Several members of the “Springdale 5” aren’t happy with the way Houston Nutt controlled the [tag]Arkansas[/tag] offense and they’re getting mommy and daddy to complain about it. Rumors of trouble in Fayettenam starting swirling last week on the message boards but now the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has a story on it as well. The parents of quarterback Mitch Mustain and WR’s Damian Williams and Ben Cleveland apparently thought the offense should be tailored around them as true freshmen so they went above head coach Houston Nutt’s head to athletic director Frank Broyles. There’s some pretty interesting quotes in the article:
“The reason for the meeting was very simple,�? Rick Cleveland said. “We wanted to know what is the direction of Arkansas’ football program ? Are we eventually going to get to Gus’ offense ? Or are we going to stay with the way we are at present?�?
The way you are at present? You mean in the SEC Championship Game and having a chance for a national title in the final weeks of the season?
“With our kids going to Arkansas, it’s basically like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,�? Rick Cleveland said of the offense. “When Gus came onto the scene, the very first question we would ask was, ‘Do you have full control of the offense and do you have full control of the personnel ?’ Which we were told, ‘Yes.’
“I don’t believe Gus lied to us. But as the season has progressed, it’s very obvious that this is not Gus Malzahn’s offense and Gus does not have full control of the personnel or the play calling.
“From our perspective – and it’s only our perspective – it seems as if you’ve been sold a bill of goods.
“We never would have committed here knowing that this was the offense, because we knew our boys wouldn’t be happy.�?
I can’t believe they’re actually publicly complaining about an offense that resulted in one of Arkansas’ best seasons in many years, made running back Darren McFadden the Heisman Trophy runner-up, and is getting offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn national honors as a coach. This is an incredible display of immaturity and selfishness and I can’t believe these kids parents are supporting it. Clearly they think their stats are more important than the team winning.
Damien Williams has already asked for and been granted release from his scholarship and will be transferring from Arkansas. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mustain and Cleveland followed him, though they’re currently saying all the right things and that they’re going to be Razorbacks for three more years.
All this drama is definitely entertaining for Longhorn fans and I hope things only get worse.
(via)
reply to #1
mikeyanagita
December 14th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Whatever ends up happening to these Springdale kids (WR Damien Williams has just gotten permission to transfer), I hope they fail.
Are they not happy about the 10-2 season? Or maybe they’re upset about the LSU game, where Nutt for some non-sensible reason kept Casey Dick in the game even though he was like 3-20 (maybe because of his personal beef with Mustain?). Nah. They just arrogant, selfish, pricks who heard way too much about themselves back in high school.
reply to #2
Brian
December 14th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Haha, it marked out Casey Dick’s name. That’s funny.
I’m not quite as harsh on them as you are but for the most part I agree. I think immaturity is the big issue here and their parents should be stepping in and making them do the right thing. I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but to expect all these changes after a single season just isn’t realistic.
reply to #3
Kansas Sooner
December 15th, 2006 at 1:39 am
Hey Matt just one question. Why does your website censor out stuff like c-r-a-p and r-e-t-a-r-d? Will your mommy ground you if you say naughty words? Oh wait I forgot. You do live in her basement….
reply to #4
The Big Lead » blog » ‘Mom! What the Hell Are You Doing?’ - Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain, Dec. 2006
December 15th, 2006 at 11:28 am
[…] EARLIER: No Wonder Arkansas is Having Such a Resurgent Year Springdale Kids Raising Hell for Arkys Nutt (Bevo Sports) UA’s Damian Williams Decides To Transfer, Mustain and Cleveland Stay (Morning News) […]
reply to #5
brady
December 15th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
hey kansas sooner, why dont you go take a long walk off a short bridge
reply to #6
Andy
December 15th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
lol I second that
reply to #7
Kansas Sooner
December 16th, 2006 at 3:11 am
That’s a perfect idea! I’ll just have to do that. Finally a place without any Texas fans! They don’t call it heaven for nothing.
reply to #8
Brian
December 16th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Dude you haven’t added a single intelligent thing in any of your 20 comments the last couple of days. Try adding something to the discussion.
reply to #9
Kansas Sooner
December 16th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
That’s useless Brian. I would say something intelligent, but most of your Texass friends just wouldn’t understand. It’s not my fault they chose to get a Texass edumacation. Honestly Brian, you’re one of the smarter ones. At least you can count to 20.