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Bulldogs continue hapless streak Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - Popular with politicians and educators every time Arkansas was No. 49 in one category or another, "Thank God for Mississippi" also works in college football. Winless in the Southeastern Conference until they reached the Magnolia State portion of their schedule, the Razorbacks are now 2-5 in the league. Mississippi was a cooperative host in Oxford a week ago, leading by 10 and losing by 11, and Mississippi State continued the Southern hospitality on Saturday. Nine seconds deep in the second quarter, Arkansas led 17-0 and had 161 yards to minus 11 for the Bulldogs. In the 44-10 loss, Mississippi State couldn't protect redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Henig in his second start and needed 26 minutes to get above zero in yardage. Only occasionally did the Bulldogs slow the Arkansas offense. When Arkansas broke through against Ole Miss, Mississippi State was left with the ignominious designation as the only team winless in SEC play. The inferiority of the Bulldogs - losers of 19 straight to Western Division opponents - almost masks the progress of the Razorbacks in recent weeks and it is worth noting that in the final in-state game of the year, the only senior starters were Pierre Brown and Vickiel Vaughn. Center Kyle Roper would have made three, but he is hurt. Do not confuse progress with success. Instead of bowl reps in matching blazers in the pressbox, there were some NFL scouts and a pair from the Edmonton Eskimos. For the first time in Houston Nutt's eight years, Arkansas was out of the bowl picture prior to the final game of the season. It has been clear for weeks that only an embarrassing loss to Mississippi State could jeopardize Nutt's job. He and athletic director Frank Broyles will meet in the days after Friday's season finale at LSU and the position of offensive coordinator will be discussed. For a few weeks, there has been talk of hiring former Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe - mentor of Peyton and Eli Manning - but Cutcliffe may return to Tennessee where Vanderbiilt turned up the heat on Phil Fulmer on Saturday. If Nutt decides to try and convince Broyles that quarterbacks coach Roy Wittke is qualified to be offensive coordinator, his sales pitch will be laced with the development of true freshman Casey Dick and heavy with highlights from the past two weeks. Dick completed 12 in a row in the second half vs. the Rebels and was 17-of-24 for the afternoon, including three for touchdowns. Against Mississippi State, he was 8-of-16 for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as Arkansas built a 41-3 lead. During the first eight games of the season, Arkansas had seven TD passes. Promoting Wittke also would reduce turnover, something that would please Nutt, although it is not clear whether Wittke has had an increased role in the play-calling in recent weeks. Other circumstances also could be in play. Murray State coach Joe Pannunzio was fired Friday after his sixth team finished 2-9. Nutt won two Ohio Valley Conference championships at Murray and could put in a good word for somebody. And, Broyles has some clout when inclined. Before arriving at Arkansas in 2003, Wittke was at Eastern Illinois for 13 years and might be considered if head coach Bob Spoo decides to step down after 19 years. On Saturday, Dick started with a freshman flashback, turning the wrong way on first down and losing 7. Unshaken, he looked left and came back to the middle for a 13-yard completion to Marcus Monk. Moments later, Dick shook off another mistake - dumping a pass to Peyton Hillis for 22 one play after throwing behind Monk near the goal. Held in check a week ago, Darren McFadden, netted 35 on his first touch and his 64-yard run midway through the fourth quarter made him the first freshman in Arkansas history to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season. ----- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
