Nov 28, 2007 - 2:01 PM
0 shoutsOXFORD, Mississippi (Ticker) -- Houston Nutt told Ole Miss fans exactly what they wanted to hear Wednesday. He's here to win.
Nutt was formally introduced as the new Rebels coach at a news conference on Wednesday. He immediately set the target of winning the Southeastern Conference as one of his goals.
"The one thing I love about Ole Miss is the tradition," Nutt said. "It's about tradition. I feel like this place can be successful. I feel like this place can win. I can't wait to tell the players this afternoon - that's the way you spell fun - W-I-N."
That is music to the ears of Ole Miss fans who have seen the Rebels limp to a 10-25 record in three seasons under Ed Orgeron and post a 4-20 mark in SEC play during that span.
Orgeron was fired Sunday, with Nutt confirmed as his replacement by Tuesday. It was a rapid turnaround for the 50-year-old, who only resigned as Arkansas coach on Monday.
That was despite guiding the Razorbacks to a triple-overtime 50-48 upset of then-No. 1 Louisiana State on Friday night. It was the Razorbacks' first win over the nation's top-ranked school since October 17, 1981, when they rolled to a 42-11 triumph over Texas.
The wild victory somewhat salvaged what had been a lost season for the Razorbacks, who posted an 8-4 overall record and went 4-4 in SEC play.
The Southeastern Conference's second-longest tenured coach prior to his resignation, Nutt compiled a 75-48 record in 10 seasons at Arkansas, guiding the Razorbacks to seven bowl appearances.
When announcing his resignation from Arkansas, Nutt insisted he would be a "Razorback for life", and Wednesday he said the school was still in his heart.
"I love Arkansas, I'm from Arkansas, but today I'm an Ole Miss Rebel and I'm excited about it," he said.
Nutt said he planned to bring some members of his Razorback coaching staff to Ole Miss but has yet to finalize any details. Organizing the staff will be his first priority before hitting the recruiting trail next week.
Turning around this program will be no easy task.
The Rebels concluded another disappointing campaign last Friday with a 17-14 loss to rival Mississippi State, a game in which they squandered a 14-point second-half lead.
It was just the second loss in the last six Egg Bowls for Ole Miss, which went 3-9 this season and finished winless in SEC play for the first time since 1982.
"We want to win SEC championships outright," Nutt said. "We want to do this but you're playing in the toughest conference in America. It's going to take a commitment from everyone, that includes the faculty, the staff and the students."
Nutt has plenty of work to do, but he can already turn one eye toward October 25, when he will take his Rebels team to Fayetteville to face Arkansas.
"I look forward to it, that's all I can say," he said. "It's going to be good."
