New Rumors

[jbuzbee]

We've all heard the rumors throughout the season about possible offensive coordinators, quarterbacks coaches and position coaches. Louis Campbell will move from Director of Football Operations to secondary coach...he formerly has coached this position at Arkansas under Crowe, Kines and Ford as well as been defensive coordinator at Oklahoma St. where Herring coached under him (I think). Here are the hot rumors as of right now....the truth will be revealed sometime next week:

1) Gus Malzahn will be hired as receivers coach and James Shibest will likely be fired or moved.
2) Gary Crowton (offensive coordinator, University of Oregon) will be interviewed for the OC position. Crowton's has long been noticed by Arkansas since his days as head coach of Louisiana Tech when Ark. used to play them all the time. He has been the head coach at Louisiana Tech and, most recently, at BYU...he has also been an offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears (when they were 3rd in the NFL in passing and 8th in total offense). A strange thing I noticed is that he was "passing coordinator" at Western Illinois University....similar to the position Roy Whittke serves for the Hogs now and Wittke came from either Eastern or Western Illinois. Crowton has coached such notables as: Tim Rattay; Troy Edwards; Luke Staley (won Doak Walker Award); Glenn Foley (finished 5th in Heisman race in 1993).
3) Frank Cignetti (offensive coordinator, Fresno St.) will also be interviewed.
4) Madre Hill, recently fired from South Carolina will assist Danny Nutt (if he doesn't take over the Director of Football Operations job) in coaching the running backs. Madre got a bum rap at USC where they don't really run the ball much and got rid of their top backs before the season began...he didn't have much talent to work with.

[Neo]

Madre got a bum rap at USC where they don't really run the ball much and got rid of their top backs before the season began...he didn't have much talent to work with.

Please.... :rolleyes:

Spare us your "Poor defenseless Madre" crap. Let's look at the talent he had at TB. :rolleyes:

Mike Davis
Ranked 22nd by Rivals.com. Was heavily recruited by USC, Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland and UNC.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=26297

Bobby Wallace
Ranked 20th by Rivals.com. Was recruited by USC and Clemson.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=26244

Albert Ashcraft
Ranked 43rd by Rivals.com. Was recruited by USC, Tennessee and Clemson.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=18189

Daccus Turman
Ranked 37th by Rivals.com. Was heavily recruited by USC, Georgia, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland. Broke every one of H. Walker's HS records.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=4653


The fact of the matter is his performance or lack thereof is unacceptable and his contract should not be renewed. This was his first shot as a position coach and he just couldn't cut the mustard. Ranking 103rd in the nation in rushing is not a good thing. Spurrier was FORCED to throw the ball this year because our running backs weren't getting the job done. Put simply, that equals BAD COACHING. The other angle was that he wasn't cutting the mustard in the recruiting department either. If his results were indictitive of any other job, he would have been fired a long time ago. :cool:

Be sure to get ALL of the facts before making a statement.

[jbuzbee]

Wow....you kinda missed the point of this thread and that post by about a million miles. But, since you want to begin like this....I'll oblige: Madre Hill is still young, 29 to be exact, and this was his first coaching experience of any kind. He worked in the training room at Arkansas a few years ago, but didn't do any coaching. This was a tough place for him to start. As we all know, running backs are only as good as their line and there is a difference between run blocking and pass blocking....USC is not good at run blocking (as your own stat indicates).

I stated before the season started when USC was kicking players off their team by the truck-load that the loss of Summers (USC's most gifted back) and Boyd would kill USC's running game....and I was right. Please spare me the unsubstantiated Rivals.com rankings of players....those mean little to nothing to me (fyi: when citing sources you should indicate what the ranking is in....obviously none of these guys were ranked overall...more like 22 out of the RBs; and as a freshman he probably played quite well). Do you honestly think that these 3 running backs and a fullback (Turman is no tailback) are the cream of the SEC running back crop? Give me a break. Also, Mike Davis is now USC's most talented running back and this is his first year in major D-I football...it takes time (McFadden excluded). USC did not run the ball---their top two running backs only carred the ball 187 times combined; and that is simply not enough to establish the running game and their 4.2 yards per carry average was not terrible, which indicates that they might have been able to run the ball more effectively had they tried. Its no secret that Spurrier prefers the running game to the passing game as evidence to the special attention given to QB's in his system. Madre got the blame for talent that reached its ceiling + inadequate run blocking + no emphasis on the run = bad running game.

For the recored: you came out of nowhere with this and the statement I made has been taken far away from its intended destination. I wasn't knocking USC as much as making a comment on where their talent lies....and it ain't behind the QB.

Be sure that you comprehend a post before you spring off on a wild tangent that has nothing to do with the thread.

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

Actually Madre got kind of a bum rap but as Beeds said in another thread he wasnt that good of a recruiter. But he'll get better and he will become a pretty good coach, Spurrier just wanted some experience for next year. Hey JBUZ whats your bet?

[jbuzbee]

How can you be deemed a poor recruiter when you've only been there for one year? Neo just posted about how good Rivals ranked ya'lls four running backs.

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

Ask Beeds he's the one who said it!!!!

[WooHawg]

Here is a good article as well on the latest rumors:
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2005/11/30/razorback_central/sections/top_stories/02uafbcoordinators.txt

If anyone hasn't listened to Cole Barthel's interview this morning, check it out. Hopefully there will be some changes. And I certainly hope that coaches aren't just shifted around. Is it maybe too quiet right now? Broyles claims his only role right now is as an 'advisor'. Nutt has said that he isn't sure that there will be a new OC and that they haven't fully decided on that yet. Who knows but maybe by the middle of next week we will.

[jbuzbee]

What did Cole Barthel say? Where can I listen to it?

[jbuzbee]

Wittke's gone. Malzahn will likely be hired. Never heard Neo respond....how weird. Such mixed messages from the USC fans who tried to make this thread about them.....not a good recruiter yet he had soooo much talent to work with....weird.

[AFWarrior83]

Neo is funny, he tries to look up every statistic he can to prove you wrong, and then always puts a pic of a donkey as his sig, saying "you are looking like this". I've got him once or twice not replying after I teach him something. I have to give it to him though, he can argue with anyone anyday! I bet he is a damn lawyer or something! Cudos to you Buzz for pointing out the 2 obvious items at hand!

One of the fav's is when Neo said that stats are overrated with McFadden against the Sindey or DMAC for SEC Fr. That is the only time he didn't try and use the stats! :D

[WooHawg]

Well what do ya'll think of all the rumors that are swirling around? I think I have heard or read every possibility in the past couple of weeks. Anyone think that Nutt is gone? Or Mustain to another school? Just hope by the end of the week we get some facts.

[AFWarrior83]

I have heard too many rumors, I think Nutt will stay and he will get an OC that is a proven winner, or he steps into a admin. job like JBF and lets Butch take over. Mustain is anyones guess, but I feel that he will stay as long as we hurry and get a passing OC. DMac and Felix would make such a great match for Mitch. We don't have great receivers, but we have a couple good WR's that have potential to be great, with the right QB throwing to them. If he leaves we stick with Dick and try to get his little brother in a few years, he is suppose to be a stud also. I would like Mitch to keep his word though.

[AFWarrior83]

we know now what rumors are true, I hope the other is true also, and hope that Mitch likes Butch more than Nuttless!

[jbuzbee]

The rumor is that Mustain decommitted today and is probably headed to Knoxville. On a good note...McFadden won the AP SEC Freshman of the Year Award and was named first team All-SEC

[Jay_Lupo]

Oh, man, they are freakin out over at hogville.net, lol. It's pretty fun. The ADG ran a story today by Otis Kirk with quotes from Mitch's mom, and she that her son's committment to Arkansas is in "limbo" b/c of the recent hire of Cutcliffe and the uncertainty of Roy Witke, Arkansas' QB coach and the person who recruited Mustain. "Nobody has told us anything," she said. "We read in the paper that Coach Wittke is gone. Nobody has called and told us that. We're like everybody else, waiting to see what they're (Arkansas) going to do. People are worried about him running off and hoping on a plane to Knoxville next week. He's not."

Sounds to me that it's a two-team race between the Hogs and Vols now. I saw another article with ND in there, but that's not gonna happen. It's Arkansas or Tennessee.

While this is bad and upsetting, of course, it's not the end of the world as the people at the aformentioned website think it is. I don't know about ya'll, but I was very pleased with the way CAsey Dick stepped in this year. I think our future at the QB spot is bright, with or without Mitch. I know he's been turned into this God here, but I'll tell you what, if he comes to Arkansas, he's going to have to battle his ass off to win that starting spot and if he doesn't, he's looking at RS next season and riding the pine for two more years until Casey graduates. Could he beat out Dick? Maybe. But I really don't know the answer to that question. Dick's got what you can't teach or coach, and in a nuttshell, that is balls. He's definitely got the tools upstairs to play in the SEC. So, even if Mustain does sign with UT, it's not the end of the world for us. It's very discouraging, and if HDN's seat was hot before, it'd be scalding if that happened. That would mean he'd only get 1 of the Springdale 5. That would put him very close to being fired.

I'm interested to see what happens. I hope he stays with us, but if not, good riddance. I'm a lot more excited about what Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are going to do the next three years than I am with what Mitch Mustain does. Hopefully he'll stay.

[jbuzbee]

Quit with the B.S. Lupo. You know this is the killer of all killers for the program. Getting 1 of the Springdale 5 (and the 5th best one) demonstrates what athletes in Arkansas think about Nutt's program. You can't lose the National Player of the Year a month and a half before signing day. Maybe someone on the staff ought to drive out to his house and tell him exactly whats going on.

[WooHawg]

Getting 1 of the Springdale 5 (and the 5th best one) demonstrates what athletes in Arkansas think about Nutt's program. You can't lose the National Player of the Year a month and a half before signing day.

Excellent jbuz, and I agree with you there. Like I said in another thread, I am tired of it all. Whatever happens, happens. There is no excuse for this all this crap that is going on right now. If Mustain decides that he would be happier at Tennessee, so be it. I wish him the best. Everything is so out of hand right now and I can't believe its gotten to this level of embarrassment.

[jbuzbee]

Excellent jbuz, and I agree with you there. Like I said in another thread, I am tired of it all. Whatever happens, happens. There is no excuse for this all this crap that is going on right now. If Mustain decides that he would be happier at Tennessee, so be it. I wish him the best. Everything is so out of hand right now and I can't believe its gotten to this level of embarrassment.

WooHawg I must say that you are a bigger person than I am....If Mustain goes to Tennessee I hope he wallows on the bench for 4 years. Growing up in Little Rock and going to college at the University of Arkansas and now in Law school hear in Little Rock I know...without a doubt....that if I was a top recruit there would be no reason for Nutt to recruit me. I would be going to Fayetteville...regardless. I couldn't shun my home state school. It would be even harder if, like Mustain, I grew up 10 minutes from campus. Maybe Mustain doesn't have the right attitude....I want a player that KNOWS he's gonna be able to go pro regardless of what school and coach he plays for. Pulling this crap right now.....I'm starting to wonder about Mustain.

[WooHawg]

WooHawg I must say that you are a bigger person than I am....If Mustain goes to Tennessee I hope he wallows on the bench for 4 years. Growing up in Little Rock and going to college at the University of Arkansas and now in Law school hear in Little Rock I know...without a doubt....that if I was a top recruit there would be no reason for Nutt to recruit me. I would be going to Fayetteville...regardless. I couldn't shun my home state school. It would be even harder if, like Mustain, I grew up 10 minutes from campus. Maybe Mustain doesn't have the right attitude....I want a player that KNOWS he's gonna be able to go pro regardless of what school and coach he plays for. Pulling this crap right now.....I'm starting to wonder about Mustain.

Jbuz, there is no doubt in my mind that if I was in Mustain's position they wouldn't of had to even visit and recruit. I would have signed from the time I started high school to go play for the Razorbacks. Actually a few nights ago I was talking to a friend and saying the same thing. Being born and raised in Arkansas, its a no-brainer for me and in my mind, another college doesn't exist and playing for the Razorbacks would be all I would want to do. No idea what is going through Mustain's head but I did think that he was going to be a Razorback. Right now though I am just sick of all the speculation and talk about where he might go. Rumors flying and he said she said is all getting old. I do wish Mustain the best and he is just looking out for his best interests.

[Hogfan]

Mustain is a critical recruit.. If Mustain goes to Knoxville or anywhere else besides Arkansas Nutt should be shown the door.

[AFWarrior83]

I agree, Nutt has had too many things go wrong for him not to be gone if he looses Mitch. I am glad we have Casey, and I would also be a Hog without a doubt, but there are kids in the other states that leave their home state to join us, like Texas, Georgia, and Louisana. I see your point though, he is only a couple blocks away from there really. Mitch wants to make it in the NFL, that is the bottom line, and he looks at DMac and Felix being great HB's maybe he thinks that he won't get a chance to shine??? If it were me, I think I would be relieved to have such balance in the backfield with me. We just need to get an OC that can use our backs and our QB's to the best of their ability, all this gossip is tearing the state apart! We totally out of the pic for Williams? I heard he did a gator chomp in WMS, pissed a lot of people off! Sorry for blabbing so much...

[Hogfan]

Who knows. We better know something in these next couple of days... Way to many rumors going around.

[jbuzbee]

We totally out of the pic for Williams? I heard he did a gator chomp in WMS, pissed a lot of people off! Sorry for blabbing so much...

I was there.....he did no such thing. Hell, he didn't even play most of the second half.

[AFWarrior83]

I hope he didn't, but about 10 people on hogville.net said he did? I don't have any idea? Just asking... Thanks for letting me know!

[BeeDee]

I'm hearing the following, do any of y'all know for sure whether they're true?:

1. Houston Nutt's headed to Colorado as HC
2. Mustain decommitted and is headed to UT
3. Peyton Hillis is transferring (no destination mentioned)

Are any or all of those true?

[Hogfan]

Those are all rumors but I dont know which ones to believe. Id seriously doubt Hillis transfers the other two.. we dont know... I know one thing we need to know whats going on before the week is up because everything is crazy right now.

[Hogfan]

It looks like Barnett was fired from Colorado.. so the Nutt to CU rumor will be heating up.

[JerryBeeds]

It looks like Barnett was fired from Colorado.. so the Nutt to CU rumor will be heating up.

Nutt played QB at Arky didn't he?

[Hogfan]

For a few years I believe under Holtz. Then he transferred to Oklahoma State.

[jbuzbee]

Hillis is definitely not transferring....although I wouldn't care much if he did. If he's gonna be a malecontent cause he doesn't get to carry the ball then....we'll see ya. Jones and McFadden are much better than he is.

FYI: McFadden was named SEC Freshman of the Year by the Coaches today.

[AFWarrior83]

Yep! Mustain is going to either UA or ND, Nutt isn't going anywhere unless he chooses to go to Colorado, and Hillis isn't going to transfer I don't believe.

[WooHawg]

As of this morning I quit going to any Razorback message boards until all this mess is over. Hoping that tomorrow there is some sort of press conference or something. You'd think that the University would release something but I guess not. This crap is beyond ridiculous. :mad:

[AFWarrior83]

I think I'm with you, but it's hard to wait to hear something!