FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas might be down, but Houston Nutt said he doesn’t expect to be out as coach anytime soon.

Nutt responded optimistically Sunday to a series of difficult questions regarding the direction of the Razorbacks and increased fan criticism. Arkansas (3-3, 0-3 ) remained winless in the SEC with Saturday’s 9-7 loss to Auburn, but Nutt said he is not concerned with public perception.

With six games remaining in the season and a contract that runs five years beyond this one, Nutt said worrying about the criticism would be counterproductive. Disgruntled fans have organized airplanes to fly banners in protest over the stadium two consecutive weeks and others have worn black to show discontent with Nutt and the direction of the program.

The coach stressed that he is unfazed.

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“I don’t worry about that at all,” Nutt said. “I really don’t. Because if I do, I’m taking away from my guys. If I do that, I’m taking away from my 18-, 19-, 20-year-olds, who have their hope in this year, this team. There is a lot of football left. Again, my contract says 2012. I put that to the side.

“ The contract they’ve given me, it’s real clear. It says 2012,” Nutt continued. “It doesn’t say you’re gone 2007, 2008. It says 2012.... I don’t worry about ooh, there’s a plane in the sky, or there’s a shirt or there’s somebody saying something. I can’t do that. I’m going to get lost with these guys, get lost in this team room here in about 30 minutes, have a good practice today and get ready for the next one.”

With his long-term security assured at least on paper, Nutt is concerning himself more with the short term. Arkansas has plenty of issues to deal with in the here and now, including the continued fourth-quarter collapses and ongoing problems with the passing game that have led to losses.

Most pressing is the team’s inability to pull out games in the fourth quarter. Arkansas looked to be on the verge of changing that when Casey Dick’s 13-yard touchdown completion to Lucas Miller gave the Razorbacks a 7-6 lead with 1: 36 remaining.

Auburn responded with its most explosive and efficient drive of the game, quickly moving downfield to put kicker Wes Byrum in position to win the game. Byrum connected from 20 yards out to give the Razorbacks the season’s third consecutive SEC loss and a third consecutive fourth-quarter collapse in an SEC game.

Keeping players from expecting to stumble in the fourth quarter is Nutt’s mission, he said. Kentucky and Auburn also rallied late against the Razorbacks.

“You can’t let them think like that,” Nutt said. “We’ve got to find a way to win that fourth quarter.... It’s easy to get caught up in ‘Here we go again.’ We’ve got to turn that. I really think we can.”

Arkansas coaches also are turning their attention to improving a still-struggling passing game. Quarterback Casey Dick completed 12 of 26 passes for 111 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Dick’s most reliable receiver was again fullback Peyton Hillis, who finished with five catches for 59 yards.

Auburn held the Razorbacks to 271. 4 yards below their season rushing average. Arkansas tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones combined for 85 yards on 23 carries, and the lack of an effective passing game became even more apparent with running lanes clogged.

Punt returns continued to be an issue for the Razorbacks. Jerell Norton looked like the answer after getting his first action last week, but muffed two attempts at fielding the ball and returned two punts a total of 2 yards.

Even with those issues lingering throughout the first half of the season and chances at matching last year’s success essentially lost, Nutt said he is intent on keeping the team together. Arkansas suffered through an 0-3 SEC start in 2001 and rebounded to make a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Nutt said he would remind the players of that when he met with them before Sunday’s practice.

Nutt said warning players against getting caught up in the negativity was crucial to salvaging the season. Blocking matters more than the booing and tackling goes a long way to stopping the talking.

“[Fans ] are not going to help you get better at blocking or tackling,” Nutt said. “All it’s doing, it’s wasted energy. It’s wasted oxygen. Don’t do it. Don’t worry about anything.... When you start worrying about all that, you’re taking away from what you are supposed to do.”