BUTCH DILL Associated Press Mississippi coach Houston Nutt, second from right, tries to get his team going in the second half against Alabama Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

During his Monday teleconference, Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt conceded that the Arkansas game is one that has crossed his mind in ways that other Rebels ’ games haven’t.

How could it not ?

Nutt spent 10 mostly successful seasons at Arkansas, guiding the Razorbacks to a 75-48 record (61 percent ) and seven bowl games, eight if the 2008 Cotton Bowl is included. Arkansas earned the berth on the basis of their 8-4 season, but Nutt stepped down as the Hogs ’ coach amidst turmoil six days before the bowl bid was extended.

Nutt said he has many good memories of coaching the Razorbacks and that his thoughts are never far away from the state where his mother and brother, Dickey, still live.

“ Sometimes you can’t help but think about it, during the summer, off and on, because of the time we spent there and the relationships with people there, ” Nutt said. “ But I’ve been pretty wrapped up with Ole Miss. I love this football team here and I’ve gotten very close with these guys. ”

But Nutt said he still values the relationships with the players he recruited to and coached at Arkansas.

“ You can’t help but have a lot of feelings for the guys that you recruited there, ” Nutt said. “ Guys that you know. You know their families. So naturally there’s a relationship there. ”

Nutt said the preparation and particularly the playing of the game, which kicks off at 6 p. m. Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, should be no different than any other.

“ I think once that whistle blows and that ball is kicked off, it’s going to be just like every other football game, ” Nutt said. “ You’re into that and hopefully we’ll be putting our guys in the right position, doing those things. ”

Nutt said playing the Razorbacks is different than playing other opponents, but possibly not in the way fans see the game.

“ It’s not that I’m dreading it or looking forward to it, but yet I know what’s there and it’s also about your team, ” Nutt said. “ It’s not about me. It’s about our players. I don’t make one block or make one tackle. It’s about our players, so you try and get lost in that part of it as much as you can. ”

Nutt said neither his successes and failures nor his struggles and triumphs were applicable to his Rebel football players.

“ Our players weren’t there for 10 years, so I don’t want fill them with all the things that we went through, ” Nutt said. “ This is Ole Miss and it’s the next game.

“ So nothing changes this week. It’s the same type of deal. It’s get ready for the next game, and this is the next one. ”

After coaching and / or recruiting nearly every member of Arkansas ’ team, Nutt does know the Razorbacks ’ personnel better than any other coach could.

Nutt has been impressed by the running back he left behind when he was pressured to step down at Arkansas last November.

Michael Smith, the nation’s seventh-leading rusher and the SEC’s first with an average of 131. 8 ypg., gained 196 yards on 35 carries and 3 catches for 33 yards against Kentucky last Saturday before heading to the sideline. It’s no coincidence that Arkansas’ troubles began around the time Smith, who is questionable for Saturday’s contest, exited the ballgame with a concussion.

“ Michael Smith really has become the tailback we knew he’d be, ” Nutt said in his teleconference Monday. “ Very fast, great vision, runs with his eyes very well. ”

Nutt said it appeared the Razorbacks had shown improvement this season, particularly in the last two games.

“ The offensive line is very talented, of course starting with Jonathan Luigs, the Rimington Award winner, and just a tremendous leader, ” Nutt said. “ Casey Dick is a guy who has been around in the league for a long, long time. He’s an experienced quarterback. There’s not a coverage he hasn’t seen. You add a very good freshman class, and they’ve got a good ballclub.

“ On the defensive line, Malcolm Sheppard really stands out. He’s a guy we know very well who plays very hard. Very fundamentally sound. The linebackers, Freddy Burton, Wendel Davis, all those guys have been around, been on special teams. Wendel Davis has played a lot of ball.

“ They’re a lot like us probably, a little thin at the corner spot. They’ve done a good job. ”

Nutt took exception to a question that insinuated he left Arkansas because he knew the talent would be down this season.

“ Anybody I think can say things like that, ” Nutt said. “ But I don’t want to get into it. How did they know I was leaving ? Nobody knew I was leaving, or when I was leaving.

“ The only thing I know is that we gave a lot of effort, a lot of energy to that program for 10 years. Every single day, from daylight to exhaustion. Every day. And there are a lot of good football players that are there. ”