FAYETTEVILLE — Houston Nutt won’t be on Arkansas’ sideline for its bowl game, but he’ll be anything but forgotten by his players.

That was the message senior linebacker Weston Dacus of Searcy gave after Nutt’s resignation Monday.

“I’m not thinking about anything but winning this ballgame for Coach Nutt,” Dacus said. “We’re going to spread that around to the rest of the players, and I’m sure they’ve already got that in their heads, too.”

Dacus was one of three players chosen to represent the team at the formal announcement of Nutt’s resignation. Junior tailback Darren McFadden and junior center Jonathan Luigs also spoke to media members on the players’ behalf.

ADVERTISEMENT

All three expressed disappointment in Nutt’s decision, but also an understanding of what led him to make it.

“I loved playing for him,” McFadden said. “He’s a great coach. I hate for it to end like this, but I am very happy for him and just wish him the best in whatever he has to do.”

Assistant coach Bobby Allen had to laugh when he heard people were asking if Arkansas’ program was better off because of Nutt’s tenure as head coach. Otherwise, there was very little to laugh about Nutt’s resignation after 10 years with the Razorbacks.

“I mean, come on,” said Allen, the Razorbacks’ cornerbacks coach. “Look at the job he has done, look at the wins we’ve had in the toughest conference in America. I’m a Houston Nutt man and a Houston Nutt fan.”

Allen has been with Nutt since 1996, when he was Nutt’s defensive coordinator at Murray State. Allen said he understood why Nutt felt it was best to step down with controversy swirling around the program.

“The man has been to hell and back,” Allen said. “You wouldn’t wish what he has been through on your worst enemy. There’s only so much a man can take.

“ Houston Nutt has done an unbelievable job at the University of Arkansas. To see what he had to endure and what his family had to endure the last year was tough.”

Tight ends and special teams coach James Shibest said Nutt seemed content with his decision when he told his staff. Shibest wouldn’t confirm when the assistants were told, but Nutt said he made the decision to resign Monday morning.

“[We weren’t ] surprised at all, not at all,” said Shibest, who joined Nutt’s staff in 2000. “He seemed at peace. That’s what us as a staff felt we saw. He had to make a decision, and he felt it was best for his family and the University of Arkansas.”

Razorbacks defensive line coach Tracy Rocker declined comment when contacted Monday evening. Attempts to reach other Arkansas assistants were unsuccessful.

Nutt met with team members at approximately 5: 30 p. m. Monday to inform them of his resignation. Luigs said a “sorrowful feeling” permeated the meeting.

“He’s a great man. He’s a great coach. He taught us a lot of things and helped us with a lot of things in life,” Luigs said. “We’re going to miss him. It’s like losing a family member.”

Luigs also said the players have been aware of rumors regarding Nutt’s status for almost a year.

“It seems like it started back in January and kind of kept you on the edge of your seat, but we play for the man, we were here and went through everything he went through, and him going out like this is kind of sorrowful, but it’s just something we have to accept,” Luigs said.

“We thought the LSU game may give him a chance to stay around here and give him the motivation to stay around here and deal with the pressure, but as a team we understand. We understand that family comes first, and this is an opportunity to get out of here and get away from the drama.”

Dacus said off-the-field issues have distracted from Nutt’s on-field coaching abilities.

“I think that Coach Nutt does the best with the talent that he has,” Dacus said. “I’d honestly love to see him go to a team like LSU, because with all that talent there’s no telling what he could do. I know he’s a great coach, and everybody on this team knows he’s a great coach. Everybody loves him and respects him.”

“Besides him being a great man and a great coach, it’s a tough thing for the state of Arkansas,” Shibest said. “The players love him, and the coaches love him. Everybody cares about Houston.”

Nutt expressed love for his players, too, as well as a faith that they’ll make the most of their opportunity during bowl season.

“These guys are strong and resilient,” Nutt said. “They’ll keep going, and they’ll be ready to go.”