Eddie Sutton

[deserthog]

I was a student during the Sutton years. I couldn't wait to get out of class so I could go to Barnhill and watch practice. Eddie would instruct his players of all the tendancies of the opposing players on the up-coming game. He not only knew the other team players names, but also their numbers in case our guys didn't know the names. His practices were a thing of beauty. Eddie would run the same play over and over until every player knew excactly where to be on defense while going over every option the other team might do. He would physically put our players where they should be. His teams didn't score a ton of points but they didn't have to because they had such a tenacious defense. I enjoyed the explosive offenses of the Nolan years, but always missed the x's and o's of Eddies teams. I cringe while watching Mike's players who seem totally lost with no sense of direction on defense. I wonder if Mike's practices are anything like Eddie's. I doubt it!

[HogBreath]

I was a student during the Sutton years. I couldn't wait to get out of class so I could go to Barnhill and watch practice. Eddie would instruct his players of all the tendancies of the opposing players on the up-coming game. He not only knew the other team players names, but also their numbers in case our guys didn't know the names. His practices were a thing of beauty. Eddie would run the same play over and over until every player knew excactly where to be on defense while going over every option the other team might do. He would physically put our players where they should be. His teams didn't score a ton of points but they didn't have to because they had such a tenacious defense. I enjoyed the explosive offenses of the Nolan years, but always missed the x's and o's of Eddies teams. I cringe while watching Mike's players who seem totally lost with no sense of direction on defense. I wonder if Mike's practices are anything like Eddie's. I doubt it!

No, of course Eddie's practices are nothing like Mikes, Sutton would coach circles around the silly fast 40 foolishness.

[hawgfan4life]

Ever wonder if Nutt's football practices are like Saban's?

[Slater]

I was a student during the Sutton years. I couldn't wait to get out of class so I could go to Barnhill and watch practice. Eddie would instruct his players of all the tendancies of the opposing players on the up-coming game. He not only knew the other team players names, but also their numbers in case our guys didn't know the names. His practices were a thing of beauty. Eddie would run the same play over and over until every player knew excactly where to be on defense while going over every option the other team might do. He would physically put our players where they should be. His teams didn't score a ton of points but they didn't have to because they had such a tenacious defense. I enjoyed the explosive offenses of the Nolan years, but always missed the x's and o's of Eddies teams. I cringe while watching Mike's players who seem totally lost with no sense of direction on defense. I wonder if Mike's practices are anything like Eddie's. I doubt it!

You liked watching Sutton teams more than Nolan?

[pigture perfect]

I did. I think Sutton was the better X and O coach. Nolan was a system coach.

[Jonteviosk]

I did. I think Sutton was the better X and O coach. Nolan was a system coach.

Who won a national title and played for another? I cant remember.... maybe you in your overwhelming brilliance can point me in the right direction.

[pigture perfect]

First of all, it's an opinion. You are free to yours, and free to be wrong. Many factors go into Nolan and Eddie's records. I'm to tired to name them tonight, but let's just say not every great coach wins a championship.

[Jonteviosk]

No your right there but Nolan would still have to be considered the golden age of hogball. I will never forgive Frank Broyles for how he treated Arkansas royalty Nolan.

[GuvHog]

No your right there but Nolan would still have to be considered the golden age of hogball. I will never forgive Frank Broyles for how he treated Arkansas royalty Nolan.

After losing to UK, Nolan had the audacity to go on nationwide television and dare his bosses to fire him. What the heck did you expect Frank to do, play Kissy-Kissy and make up with him???

[Little Lady Back]

After losing to UK, Nolan had the audacity to go on nationwide television and dare his bosses to fire him. What the heck did you expect Frank to do, play Kissy-Kissy and make up with him???

Well I sure didn't expect Frank to ever have the audacity to call Nolan the "n" word, fire the best (yes best) bb coach probably ever at Arkansas, and absolutely bury the bb program.

[latrops]

Well I sure didn't expect Frank to ever have the audacity to call Nolan the "n" word, fire the best (yes best) bb coach probably ever at Arkansas, and absolutely bury the bb program.

Is it already time for our annual Nolan vs Broyles debate?

[Dominicanhog]

Well I sure didn't expect Frank to ever have the audacity to call Nolan the "n" word, fire the best (yes best) bb coach probably ever at Arkansas, and absolutely bury the bb program.

Yeah, and I'm sure Nolan was only upset at the UK loss.. I'm sure there was no underlying reason for his anger...

Frank is a hero in Arkansas and deservedly so, but his meddling in his last 10 years had become too much.. and we have 4 Hall of Fame coaches that left/fired/resigned to prove the point...

[Little Lady Back]

Just stated a fact but debate all you want.

[GuvHog]

Is it already time for our annual Nolan vs Broyles debate?

There is no debate. Frank made more than his share of mistakes too.

[Little Lady Back]

Yeah, and I'm sure Nolan was only upset at the UK loss.. I'm sure there was no underlying reason for his anger...

Frank is a hero in Arkansas and deservedly so, but his meddling in his last 10 years had become too much.. and we have 4 hall of Fame coaches that left/fired/resigned to prove the point...

Yep.

[GuvHog]

Well I sure didn't expect Frank to ever have the audacity to call Nolan the "n" word, fire the best (yes best) bb coach probably ever at Arkansas, and absolutely bury the bb program.

The program had been in a steady decline since 1996 so the burying had already started. Frank was wrong for calling Nolan that but truth be told they both were in the wrong.

[Dominicanhog]

The program had been in a steady decline since 1996 so the burying had already started. Frank was wrong for calling Nolan that but truth be told they both were in the wrong.

Just for an update.. what did Nolan do wrong before he finally cracked?  Not get back to the Championship game?

[The OTR]

Went to basketball camp at U of A when he was there. Sweaty Eddie fluffed up his perm and proceeded to make 25 free throws in a row as we all watched. Probably celebrated with a 5th of crown in his office after that little fireworks show.

Don't care for the man or his perm or his liver.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

I would rather have a broken down 90 year old Eddie Sutton than what we are stuck with now.

[hawgfan4life]

Amazing how some people still think NR was lucky and won with "Athletes" and the fact Corliss was from Arkansas at the time.  They think NR was racist because he called out some fans with the term "rednecks" while they ignore fans were blatantly using the N word toward him and calling his style of play "N-ball" at the time.  I sat in the stands and heard fans yelling at him after a few losses.  I am still ashamed of myself for not saying something to those fans at the time.  I simply walked out of the building and went on with my life until the next game.  NR went back to the gym where he worked for people with racist thoughts and words and received letters, phone calls, and faxes from fans that weren't bashful about using racist comments toward him and his style of play.

Eddie Sutton was a great coach.  No doubt about that.  He was a better basketball coach in regards to Xs and Os and his style of man to man defense and beat you by not playing stupid.  He also benefited from the Triplets jump starting the programs success he built and all three of them were from AR.  NR's triplets were from DFW area, Memphis, and Tulsa.  Hmmm!  Funny how NR and MA's success is always attributed to players they are lucky to have had because of connections to the state or them as a coach.  NR was a great coach at getting his players to do what he wanted them to do and that wasn't straight-up man to man defense and mistake free offense.  His style led to mistakes but it was okay.  Some fans can't accept that today.

Eddie Sutton was a hall of fame coach that was as good or better than most coaches that have won championships.  He deserves the credit for being a great coach.

Nolan Richardson was a great coach that won at a high level everywhere he coached except pro women's basketball.  He deserves far more credit than he gets.  Fans were griping about a slide in the program after the 96 season, but always fail to give due cause to the NCAA ruining two recruiting seasons with investigation rumors and then dismantling a top 5 recruiting class forcing two players to leave the program.  The NCAA later admitted they had screwed up.  There were a percentage of fans that hated NR from the start and they jumped off the band wagon as soon as we lost to UCLA.  They never gave NR slack about the NCAA when he had done nothing wrong.  They wanted him gone just like Broyles wanted him gone before the first final four run and they had no patience to let him build it back up to prominence. 

[The Boar War]

Is it already time for our annual Nolan vs Broyles debate?

You know it's coming just like the "Go get yourself some men" story.

[Slater]

I did. I think Sutton was the better X and O coach. Nolan was a system coach.

I'll take the guy who wins a National Title and goes to three Final Fours over the brilliant X and O guy (with lots of NBA players) that makes one trip to the Final Four

[hoglady]

You liked watching Sutton teams more than Nolan?

I did.
But I think a lot was it's newness - the Triplets all from Arkansas. Sutton's building of the program was a beautiful thing. The excitement of it all is hard to describe to those who weren't fortunate enough to watch it all unfold. Sometimes the climb is the best part of it all.

Don't misunderstand Nolan did great things here. Can't deny he was every bit as good of a coach as Sutton. They just had different styles. If he was the one who had built it from nothing I would probably feel the same way about him.

[Little Lady Back]

Amazing how some people still think NR was lucky and won with "Athletes" and the fact Corliss was from Arkansas at the time.  They think NR was racist because he called out some fans with the term "rednecks" while they ignore fans were blatantly using the N word toward him and calling his style of play "N-ball" at the time.  I sat in the stands and heard fans yelling at him after a few losses.  I am still ashamed of myself for not saying something to those fans at the time.  I simply walked out of the building and went on with my life until the next game.  NR went back to the gym where he worked for people with racist thoughts and words and received letters, phone calls, and faxes from fans that weren't bashful about using racist comments toward him and his style of play.

Eddie Sutton was a great coach.  No doubt about that.  He was a better basketball coach in regards to Xs and Os and his style of man to man defense and beat you by not playing stupid.  He also benefited from the Triplets jump starting the programs success he built and all three of them were from AR.  NR's triplets were from DFW area, Memphis, and Tulsa.  Hmmm!  Funny how NR and MA's success is always attributed to players they are lucky to have had because of connections to the state or them as a coach.  NR was a great coach at getting his players to do what he wanted them to do and that wasn't straight-up man to man defense and mistake free offense.  His style led to mistakes but it was okay.  Some fans can't accept that today.

Eddie Sutton was a hall of fame coach that was as good or better than most coaches that have won championships.  He deserves the credit for being a great coach.

Nolan Richardson was a great coach that won at a high level everywhere he coached except pro women's basketball.  He deserves far more credit than he gets.  Fans were griping about a slide in the program after the 96 season, but always fail to give due cause to the NCAA ruining two recruiting seasons with investigation rumors and then dismantling a top 5 recruiting class forcing two players to leave the program.  The NCAA later admitted they had screwed up.  There were a percentage of fans that hated NR from the start and they jumped off the band wagon as soon as we lost to UCLA.  They never gave NR slack about the NCAA when he had done nothing wrong.  They wanted him gone just like Broyles wanted him gone before the first final four run and they had no patience to let him build it back up to prominence.

Great post!!

[Pig Worshipper]

I would rather have a broken down 90 year old Eddie Sutton than what we are stuck with now.

Me, too! Right after he crawls to Lexington and back.

[Dominicanhog]

How fast we forget that Nolan's lack of emphasis on fundamentals cost Arkansas the '95 championship.

Is this for real?

[WilsonHog]

The idea that as a Razorback fan I have to like either Eddie Sutton OR Nolan Richardson is trash.

Not surprising given some of the people who frequent this forum, but trash nonetheless.

I'd take either over what we have now and pay them twice what we're paying Nolan Lite.

[Dominicanhog]

Did you watch that game?

He got us there and your blaming him for not winning it? Maybe your one of those that Hawgfan4life was talking about..

[PonderinHog]

Did you watch that game?

I remember some giant dude (Zidek?) riding Corliss' back for the whole game, and some guy named Toby, and a couple of Irishmen going off on us.  The O'Bannon boys?

[Dominicanhog]

I remember some giant dude (Zidek?) riding Corliss' back for the whole game, and some guy named Toby, and a couple of Irishmen going off on us.  The O'Bannon boys?

Clint got hurt after a good start..

[ErieHog]

I bet Mike remembers the practices he shows up to, so there is that.

[PonderinHog]

I remember UCLA putting on a clinic worthy of Henry Iba and Red Auerbach.
Rebounding.
Boxing out.
Fast break basketball..with passing.  Even bounce passes...

Characteristics seldom attributed to NR coached teams.

Scotty was off and Corliss was neutralized, unfairly.  No answer for Toby and Ed.  No disgrace losing to Fucla in that game.

[Biggus Piggus]

We led at half.

[Dominicanhog]

We led at half.

and Clint got hurt... it affected us offensively and defensively...

[PonderinHog]

We led at half.

Wanna talk football?  Me neither.

[Sivad]

The idea that as a Razorback fan I have to like either Eddie Sutton OR Nolan Richardson is trash.

I'd take either over what we have now and pay them twice what we're paying Nolan Lite.

Quite true. I loved them both in their day (until Nolan went whack job city and tried to burn the program to the ground).
Don't think the Fastest 40 nostalgic time machine commando will be remembered as fondly after we FINALLY give up on him.

[hawgfan4life]

How fast we forget that Nolan's lack of emphasis on fundamentals cost Arkansas the '95 championship. 

NR used coaching strategies that were unorthodox and sacrificed traditional fundamentals to a degree.  Those strategies helped him win a lot of games and the championship the year before.  We couldn't have had his success and the NC without the other.  You fault him for losing in 96 for what got him in the game and a NC the year before.  Seems shortsighted, narrow minded, and silly to me.

[HogBreath]

Scotty was off and Corliss was neutralized, unfairly.  No answer for Toby and Ed.  No disgrace losing to Fucla in that game.

As I recall, it was Charles O'Bannon who made the most difference for the Bruins that nite..too quick for Thurman to stay with.  And Zidek was allowed to waller all over Corliss.

[PonderinHog]

As I recall, it was Charles O'Bannon who made the most difference for the Bruins that nite..too quick for Thurman to stay with.  And Zidek was allowed to waller all over Corliss.

I just remember Toby Bailey? scored on us at will, and then I never heard from him again.

[hoglady]

The idea that as a Razorback fan I have to like either Eddie Sutton OR Nolan Richardson is trash.

Not surprising given some of the people who frequent this forum, but trash nonetheless.

I'd take either over what we have now and pay them twice what we're paying Nolan Lite.

No kidding.

[Slater]

How fast we forget that Nolan's lack of emphasis on fundamentals cost Arkansas the '95 championship.

Nomination for the dumbest post in the history of message boards

[fieldturf]

The best part I liked about Nolan was that he intimidated the referee's when he chewed them out.  This is something we don't have now is a coach that will eat there ass when needed.  I mean CMA hasn't had a tech in 5 years!         

[98hogs]

Did you see Eddie at practice with the Orange juice and vodka in the Tuperware cup back in the 70's?

[Ironhawg]

I had the opportunity to see both Eddie and Nolan coach the Hogs.  Eddie brought Hog basketball from an afterthought to national recognition.  Eddie's teams were very disciplined and had players who knew their roles and played them well.  I remember Eddie's Arkansas teams playing Nolan's Tulsa teams and I knew each game was going to be nerve wracking.  Eddie's teams were discipline and control and Nolan's teams were frantic and made you earn every point. 
When Eddie crawled off to Kentucky we were talking about his replacement and someone brought up Nolan.  Everybody in our group thought Nolan was too big a name for Arkansas, so we were thrilled when he was hired.  The ending with Nolan still breaks my heart.

[hoglady]

The way they both left should have never happened.

[PonderinHog]

The way they both left should have never happened.

Nothing lasts forever, apparently.

[hoglady]

Nothing lasts forever, apparently.

I just wish they both could have left on better terms.
They did a lot for Arkansas basketball.

[PonderinHog]

I just wish they both could have left on better terms.
They did a lot for Arkansas basketball.

Good, frustrating times.

[panhandlepig]

I just wish they both could have left on better terms.
They did a lot for Arkansas basketball.

  I wish so too.

  Your second sentence is an understatement. 

   I have respect and gratitude for both coaches.

They weren't perfect men. But dang, it was fun.  :razorback: :razorback: :razorback:

[hoglady]

  I wish so too.

  Your second sentence is an understatement. 

   I have respect and gratitude for both coaches.

They weren't perfect men. But dang, it was fun.  :razorback: :razorback: :razorback:

We just didn't realize how much fun until it was all gone.
I would have never dreamed at the time that Arkansas basketball could fall so far, so fast and stay down this long.