Houston, we Ole Miss fans have a problem…
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Aaaaah….
It was announced today that “last night” Houston Nutt reached an agreement with the University of Mississippi to become their new head football coach. Nutt leaves Arkansas almost exactly ten years after becoming head coach. He leaves Arkansas richer and poorer simultaneously.
We’re richer because now we can pursue a coach that might have an inspired offense, rather than working to death a few extremely talented players. We’re poorer because the University of Arkansas is paying Nutt $3.5 million as part of contract negotiations as he leaves! What?!
According to an AP News report, Chancellor White at UofA was the agent behind this:
White said Nutt’s contract gave the coach a set of “golden handcuffs” under which Nutt would have to pay the university if he takes another coaching job while also forfeiting a significant amount of money. White said he told Nutt he would ask the Razorback Foundation to free Nutt of the obligations. (AP)
In addition, Nutt has signed a $9.5 million/5 year contract at Ole Miss. A Mediocre Millionaire. Great.
Of course, I have a few issues with this, as should any thinking fan.
- First of all, why didn’t the negotiations stipulate that Nutt not coach in our own division? No matter how good/bad Arkansas or Ole Miss is in the years ahead, any win by Nutt is egg-in-your-face to us. We’ll have to face him every year because he’s in our division. Great thinking.
- Second, does anyone really believe the Ole Miss job was finalized yesterday? That Nutt hasn’t been approached by them before? That he was well aware yesterday during his own “resignation” negotiations that he was going to be signing another multi-million dollar contact within hours? So much for his love for Arkansas…
- Third, does it cause any pause in your moral fiber to consider what that amount of money - either way could do to help students - underprivileged and otherwise - attend college and create a future for themselves? Think of the money involved in this one coach’s future alone - $13 million - would like like in scholarships for students.
- Finally… I wonder if Mitch Mustain’s mom might be in line to be the new coach…?
November 27th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Amen, Mr. Jeff! Michael and I was discussing this last night. I knew he had something under his sleeves. Glad someone came out and said it. Nutt just scored big money in the banks.
Lou Arnold’s last blog post..My Son, The Entertainer
November 27th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
It turns out Houston is a better with money than football. I got no problem with them paying him the money. They are into ‘wet mule money’. They should have stipulated he couldn’t go to a SEC team. If he wanted to, he wouldn’t get the max amount of money. That is just standard severance package negotiations. They should have to answer to the boosters on how they handled the payout of $3+ million so ‘willy nilly’, espcially if he resigned.
Anyway, if he stinks as bad as we all think he does, that’s at least one win the new coach will get! The more everyone cries about him going to Ole Miss, the more they make the point that he is better than they want to admit.
Karl’s last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
For the last few months this has been the only blog I have read, due to a lack of free time. If I want someone to waste my time with gossip like this I’ll just read Austin’s posts on our RT Sports message board. Entertain me with lighthearted stories of you pooping your pants and enlighten me with the depth of your wisdom.
Phillip’s last blog post happened over a year ago!
November 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
rather under-handed dealings by ole miss as well, especially considering how they got their feelings hurt when tommy tuberville was saying one day how much he loved ole miss, oxford and the local piggly wiggly, and the next day he was signing a contract with auburn.
of course, whereas arkansas fans were highly displeased with the way the season went, ole miss fans would have happily settled for 8-4 this year. its all about perspective.
dean’s last blog post..dueling canons