Published November 7, 2011 - 3:38pm
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
It was announced earlier today that Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt will not return to be the head coach next year, but Nutt will finish the remainder of this season.
Ole Miss Athletic Director Pete Boone will step down as well.
Ole Miss held a press conference earlier today to announce the changes.
Houston Nutt’s statement:
“My time at Ole Miss has been very special, and I’ve enjoyed working with a wonderful group of athletes and the Ole Miss community at large. Change is never easy, but I understand why it’s necessary. My attention is on finishing out the 2011 season and winning this Saturday.”
Pete Boone’s statement:
“Our goal is to compete for championships, and we are not making progress in that regard. It’s time for our team to have new leadership and a new direction.
When Coach Nutt arrived four years ago, I said publicly he would be the last coach I would hire. I meant it. On several occasions over the past year, Chancellor (Dan) Jones and I have discussed what would happen if a disappointing football season resulted in a coaching change, including whether a change would affect my timetable as athletics director. When I decided we need new leadership in the football program, I knew it was also the right time for new leadership in the athletics department.”
Let the speculation begin on who Ole Miss will hire to replace Nutt, but change was inevitable this season.
And how much was Nutt’s buyout clause, again? He may not be able to coach, but he sure can ensure he gets paid.
I heard something like 6 million.
$6 million for himself. It’s another $2 – 3 million for his staff. Ole Miss will be lucky to hire a winning jr high coach with the amount of money they’ll have left over after this debacle. I can’t see Gus Malzahn leaving Auburn for Oxford. Not when he can go somewhere else and start fresh.
I take more pleasure in seeing Boone replaced. Nutt needed to go. But Houston didn’t end “from dixie with love” or create that hideous Ole Miss Rebel Louisiana Black Bear…
Does this mean that he’s finally proven that he can’t win on the big stage anymore and retire?… or will he wind up somewhere like Arkansas State or UL-Monroe, hanging on by a thread until his last bit of dignity is extinguished like a week-old birthday candle?
We’ll take him in Monroe in a heartbeat!