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Arkansas Love Affair: Gus Malzahn edition
Posted on 10/21/16 at 6:59 pm
Posted on 10/21/16 at 6:59 pm
Arkansas fans have had their love affairs over the years, from Wild Bill Clinton to Bobby P. But let me reference another love affair..
Gus "The Bus" Malzahn
For some time, I've wondered why Arkansas fans have such an obsession with Gus and Auburn. Anytime he is brought up in conversation, Arkansas fans never have anything good to say about him. But do they really hate Gus and have they always felt that way?
Looking for answers, I took a look back in time when Gus left Fayetteville for Tulsa, never to return to coach there again.
Comments from Arkansas fans:
That was somewhat prophetic.. lol
Gus "The Bus" Malzahn
For some time, I've wondered why Arkansas fans have such an obsession with Gus and Auburn. Anytime he is brought up in conversation, Arkansas fans never have anything good to say about him. But do they really hate Gus and have they always felt that way?
Looking for answers, I took a look back in time when Gus left Fayetteville for Tulsa, never to return to coach there again.
quote:
Tale of Two Programs
Malzahn energizes Tulsa, leaves Arkansas fans devastated
Jan. 16, 2007
By Jean Neuberger
Special to CSTV.com
It happened in the blink of a hurricane eye.
Gus Malzahn, the celebrated high school coach turned offensive coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks, abruptly resigned, deciding to head west down the Cherokee Turnpike to direct the offense at Tulsa.
For the Golden Hurricane, the arrival of Malzahn ranks as one of the most high profile hirings ever for an assistant coach. Malzahn, who was Rivals.com's 2006 Coordinator of the Year, will receive a three year contract worth $176,000 per year, matching the salary he was receiving while at Arkansas.
Meanwhile, the loss of Malzahn sent a wave of outrage through Arkansas, mostly directed at Houston Nutt. A KFSM online poll showed that 90 percent of Arkansas fans felt that Malzahn's departure would leave a significant negative impact on the program.
Many Razorback fans credit Malzahn with the turnaround of the football team this season, as they went 10-4 with a SEC West title and featured aHeisman Trophy runner-up in McFadden. Malzahn's "Wildcat" formation, where McFadden lined up behind center and took the snaps, was widely successful, and was being implemented at other college programs such asCalifornia, who used it in their Holiday Bowl win over Texas A&M. His trick plays, most notably "Woody," used in a 27-10 win over Auburn, sent defensive coordinators into fits and brought new energy into what was a vanilla Razorback offensive attack.
"In his first season as a coach at the collegiate level, he was an integral part of a team that won 10 games and won an SEC Western Division championship," said Nutt. "I wish him nothing but the best both personally and professionally as he takes on his new role."
Comments from Arkansas fans:
quote:
I will be sad to see Gus go. We all know he was responsible for any and all creativity this past year.
quote:
Wait until Gus moves up soon to head coach, Tulsa or elsewhere, and with his offense slips up on people and wins a national title.
That was somewhat prophetic.. lol
quote:
This is a SAD SAD day in razorback football. Frank and Houston, doing everything they can to RUN the program in the ground. There is a problem at Arkansas and it'll never be fixed until Broyles is gone. Good Luck Gus! Maybe we can finish 6-5, another avg year that we RUN, RUN, PASS, PUNT at Arkansas pre-Gus. *SIGH*
This post was edited on 10/21/16 at 7:01 pm
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Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:03 pm to TigerProwl24
Gus is an offensive guru who doesn't run his own team's offense.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:04 pm to thefloydian
He certainly has input, no different than Saban putting together a definsive gameplan
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:04 pm to TigerProwl24
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:06 pm to TigerProwl24
Quoting an article from 2007 
Exactly what I expected from the hard hitting trolls of the Auburn fanbase
Exactly what I expected from the hard hitting trolls of the Auburn fanbase
This post was edited on 10/21/16 at 7:06 pm
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:12 pm to blzr
More comments from sectalk.com:
And my personal favorite gem..
quote:
If this is true.. i will hate Nutt so badly i will want to cry. If he runs off a young, great and amazing coach, our program might as well over and die. Nutt needs to leave and go to Iran or Syria
quote:
Well, so much for being a serious threat. Also, there goes D-MAC's chances at the Heisman
quote:
Some of you need to be on suicide watch. May not need to be left alone.
quote:
To have an OC like Malzahn leave the program to go to Tulsa is humiliating.
And my personal favorite gem..
quote:
We just went from SEC Championship potential to 4th in the West potential
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:13 pm to Porcine Human
So you saying it's not true and no Arkansas fans felt this way? Y'all sure are bitter as frick 
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:15 pm to AUtigerNOLA
They get so defensive when you mention Gus..
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:18 pm to TigerProwl24
The only people that like Malzahn are the Shiloh cultists under Armani Ronnie Floyd.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:19 pm to TigerProwl24
Well looky here, we have ourselves a reminder of some fans opinions.
I wonder if any Aubbie fans were upset when Tubs left, or Chiz left, or Gus left Chiz....Hmmm
and all intelligent hog fans know that it was David Lee who invented the Wild Cat there buddy
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:23 pm to blzr
quote:
He certainly has input, no different than Saban putting together a definsive gameplan
I'm sure that's technically true however it's no secret that he tossed the reigns to Lashlee because he was sucking it up. 
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:24 pm to AUtigerNOLA
quote:
So you saying it's not true and no Arkansas fans felt this way? Y'all sure are bitter as frick
I didn't even read the OP, and I can tell you, yes, some of our fans are/were bitter. My own brother was pissed off that Arkansas didn't go after him, and let him get away to Auburn. Now, my brother is also a dumbass, so, take that for what it is worth, lol. I think watching him slide at Auburn has calmed that contingent quite a bit.
Now, contrary to popular belief, quite a few fans are becoming increasingly impatient with Bielema. We should be able to finish out our season 10-2. I don't think this game is about Gus, more than it is about winning out despite what others say we should or shouldn't win.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:25 pm to Killean
Sure. This just proves that the best chance you guys had at a Championship, walked out the door and to this day, Arkansas fans are bitter seeing him have so much success at Auburn. So you bad mouth him now, but would be the greatest offensive football mind in the world if he was your coach.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:28 pm to TigerProwl24
No, Gus is a piece of shite as a human being and as a coach. He's a cheating hypocritical bastard who would murder a child if it meant scoring more points in a football game.
I'd vouch for Art fricking Briles before I vouched for Gus Malzahn.
Malzahn will NEVER be the head coach at Arkansas. Myself and quite a few other alumni made it clear that if he's ever rehired by the University they won't see a fricking dime for us ever again.
I'd vouch for Art fricking Briles before I vouched for Gus Malzahn.
Malzahn will NEVER be the head coach at Arkansas. Myself and quite a few other alumni made it clear that if he's ever rehired by the University they won't see a fricking dime for us ever again.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:39 pm to Killean
quote:Lol
Killean
Like clockwork
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:41 pm to TigerProwl24
Didn't gus finish last in the west last year?He took over another coaches players where the table was set for him,again,and did well.Then quickly regressed with his own players and head coaching.
Gus is a good OC when someone else sets the table for him,Arkansas,Tulsa,Arkansas State and aurbuun,but has shown an inability to provide for himself.
I don't know of anyone here that want anything to do with him.....
Gus is a good OC when someone else sets the table for him,Arkansas,Tulsa,Arkansas State and aurbuun,but has shown an inability to provide for himself.
I don't know of anyone here that want anything to do with him.....
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:42 pm to TigerProwl24
Got Damn
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:44 pm to TigerProwl24
Arkansas fans know that he has no business being a SEC head coach, simple as that.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:46 pm to TigerProwl24
Many Hog fans did indeed feel that way at the time, but the reaction you're quoting really shows more of how fed up Arkansas fans were with Nutt.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 7:52 pm to PorkSammich
quote:
Arkansas fans know that he has no business being a SEC head coach, simple as that.
Broyles Award (2010)
SEC Coach of the Year (2013)
Home Depot Coach of the Year (2013)
Sporting News Coach of the Year (2013)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2013)
AP College Football Coach of the Year (2013)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2013)
Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2013)
This post was edited on 10/21/16 at 7:54 pm
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