One more SEC post before we move on to the Big 12 …In case we ever forget how much we must appreciate Pete Carroll, I just picked up the news that Houston Nutt announced officially today that Mitch Mustain is now the starter at quarterback for Arkansas following the USC Trojans' 50-14 victory in Fayettefille last night.
Mustain will replace Robert Johnson, who will be moved to wide receiver. (I don’t want to accuse anybody of anything, but what’s with these hick schools moving African-American QBs to wide receiver ... then moving them back when something happens to the white guy?) Here’s what the Nutt had to say for himself:
Mitch (Mustain) has done some good things all through camp. He’s been very accurate. He has shown some very good things under pressure. And then he gets in the game and can execute and take us down the field.So, why the hell didn’t the Nutt name Mustain the starter in the first place? The true freshman did look good throwing a nice pass and scoring on a QB draw after entering the game with 9:40 remaining. But the Nutt is only telling half the story, because Mustain looked like a child a few minutes later, staring down his receiver and throwing into double coverage for a pick.
To be fair, the first thing the Nutt apparently said about the matter at his Sunday press conference was that Johnson handled the situation with a lot of class. But in the same breath, he says:
I really hope he’ll have a true role at receiver and I think he can help us. It’s not all his fault. It’s not one person’s fault, it’s a team game. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions. … You worry about something like that because he works so hard. He cares, he’s a team player. He has done everything we have asked him to do and especially when it isn’t his fault.Of course, it isn’t his fault! It’s the Nutt’s fault. Why put Johnson through spring and summer camp as a QB, then move him out? What makes Mustain more ready now after two series in the fourth quarter of a blowout? Is it because Johnson was at a distinct disadvantage at the start, since the new Arkansas offensive coordinator was Mustain’s high school coach last year? Who is actually coaching the Razorbacks ... the Nutt or the hick fans who booed Johnson before Mustain came in?
The other thing is that the Nutt apparently isn’t being completely truthful about the "team" aspect of his QB situation. The report from the sidelines during last night’s game was that Johnson didn’t speak to Mustain when the kid came off the field. The Nutt is a nut. What a mess!
Thank goodness we have our man Pete Carroll.
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2 comments:
I don't have an account here and really don't feel like having to register at yet another website that I probably will only seldom visit. I'm the guy that you commented on MySpace in regard to the USC vs. Arkansas game. That would be here: My MySpace Blog
While I appreciate the comment and the time you took to read my ramblings, I find it offensive that you choose to refer to us as "hicks". That would be a blanket statement. You see, Northwest Arkansas (that's where Fayetteville is for the geographically challenged) is a state in and of its own. We're unlike any other part of Arkansas. In fact, I petition that we be separated from the rest of the state and possibly be moved or at least considered to be somewhere farther north! Coming from an area that has more large corporations per capita than any other state in the U.S. and a business college ranked in the top 25, I find it appalling to be referred to as a "hick".
Now...while I'll be the first to admit that Arkansas took a real beating, that beating only came in the second half amid a worn out Arkansas defense. One cannot deny the fact that the Arkansas defense was pretty good. You could also not deny Robert Johnson’s improvement. However, I stand firm in my opinion of Robert Johnson. To say the least, it’s not a very high one. But…I’m bias. I’m a Springdale alum. So you can guess who I was pulling for to be a starter. It helps that he was the #1 high school quarterback in the nation last year.
And yes...Nutt can be a real nut. He doesn't always do what's best in my eyes, I know that. But I'm at a disadvantage...I'm not the head coach.
The Razorbacks are a young team yet. With all the new recruits and the new staff, we’re just settling in. Do me a favor and watch our progress. By next year or the following (if not later this season), we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Go Hogs.
Brandon,
Thanks for the brief lesson in Northest Arkansas geography and socio-economics. I guess my use of the word "hicks" was a blanket statement, but I certainly mean no offense to you ... just the Razorback fans who booed Johnson for reasons that were perhaps beyond their impression of his performance. You are obviously not one of them.
My comment to your post was meant to encourage. The Arkansas defense did play well for a half, and Mustain looked great under the circumstances. I just think the Razorbacks could have given USC more of a game had Houston Nutt done a better job.
Good luck with the rest of the season. Fight On!
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