The SEC West Feature Film: The Curious Case of Houston Nutt

There is a Rebels' rebellion in the SEC West as Ole’ Miss and Houston Nutt are looking to break the last decade of dominance from the likes of LSU, Auburn, and Alabama.

With arguably the fourth or fifth best talent in their division, Head Coach Houston Nutt is once again producing. For the Coach Nutt haters from Arkansas, was three SEC West Titles not enough? Just make sure you enjoy Atlanta’s favorite Bobby Petrino, at least until he jumps ship in a year or two.

For now, R-Kansas, as Les Miles once called it, has parleyed Houston Nutt on to the Rebels where he is already setting up wins and building consistency. Ole’ Miss finished 9-4 in Nutt’s first season with key wins over #4 Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, #18 LSU, and #8 Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

While losing Defensive Tackle Peria Jerry and some guaranteed protection from Offensive Tackle Michael Oher to the NFL, Ole Miss will still set up well with the play of quarterback Jevan Snead. Snead threw for an impressive 26 touchdown with 2,762 yards passing in 2008. Snead is now the star of the show with first billing and with SEC West up for grabs; it is his scene to steal.

As for Nutt’s Arkansas foes, gaze with some appreciation and admiration for Ole’ Miss and their head coach. For one must see the big picture here, Arkansas is not the Hollywood blockbuster, while Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart are also not in the starring cast.

Arkansas did have good talent, yet for some reason the studio, cast, and director could not mesh to create Citizen Kane.

It is true; the Rebels coach is not yet on the same tier with an Orson Wells or even a Billy Wilder or Steven Spielberg for that matter. Those parallels are saved for the likes of the Pete Carroll’s, Joe Paterno’s, and Urban Meyer’s.

Houston Nutt fits the mold of a Michael Bay type. The acting isn’t always Shakespearean, the screenplays often mediocre, and the Academy Award’s won’t be knocking at the door anytime soon. But the films are flamboyant, have high entertainment value and often gross well in theater. Heck, everyone loved The Rock, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor, right?

Yet for all those doubting Houston, make a point to answer this very intellectually-engaging question posed by none other than Wayne Campbell, “When did you turn into a Nutt Bar?”

Featured Films For 2009

9/5 @ Memphis

9/19 Southern Louisiana

9/24 @ South Carolina

10/03 @ Vanderbilt

10/10 Alabama

10/17 UAB

10/24 Arkansas

10/31 @ Auburn

11/07 Northern Arizona

11/14 Tennessee

11/21 LSU

11/28 @ Mississippi State

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