For John Pelphrey and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Short-handed victory? Not hardly!

After Arkansas was nearly beat at home this past week by a woeful Texas Southern team, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette labeled the victory as "short-handed". What a bunch of crap! Once again John Pelphrey and this media base are up to the same old tiring tactics they have used the last four years to keep Pelphrey propped up, and Mike Anderson out.

John Pelphrey didn't have his team focused and prepared to play forty minutes the other night, and he soon realised this. That's when he started telling himself, "I might end up needing an excuse for why my team lost to a clearly outmatched, out manned opponent. What I will do is pull Marshaun after one minute, and not play him the rest of the game. Then just hope we can pull it out without him. If we don't, I will have an excuse the media can use to explain the loss".

Those wanting to keep Pelphrey in place will say this isn't what he did, but they are wrong. Just go back and read Pelphrey's comments after the game, and ask yourself why Pelphrey even played Powell one minute?

In the end, the media didn't have to use the excuse to explain a loss, but they did use it to explain how this Arkansas team was taken to the wire by a team Oklahoma beat by thirty. Don't tell me John Pelphrey had his team ready to play the other night. People, a good coach always has his team ready to play forty minutes.

There's a bad moon rising Arkansas basketball fans. This media base is going to try and use these Arkansas kids next year to keep Pelphrey around another year and Mike Anderson out. If you are wise you will not let this media base just give Pelphrey another year.

Bruce James is what I called him----a Nutt lover waiting in the tall grass for Bobby Petrino to fail.

This morning on 103.7 the Buzz, a naive and misdirected attempt was made to place before the fans the idea Bobby Petrino isn't the answer for the Arkansas program. For grounds to their claim, they implied Bobby Petrino is an abusive coach that isn't getting it done in recruiting in relation to the rest of the conference. The only alleged pieces of evidence they could present for their outlandish, deceitful statements is the fact Micheal Dyer chose Auburn over Arkansas, and Arkansas doesn't have a big time quarterback in waiting.

By their statements it is obvious they want you to believe Micheal Dyer was more concerned about Bobby Petrino's abusiveness than playing time, and that Arkansas doesn't have a big time quarterback in waiting. As for the latter, I don't know. We will see. But for the former, I know for a fact Micheal Dyer was upset Bobby Petrino wasn't promising him anything going into the recruiting season. All you need to do is listen to what Micheal Dyer said himself about it. When questioned by Randy Rainwater on Drive Time Sports on why he hadn't committed to Arkansas he said, "Coach P needed to show him more love".

As an Arkansas fan, I couldn't be more proud of Bobby Petrino. I'm glad he didn't promise this kid anything. Micheal Dyer might turn out to be a fine running back, but as it pertains to principle, our coach coach has it. Certainly more than the bunch of Nutt lovers on 103.7 the Buzz. He certainly has more than John Pelphrey, whom for the sake of winning a game, played Courtney Fortson the night after being caught shoplifting. It's funny, to them Bobby Petrino is a no recruiting, abusive, job-hopping bum. Where as, John Pelphrey is a great recruiting, disciplinarian angel, that only needs more time to turn it around. There's a reason for this people and one day when the timing is right, I'm going to put it together for you and connect the dots. Stay tuned. I will say this now, it's no accident these people go to such ridiculous lengths to put Bobby Petrino in a bad light and John Pelphrey in a good one.

Everything I claimed is happening. You would be wise not to let it.

Well, the media and administration are once again in step together as it pertains to the future of John Pelphrey. No matter how bad a coach Pelphrey has proven to be, and regardless of how far this program is falling, the media and administration are determined to keep him. There are several constants in this world and one of them is people will always have disagreements, but for the media and the administration this seems not to apply. It should seem a little odd that none of them are of the opinion keeping Pelphrey is a bad idea. You would think at least one of them would be critical about the direction things are going. Sheer odds should predict this, but not here. Fans should be asking why this is, because in the answer lay the roots for the destruction of this program.

I know the promise of a good recruiting class for next year is a good thing, but is such a class justification for turning a blind eye to the glaring deficiencies of John Pelphrey? I say it's not. What they are doing is using these young men in order satisfy their own agenda, which is by the way, going to turn out injurious to these young men and this fan base. It's their agenda that has put this program where it's at today. How long can it be allowed to continue?

What fans need to realize is these kids are from Arkansas and deserve the very best coach that can be found. Those in the media want you to believe that Pelphrey has achieved some monumental thing having these kids commit, and that he should be given more time because of it. I disagree. Pelphrey is a terrible coach being credited for nothing more than good timing. This is perfect for those that have been propping up Pelphrey the last two years. But for the fans, this program and these young men it is a cataclysmic event that will be disastrous going ahead.

The administration and media want this to be a closed deal for Pelphrey regardless of how this year turns out. This is simply unacceptable. As dark as it seems now, be not dismayed. I feel certain this travesty can be staved off. There is still plenty of time for truth to win out. Let us believe that right makes might, and in this let us to the end do our duty as we understand it to be.

Now I know how Nolan felt.

Obviously I'm going to tell what happened this week, but right now I'm still furious, hurt and completely undone. It would be unwise for me to say anything right now. Some will say I should have thought about that before cussing on the air. To them I say this, "I'm sorry for cussing on the air, but you can't intentionally run a jagged nail edged poll up my ass and tell me not to scream. Should I have cussed? I wish I hadn't, but I don't know if under the same circumstances I wouldn't do it again. I would be a liar if I said I wouldn't, because right now I'm not completely certain I was out of line. When I calm down I will lay the facts before you, and maybe together we can come to some decision about who was out of line this week. One thing is for certain here, there are worse acts than cussing on the radio.

I do want to apologise to the Razorback fans. I feel by letting them kick me off the radio, I've let you down. It's just that I know what Bo and this media base tries to get away with, and I'm just worried no one will be there to stand as a bulwark to it. In order to do so, one needs to have access to certain information in order to succeed, and I know of no one that does. One needs to see our history as it should be written, and not as it has.

I should never have let myself be volunteered for the contest. When Bo volunteered me, I should have been thoughtful enough not to let pride rule the day. I should have said, "no thank you", but I was worried about how that would make me look. This is my crime, and I fear one that comes with a death sentence. We'll see. In the end, I still have my beer, books and blog. I can spend the rest of my days content in never hearing my voice again on the radio. I never really became comfortable with it---I did it only because I felt a sense of duty.

Anyway, make sure to return tomorrow or the next day. What Bo did to me this week needs scrutinized heavily. Not for my sake, but for yours. As I said earlier, there are worse acts than cussing on the radio, and I will describe them for you. Bo isn't your friend people. Yea, he's good on the radio and he comes off clean as a fresh sheet, but down deep he's your enemy. He's not because I say so, he is because I can prove it. I matter little here in the larger picture, but Bo Mattingly figures into it greatly.

Houston Nutt interview with Dan Patrick on the transfer of Jeremiah Masoli.

To me, this interview represents every reason why we are so fortunate to have Bobby Petrino as our coach. Houston Nutt is a self-centered, nail-biting, camera watching bum that did more harm to this state and the fan base thereof, than any of the fans that lobbied long and hard then to have him removed. I proclaim boldly that I was a hater, and not a hugger. I was one darksider that did somersaults and laughed with glee the day it was announced he was leaving. In this interview with Dan Patrick, Houston Nutt validates those acts of mirth.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/listenlive.player.html?file=http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/danpatrick/audio/2010/08/09/DP-Houston_Nutt-08-09-10_Interview.mp3

Hey Randy and Marcus, if your going to call coaches out, try finding one that deserves it. Willie Robinson doesn't.

I'm going to say this one more time for the those that feel comfortable trashing a good man. Willy Robinson has in no way shown any sign that he may not be a good coach. The man inherited a defense that suffered by comparison to others in the league in size and quickness. Since then he has been trying to retool and get the defense the way it should be. While at the same time, trying to get things done on the field with mediocre players. In doing so, the defense has shown improvement, and they have managed to step up big in some games, not all, but some. This is a work in progress and no one should be criticized for doing a pretty good job with what Willy had to work with. I know the numbers stink, but I don't think Willy Robinson does. This year should tell us rather or not Willy Robinson can get the job done. It seems pointless to be calling for his head, and telling people he's too blame for the defense being ranked last in the conference. Especially, the week before fall camp starts.

That's exactly what Randy Rainwater and Marcus Elliott were doing Friday evening and to be honest it was very upsetting for me. Marcus Elliot routinely bashes this guy, and he does so knowing only what we all should know. This defense was not very good when Willy Robinson took them over. For one of our radio guys to be leading the "let's fire Willy" crowd is insulting when he has done nothing to be fired for. The man deserves this year, and he deserves to go into this year without heckling. People, if not for the defense stepping up against East Carolina, the Razorbacks would have lost the Liberty Bowl. The momentum this program now enjoys would have been squashed. I know this to be a foreign concept on Drive Time, but they need to give credit where it's due, and likewise criticism. It sickens me we have endured coaches like John Pelphrey, Houston Nutt, and Reggie Herring without a negative word being said. Dave Van Horn can cost Arkansas a shot at a title and this media base thinks that's good work. It's not and it never will be. Maybe one day they will actually tell it like it is. Yesterday sure wasn't it.

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Just another lame statement by Bo Mattingly.

It never ceases to amaze me the things Bo comes up with. Now granted, he's not stupid, but sometimes it seems like he has no memory at all. Like today when he said, "If Houston Nutt was the coach of Florida, he could win a National Championship". Now Bo, you called me a "crackhead", and told me to "lay the pipe down". Well, the same thing could likewise be said of you for having made such a stupid remark as this one.

Houston Nutt is a bum. He has always been one, and he will always be one. Now, contrary to what you claim, I know for a fact you thought this fan base ignorant for wanting better than him. Unfortunately for you, and several of your cohorts in the media, we got Petrino and that farce notion soon played itself out to be a joke. It still is Bo. See, we like recruiting inside the top twenty, which is something Houston Nutt never did here. And if he was still here, there would still be no top twenty recruiting classes. This program would have dwindled away like the basketball program is right before our eyes. It already was dwindling away in Houston Nutt's seventh and eighth years. He managed to stave it off temporarily when Gus Malzahn brought his playbook into the mix in year nine, but it wouldn't have been enough because after year ten all the talent was gone and he wouldn't have been able to replace it. The last two years would have been ugly under Houston Nutt, and this year would have been disastrous. Instead of being a team on the rise, the Razorbacks would be what Paul Fienbaum labeled them---dead weight. We would be a piece of Kelp attached to the ship going nowhere. I guess we could always go to the Big Twelve though...... Lay it down Bo, put it away.

Crackhead Bo?

During his show yesterday, Bo Mattingly called me a crackhead, and told me to lay the crack pipe down. While it was a little insulting at first, I soon realized Bo was just mad. Fact is he was furious, and had just cause to be. I knew bringing up the Mark Schlabaugh poll would do it. See, Mark has Arkansas ranked 14th and Georgia 20th.

Bo and I were arguing about how many games Arkansas would be underdogs in, and needless to say, Bo feels Arkansas will be underdogs in more than I do. I claimed Arkansas might not be underdogs in any of their games seeing we play Alabama at home. I stated last Friday, "that while Alabama might open the week as the favorite, it was my belief that by game time, the line would be closer to a pick em. My reasoning is simply this, I don't think people are that stupid. Anytime someone that knows what their doing sees a game like this one, and by this one I mean, a game in which a highly ranked team gets a higher ranked team early in the season at home, the smart money always takes the points and the home team. By doing so, the line is usually driven down. By this reasoning, I felt Bo was being way too pessimistic.

Bo then proceeded to tell me Arkansas would be underdogs in the Georgia game. His buddy Dudley even stated yesterday he felt Georgia would be favored, and would win the game. I couldn't help but think this too was pessimistic. For one, while Arkansas should be an underdog, the facts really say something else. Georgia will be starting the season with a new quarterback, and a new defensive coordinator. Not to mention their defensive line and secondary has problems. This being the case, it's hard for me to imagine anyone could honestly believe Arkansas should be an underdog. Georgia will be favored because their at home, but should they be? Bo said, "any team that is ranked higher and at home will be a favorite. Me finding him as pessimistic as I do, and a little upset he picked Ole Miss 5th in the west, I couldn't help bringing up Mark Schlabaugh's poll, and asking him again how many teams Arkansas would be underdogs against. According to Bo's philosophy and Mark Schlabaugh's poll, there's only one and it's not Georgia.

The sum of the whole is this. It's alright to believe we can win it all. It's perfectly within our bounds this season to believe we are the best team in the country. It doesn't mean your on "crack" if you say it. Fact is, there's really not a game on our schedule we can't win. Whether we do or not remains to be seen, but no one should be afraid of getting excited by the prospects. Bo will try hard this week to dampen your blanket from the media days, but remember, he's from Florida and loves Houston Nutt. He would love to see Arkansas and Bobby Petrino flop, and Ole Miss finish third behind Alabama and Auburn. He's the kind of guy that will bring his buddy Joe Schad on because he has Arkansas 26th in some spreadsheet survey and lob softballs at him .

Here's the problem.

Arkansas is steadily getting better and the possibilities of this year are limitless, but fans are being held captive by a media base that supported Houston Nutt. They not only supported Houston Nutt, they said, "you were crazy for wanting better". They said, "Houston Nutt did all one could possibly do at Arkansas, and it was fans ignorance for not recognizing it". In their forecast for the future under Bobby Petrino, they said nothing about the silver linings, and they still don't. Where Arkansas is today is looked upon by them as some illusion of prosperity that we promised ourselves when we decided to take our fate out of their hands and put it in our own. By thier actions, the media say, "only complete collapse can follow such irresponsible policies". Those policies being this and only this: us not taking their advice as it pertains to Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino. One was a great coach, the other a "job hopping bum". Remember?

The reason fans are being held captive is this, they are having to conceal their excitement, or be called a fool by those that wanted to go another way. These chains have been put on us by people that had a different vision of posterity than ours. Their vision included Houston Nutt and his nail-biting, rah-rah style which only resulted in mediocrity. Ours is a vision of excellence, discipline, and hard work, that eventually pays off in rich rewards---recognition, championships, trophies----achievement. Ours is a vision that can only be obtained as a collective. That's not the case with the ones that have columns and radio programs, they can achieve these on their own---and you can bet your fancy they hope they will never hear us say, "I told you so!" That's suppose to be their domain.

I will leave you with some not so great words once spoken. Three years ago when Arkansas beat Lsu, David Bazzle said on Monday morning in referring to Houston Nutt, "you can't touch him, you can't touch him, you can't touch him!" Well David, your not MC Hammer and we did touch him---Who can really argue now that we shouldn't have? Not even Tommy Smith, aka "Colonel Reb", can agree with you now on this. By the end of the year, you won't even be able to find an Ole Miss fan that will agree with you.

Bo is silly.

The Big Twelve nearly collapsed, and Bo Mattingly lobbied this fan base to consider moving to the the Big Twelve. Imagine that. After nearly falling apart, Bo Mattingly honestly told this fan base they should consider moving to the Big Twelve. He said, "you might have an opportunity to benefit from their collapse." He then proceeded to try and convince you that we're nothing more than the ugly stepsister of the SEC. He went as far as to imply Arkansas will never really compete against Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Lsu. "In moving to the Big Twelve, Arkansas would be able to rekindle natural rivalries, and help themselves considerably in recruiting"..... Really Bo? You just sound like the guy you really are---A guy from Florida that finds himself the mouthpiece for Espn and an Athletic Administration with an agenda contrary to the fans benefit. Down deep you think we are silly little people and proved it with Houston Nutt. In your opinion, Arkansas fans think way to highly of themselves. You think the hog call is ignorant and the hog hat to be comical. People in Florida don't wear them----they're way too cool for that. Watch what happens this week---For one, Houston Nutt didn't average eight wins a year here. That's about as silly as you are---not quite as silly though, as Joe Schad's poll. I hope you had fun over the last month, because I'm going to next week.