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Chat Reel: Houston Nutt

'I just want the fans to get behind this team'

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's college football chat with Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt. Welcome coach and thanks for joining us.
Houston Nutt: Thank you.

From Thomas Green in Little Rock, Ark.: Coach, your team was plagued by injuries all of last year and never seemed to come together. Already this season, a few players have gone down with injuries. How do you keep up your team's spirit and make them believe they can win?
Houston Nutt: I don't think it's quite as bad as it may seem. Shannon Money and Harold Harris -- we're going to get them back. It's our job to keep our guys up as coaches I think football is one of the greatest games because it teaches you about life. You're going to get knocked down, as long as you get back up. This team has a lot of fight and they're ready to go.

From Chris Russell in Washington: How does the addition of two great athletes like Lawrence Richardson and Ahmad "Batman" Carroll help the usually overmatched Razorback secondary?
Houston Nutt: For the first time we feel very good when we look at the secondary. Since Kenoy Kennedy and David Barrett graduated, we haven't felt good. Carroll, Richardson, Eddie Jackson, Corey Harris and Ken Hamlin -- with them we feel much, much more secure.

From William White in Clinton, Md.: How healthy is Cedric Cobbs for the upcoming season? Do you think he will be a 1,000-yard rusher?
Houston Nutt: I do, if he stays healthy. We were 3-0 with a healthy Cedric. He goes down and we were fortunate enough to find out about Fred Talley and Brandon Holmes. But Cedric is 100 percent healthy.

From J. B. in Fayetteville, Ark.: I am so excited about the upcoming season, and I can hardly wait. I have been following our practice coverage on Hawgs Illustrated, and I was wondering about the quarterback situation. How much of our offense is going to be based on the option? And are we going to use the option no matter who the starting quarterback is? I really think that implementing the option into our offense was an excellent idea. Good luck, and I will see you in Little Rock.
Houston Nutt: Thank you for your enthusiasm. We are going to run a little option, but we don't know how much yet. All quarterbacks are going to run it.

From A. Thomas in Fort Smith, Ark.: If Matt Jones does not play at the quarterback position, will you utilize him in any other roles, such as wide receiver? Is there any possibility he will be redshirted?
Houston Nutt: Matt Jones could play wide receiver, but we are excited about him at quarterback right now. It is too early to tell if he is going to be redshirted, but he is very talented, and he seems to always make plays.

From HogFan201: Coach, I have read in the papers about how aggressive Ahmad Carroll has been! Does this just really excite you? Do you try to keep him calm or just turn him loose?
Houston Nutt: We want to keep that aggressive attitude when it is time to be aggressive. You love his fight, you love his intensity. That is what he brings to the table, very rare for a true freshman.

From Randy: Coach Nutt, what do you think about the games being moved to Fayetteville? The stadium is great, but as Lou Holtz said recently, "there is no where tougher to play on a Saturday night than Little Rock." What are your thoughts on that?
Houston Nutt: Well, I am from Little Rock and I love Little Rock. I love playing in Little Rock, and that's why we are playing two games down there. We're opening our season down there. There's a great atmosphere there.

From Wayne Young in Morrilton, Ark.: With an overload of quality tailbacks, what does the depth chart look like currently, and are you considering redshirting any of the backs?
Houston Nutt: We're going to redshirt Rydel Pearson, and we don't know about Kyle Dickerson and Dearrious Howard yet. But it's still too early. Last year we thought we had an abundance of backs and before you know it you're down to one.

From Lee Warrington in Atlanta: Coach, do you think the Razorbacks can become a perennial national power like Tennessee and Florida while playing in the SEC West? The stadium looks great.
Houston Nutt: No question about it. I think we're on the right track. If you look at our stadium and our players, we're on the right track. We've been to three straight bowls. We're taking baby steps, but we're in the best conference in America,

From FlaRazorback: Coach, at this point does it look like the offensive line will be 100 percent healthy in two weeks?
Houston Nutt: Yes, it does. And what you feel good about is the three seniors Kenny Sandlin, Shannon Money and Brian Wiley leading the way with a lot of experience.

From Ed in Miami, Fla.: Hi Coach, how is the kicking game progressing? I know there were some problems last year. Any chance for one of the three walk-ons to make the team this year?
Houston Nutt: Yes, there is. They're competing as we speak. Our punting game has improved a great deal since last year. Richie Butler is handing the punting chores. Brennan O'Donahue is having some competition with the kicking, but he is leading so far.

From NewStadiumNewYearGOHOGS: Do you feel like the SEC West is completely up for grabs right now?
Houston Nutt: Yes, I do. I think our side always seems to have more parity. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Saturday.

From KYHOGFAN: How do you feel about starting the season with UNLV on a Thursday night with a national audience?
Houston Nutt: I love it. I love it because we have the opportunity to play UNLV again. We had to play a Thursday night game on ESPN, and I'd rather open up with it sooner rather than later because of the preparation time.

From hogfan101: Coach, how well is Jermaine Petty adjusting to his new role at linebacker?
Houston Nutt: He has been doing great. One of our few seniors, he is leading our team and having a very, very good camp.

From HogHeaded: Coach, have you and the staff taken any extra precautions this preseason because of the media focus on player dehydration and heat stress?
Houston Nutt: Absolutely. Any time lives are lost it sends off an alarm around the country. You'd be a fool not to pay attention to it. We've given our kids more water, more breaks, not cutting down on practice any, just more water and more breaks. We've pay extra special attention to our kids.

From Rooster: Coach Nutt, will we ever come out in all cardinal uniforms?
Houston Nutt: I don't know. I don't know if coach Broyles and some of my bosses would want me to mess with that tradition that much. I do know some of our players have asked for it.

From southhog: Is Carlos Hall ready to take all his talent to the field?
Houston Nutt: I believe he is. He had his best spring, best camp. He has been a great leader. In about 14 days we'll find out.

From ground: Which player do you think will surprise the fans this year, like Brandon Holmes last year?
Houston Nutt: Decori Birmingham from Atlanta, Texas.

From towens: In the college preview edition of Sports Illustrated it is stated that Cobbs and Talley are the SEC's best running tandem. Do you think they can live up to that billing?
Houston Nutt: I think when they're healthy there's no doubt about it. I think when Holmes and Cobb are healthy, they're a great pair. And Cobb and Talley, they make a great pair too.

From Jeff Martin in St Louis, Mo.: Coach Nutt, As an alumnus and a great admirer of yours, I grew up in Arkansas and still attend the games every year. Does is bother you that no matter how much success you have the media never picks Arkansas to do well or gives you much credit?
Houston Nutt: (laughs) Not really. I don't ever worry about the polls before the season. They've always picked us last since we've been here and long as we don't end up last we're doing OK. I just want the fans to get behind this team, support them and cheer them on because they're going to have a good team to root for.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Houston Nutt. Coach, thanks for joining us and good luck this season.
Houston Nutt: I appreciate it.

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