Where There's This Much Smoke, There's Got To Be Fire

As I mentioned earlier in the week, Razorback Nation is awash in rumors regarding the state of the Arkansas football program. Message boards on sites such as www.hogville.net, www.woopig.net, www.oinkx.com, www.hawgsillustrated.com, and www.arsportstalk.net have been on fire this week, and have been on lockdown, limiting themselves to registered users, in order to preserve bandwidth and to monitor usage. There are a lot of things going on, and a lot of things being covered up. Where there’s this much smoke, there’s got to be fire.

A group of fans raised enough money to take out a 1/2 page ad in yesterday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, calling for the firing of coach Houston Nutt, and the retirement of athletic director/resident fossil Frank Broyles. The text can be found on their website at www.savethehogs.com.

There are rumors flying around regarding the job status of head coach Nutt, and athletic director Broyles. One rumor has Nutt being bought out of his contract, and Butch Davis leaving his new job at North Carolina to come back to the hills of Arkansas, where he has a house. Another rumor has Broyles retiring, and Ken Hatfield coming back to Arkansas as athletic director. These are purely RUMORS. But, there is a lot of stuff flying around.

In my opinion, Frank Broyles is athletic director at the University of Arkansas until he dies. He has a ton of political power, and will use it. I’m no fan of his, but I think he is athletic director for life. As long as Broyles likes Nutt, Nutt will still be the coach. I’d be shocked if Broyles were fired.

There is a lot of speculation surrounding the university Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday in Little Rock. Something may happen, but these are Teflon men we’re dealing with. I look for Broyles to survive, and for Nutt to barely hang on.

Once again, I don’t have a dog in this fight. However, this whole situation looks really stinky. Arkansas deserves better.

From earlier in the week:

General Hogspital, continued. Includes text of alleged email to Mitch Mustain

The Gus Bus to Tulsa, or General Hogspital