cobbs for the season after the Alabama game is a little like trying to make a cross-country run in an 18-wheeler without power steering.
On the other side of the ball, and this helps explain why the defense has been better than the offense lately, the defense has been much healthier.
Cornerback Harold Harris was lost after the Alabama game, and Randy Garner has spent much of the season limping, and Orlando Green has been slowed, but every other starter has played in every game.
Still, Nutt knows some folks are not going to accept the facts that injuries and youth are the definition of this year's Razorbacks.
"We have the greatest fans in the country," Nutt said. "If they need to let off a little steam, so be it."
He wants it aimed at him, not the players.
Actually, what Nutt is going through this week has become very common for coaches. Criticism and complaining have become a huge part of sports.
Alabama is putting its season together and the No. 1 topic in that state is who is going to replace Mike DuBose.
There are mumbles in Oxford and grumbles in Kentucky.
No one would trade places with Bob Simmons at Oklahoma State right now, and Mack Brown's seat is getting warm at Texas. The list goes on for what seems like forever.
Of course, the majority of the fans, the ones who have permanent seats on the bandwagon and will no matter how bumpy the road may get, voice something else -- support, and there has been much more of that this week than criticism.

This article was published on Friday, October 20, 2000

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