Heard that rumor a while ago and didn't think much of it. Evidently, it has some substance.
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- Thread starter Oh8ch
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Heard that rumor a while ago and didn't think much of it. Evidently, it has some substance.
SI
Coincidental or calculated?
Hogs' hiring of top recruit's coach raises eyebrows
<!--startclickprintexclude--> <script>cnnEAUrl="/writers";</script> <script> function cnnEmailAlerts() {document.location.href='/alerts'+cnnEAUrl;} </script> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/.element/ssi/js/2.0/clickability/button2356_1.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="JavaScript"> window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.location.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href;</script><!--endclickprintexclude--> Was it a stroke of genius by a progressive-thinking head coach, or an act of desperation by a guy trying to save his job? Was it an attempt to rejuvenate a stagnant offense, or an attempt to land the most important recruit of the year?
There are any number of ways to view Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt's surprising decision last week to hire a high school coach, Gus Malzahn, as his new offensive coordinator. Malzahn, 40, recently led Springdale (Ark.) High to a 14-0 season and the state title. In 14 years, he's gone 144-36-1 at three Arkansas high schools and won four state titles, all while utilizing a diverse, no-huddle offense that's generated national acclaim.
While it's not unheard of for coaches to make the jump from high school to college, they usually do so as a position coach. For an SEC program to hand its play-calling duties to a first-time college coach is extremely unusual.
What really raised eyebrows, however, was the timing of the announcement, coming just days after reports surfaced that Malzahn's quarterback at Springdale, Mitch Mustain -- who happens to be the top-rated player in the country at his position -- was backing off an August commitment to the Razorbacks and re-opening his recruitment.
All parties involved insist it's a coincidence.
NCAA rules preclude Nutt or Malzahn from discussing Mustain publicly. However, they both acknowledge Nutt first interviewed Malzahn three years ago for the job of quarterback coach/passing game coordinator and has been in regular contact with him since. In addition to winning titles, Malzahn has regularly produced national record-setting passers, earning him invites to speak at clinics around the country and an opportunity to publish an instructional book and video entitled The Hurry-Up, No Huddle: An Offensive Philosophy.
"He's got a great mind," Nutt said of Malzahn. "As you follow his career, he's had success everywhere he's been."
Nutt served as his own play-caller during his first eight seasons in Fayetteville and led Arkansas to bowl games in each of his first six seasons. The Razorbacks, however, slipped to 5-6 in 2004 and 4-7 this season. While Arkansas AD Frank Broyles has continually pledged his support for Nutt, it's no secret the locals are disgruntled. Changes had to be made.
"This is first time, either as a player or a coach, I've ever had back-to-back losing seasons," said Nutt, previously the head coach at Murray State and Boise State. "You want to let your fans and players know you're trying to do things better."
Arkansas has been known the past few years as a powerful running team with a lackluster passing game. It wasn't always that way. In the late '90s, Nutt produced both an All-SEC passer (Clint Stoerner) and receiver (Anthony Lucas). But with the arrival of run-first quarterback Matt Jones in 2001, the Razorbacks became increasingly one-dimensional. Malzahn's primary job will be to restore balance.
"Obviously Arkansas has been one of the better running teams in the country, and it would be foolish to get away from something you do so strongly," said Malzahn, who mixes two-back, one-back and empty-backfield sets. "My goal is to provide balance and stretch the field. My reputation is for throwing the ball down field, which we'll do, but at the same time we've run the ball more than we've passed the last couple seasons."
Malzahn inherits a pair of promising freshmen in the backfield, quarterback Casey Dick and tailback Darren McFadden. Razorbacks fans, understandably, hope he'll have another signal-caller at his disposal come fall.
Mustain, the Gatorade Player of the Year, threw for 3,817 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior. His announcement last August that he would be staying close to home for college -- along with his best friend, Springdale receiver Anthony Norman -- touched off a state-wide celebration and was the single biggest reason for Hogs fans' optimism during an otherwise forgettable 2005 season.
Earlier this week, however, Mustain confirmed to The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas that he was rethinking his decision, citing the dismissal of Arkansas quarterbacks coach Roy Wittke, the man who recruited him most heavily and the guy whom his high school coach replaced.
"I knew that if Coach Nutt was going to hire an offensive coordinator, regardless of who he chose, it would likely mean the firing of Coach Wittke," Mustain told the paper. Asked if Nutt's choice of Malzahn as the offensive coordinator would sway him, Mustain said, "I knew a long time ago that Coach Malzahn was probably going to be hired, but I didn't know what role he would have. Before he told me what his position would be, I had already made my decision [to reopen the recruitment]."
Mustain didn't specify which schools he's now considering, but Notre Dame, one of his original finalists, and Tennessee, whose newly hired offensive coordinator, David Cutcliffe, is a renowned quarterbacks guru, are believed to be among the candidates. And then there's Arkansas, located less than 20 minutes from his home and now sporting a familiar offensive coordinator.
"There's got to be unbelievable pressure for him to stay in state," said Scout.com recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg. "This [Malzahn's hiring] just adds more pressure."
Coincidental or calculated?
Hogs' hiring of top recruit's coach raises eyebrows
<!--startclickprintexclude--> <script>cnnEAUrl="/writers";</script> <script> function cnnEmailAlerts() {document.location.href='/alerts'+cnnEAUrl;} </script> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/.element/ssi/js/2.0/clickability/button2356_1.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="JavaScript"> window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.location.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href;</script><!--endclickprintexclude--> Was it a stroke of genius by a progressive-thinking head coach, or an act of desperation by a guy trying to save his job? Was it an attempt to rejuvenate a stagnant offense, or an attempt to land the most important recruit of the year?
There are any number of ways to view Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt's surprising decision last week to hire a high school coach, Gus Malzahn, as his new offensive coordinator. Malzahn, 40, recently led Springdale (Ark.) High to a 14-0 season and the state title. In 14 years, he's gone 144-36-1 at three Arkansas high schools and won four state titles, all while utilizing a diverse, no-huddle offense that's generated national acclaim.
While it's not unheard of for coaches to make the jump from high school to college, they usually do so as a position coach. For an SEC program to hand its play-calling duties to a first-time college coach is extremely unusual.
What really raised eyebrows, however, was the timing of the announcement, coming just days after reports surfaced that Malzahn's quarterback at Springdale, Mitch Mustain -- who happens to be the top-rated player in the country at his position -- was backing off an August commitment to the Razorbacks and re-opening his recruitment.
All parties involved insist it's a coincidence.
NCAA rules preclude Nutt or Malzahn from discussing Mustain publicly. However, they both acknowledge Nutt first interviewed Malzahn three years ago for the job of quarterback coach/passing game coordinator and has been in regular contact with him since. In addition to winning titles, Malzahn has regularly produced national record-setting passers, earning him invites to speak at clinics around the country and an opportunity to publish an instructional book and video entitled The Hurry-Up, No Huddle: An Offensive Philosophy.
"He's got a great mind," Nutt said of Malzahn. "As you follow his career, he's had success everywhere he's been."
Nutt served as his own play-caller during his first eight seasons in Fayetteville and led Arkansas to bowl games in each of his first six seasons. The Razorbacks, however, slipped to 5-6 in 2004 and 4-7 this season. While Arkansas AD Frank Broyles has continually pledged his support for Nutt, it's no secret the locals are disgruntled. Changes had to be made.
"This is first time, either as a player or a coach, I've ever had back-to-back losing seasons," said Nutt, previously the head coach at Murray State and Boise State. "You want to let your fans and players know you're trying to do things better."
Arkansas has been known the past few years as a powerful running team with a lackluster passing game. It wasn't always that way. In the late '90s, Nutt produced both an All-SEC passer (Clint Stoerner) and receiver (Anthony Lucas). But with the arrival of run-first quarterback Matt Jones in 2001, the Razorbacks became increasingly one-dimensional. Malzahn's primary job will be to restore balance.
"Obviously Arkansas has been one of the better running teams in the country, and it would be foolish to get away from something you do so strongly," said Malzahn, who mixes two-back, one-back and empty-backfield sets. "My goal is to provide balance and stretch the field. My reputation is for throwing the ball down field, which we'll do, but at the same time we've run the ball more than we've passed the last couple seasons."
Malzahn inherits a pair of promising freshmen in the backfield, quarterback Casey Dick and tailback Darren McFadden. Razorbacks fans, understandably, hope he'll have another signal-caller at his disposal come fall.
Mustain, the Gatorade Player of the Year, threw for 3,817 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior. His announcement last August that he would be staying close to home for college -- along with his best friend, Springdale receiver Anthony Norman -- touched off a state-wide celebration and was the single biggest reason for Hogs fans' optimism during an otherwise forgettable 2005 season.
Earlier this week, however, Mustain confirmed to The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas that he was rethinking his decision, citing the dismissal of Arkansas quarterbacks coach Roy Wittke, the man who recruited him most heavily and the guy whom his high school coach replaced.
"I knew that if Coach Nutt was going to hire an offensive coordinator, regardless of who he chose, it would likely mean the firing of Coach Wittke," Mustain told the paper. Asked if Nutt's choice of Malzahn as the offensive coordinator would sway him, Mustain said, "I knew a long time ago that Coach Malzahn was probably going to be hired, but I didn't know what role he would have. Before he told me what his position would be, I had already made my decision [to reopen the recruitment]."
Mustain didn't specify which schools he's now considering, but Notre Dame, one of his original finalists, and Tennessee, whose newly hired offensive coordinator, David Cutcliffe, is a renowned quarterbacks guru, are believed to be among the candidates. And then there's Arkansas, located less than 20 minutes from his home and now sporting a familiar offensive coordinator.
"There's got to be unbelievable pressure for him to stay in state," said Scout.com recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg. "This [Malzahn's hiring] just adds more pressure."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Mustain said yesterday he has narrowed his list to Alabama, Arkansas, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
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Not the same thing. If Zechman was hired while Woody was recruiting Art (hiring the coach of a kid currently being recruited), then it would be the same...
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sandgk
Watson, Crick & A Twist
Not even Claussen really knows where he wishes to go at this time, and UT isn't a name that brings back completely happy memories for the Claussen clan.
The other USC was rumored heavy for Claussen BTW - but like I said, no-one knows not even the youngest Claussen.
As for Mustain, if not a return to the fold in Arkansas we may see him going to the Tide, it would by far be the best fit.
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stxbuck said:
sandgk said:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060114/SPORTS0601/601140355/1345/SPORTS
Former Tennessee quarterback Rick Clausen has decided to remain with the Volunteers as a graduate assistant. [...] Coach Phillip Fulmer said Clausen will assist new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, who returned to Tennessee to replace Randy Sanders.
"I think he'll be great in the transition from what we've done in the past to where we're headed," Fulmer said. "He's an eager guy to learn and he'll be a coach some day."
Gee ... I wonder if this might sway a certain QB recruit's decision making process?!
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sm00r
Sarcosanct Cogitator
HERE'S A LINK:
http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=13948
Mustain commits to Razorbacks
SPRINGDALE (AP) — Mitch Mustain, considered by many the top high school quarterback in the nation, committed to play college football at Arkansas on Monday.
Mustain told Gus Malzahn, his former Springdale High School coach and current Arkansas offensive coordinator, about his decision Monday afternoon and spoke to Arkansas coach Houston Nutt on Monday evening.
The player had committed to Arkansas on Aug. 15, but later withdrew that commitment in a meeting with Nutt after the Razorbacks finished with a 4-7 season. He said Arkansas always was his first choice but he had, “some things I wanted cleared up.”
Now, Mustain said, he’s certain of his decision.
“This time around, I’ve exhausted every option out there,” Mustain told The Morning News in a story posted on the Springdale newspaper’s Web site. “This time, I honestly feel better now than I did in August when I committed.”
Mustain is one of the nation’s most sought-after prep players and was named the Parade Magazine Player of the Year. He has never lived more than 20 minutes away from the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
Mustain said his concerns were answered after a meeting Friday at 12:01 a.m. with the entire Arkansas offensive coaching staff. The meeting was held so late to avoid meeting during the NCAA recruiting dead period.
In another Friday meeting, Mustain talked with Arkansas quarterbacks coach Alex Wood, who told Mustain that the Razorbacks would only use him next season — foregoing his redshirt year — if he plays better than current Arkansas quarterbacks Casey Dick, Alex Mortensen and Robert Johnson during fall practices.
Mustain said Monday that with his decision made he was ready for things to “get back to normal.” He called the decision the most important of his life.
“I’m excited just to get up there and get started,” Mustain told The Morning News. “Honestly, I wish I could be up there for the spring I’m so ready to get going.”
http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=13948
Mustain commits to Razorbacks
SPRINGDALE (AP) — Mitch Mustain, considered by many the top high school quarterback in the nation, committed to play college football at Arkansas on Monday.
Mustain told Gus Malzahn, his former Springdale High School coach and current Arkansas offensive coordinator, about his decision Monday afternoon and spoke to Arkansas coach Houston Nutt on Monday evening.
The player had committed to Arkansas on Aug. 15, but later withdrew that commitment in a meeting with Nutt after the Razorbacks finished with a 4-7 season. He said Arkansas always was his first choice but he had, “some things I wanted cleared up.”
Now, Mustain said, he’s certain of his decision.
“This time around, I’ve exhausted every option out there,” Mustain told The Morning News in a story posted on the Springdale newspaper’s Web site. “This time, I honestly feel better now than I did in August when I committed.”
Mustain is one of the nation’s most sought-after prep players and was named the Parade Magazine Player of the Year. He has never lived more than 20 minutes away from the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
Mustain said his concerns were answered after a meeting Friday at 12:01 a.m. with the entire Arkansas offensive coaching staff. The meeting was held so late to avoid meeting during the NCAA recruiting dead period.
In another Friday meeting, Mustain talked with Arkansas quarterbacks coach Alex Wood, who told Mustain that the Razorbacks would only use him next season — foregoing his redshirt year — if he plays better than current Arkansas quarterbacks Casey Dick, Alex Mortensen and Robert Johnson during fall practices.
Mustain said Monday that with his decision made he was ready for things to “get back to normal.” He called the decision the most important of his life.
“I’m excited just to get up there and get started,” Mustain told The Morning News. “Honestly, I wish I could be up there for the spring I’m so ready to get going.”
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