It was an isolated incident.". I don't feel my character is an issue. Mallett announced he was transferring out of the Michigan football program after a single seaosn. And the fact that I hadn't really delved into it at any length to that point. But he stayed on the sidelines while watching this all-time upset unspool before him: As a freshman, Mallett threw for 892 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Arkansas eventually hired Gus Malzahn, who coached Mustain at Springdale High School in Arkansas, as their offensive coordinator. Interviews with Mustain, several members of the Arkansas media and a few others are inter-spliced with old game and news footage. In 2006, Nutt hired former Springdale High School head coach Gus Malzahn to be his offensive coordinator. I remember standing out there, me and Robert (Johnson) and Casey (Dick) and (Darren McFadden) trying to figure out what in the world we were doing. Drinkwitz, an Arkansas Tech grad, hails from Alma, Ark., just a 35-minute drive from Greenwood. "Sports are good!" Instead, we'll talk about the former Razorback play-caller, Houston Nutt. With Alabama basketball's 10th conference win on Saturday, they now have 34 SEC wins over the last 3 seasons. I think its even more now, with the new boxes they got in there and they play night games, but to me it was a pretty cool feeling being 18, 19 years old.. Mitch Mustain transferred to USC, joining high school teammate Damian Williams, where he sat out the 2007 season and was third on the depth chart in 2008. 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You see, Arkansas Football was hurting real bad at that point. Mallett knew Rodriguezs system, which prized dual-threat quarterbacks, wouldnt fit him. It may be a long shot, but thats what I have to believe. It was the time for me to get it out of the way. He punches . Mustains failures seem to vindicate Nutt. (This disarray along, along with more off the field controversy lead to Nutt resigning following the 2007 season and taking over as the Ole Miss Head Coach.). Bonus points to those of you that knew Nutt played for Eddie Sutton on the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team. 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Mitch Mustain was once the best high school football player in the country voted the Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year in 2005 after leading Springdale High in Arkansas to a 14-0 season and a state championship. There has been a lot written or said about what happened during my time in Fayetteville, AR, and after, but little if anything at all about what the actual transfer experience is: how it happens, the considerations that are and should be given to it, the expectations versus the reality, the unanticipated changes and challenges, and even the stigma associated with it. Power, corruption, deceit, influence, ambition. That was probably the biggest one for me. Editor's Note: Mitch Mustain is a former Gatorade, Parade, and USA Today National High School Player of the Year who was widely considered to be the top quarterback prospect in the 2006 recruiting class while playing for now-Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn at Springdale (AR) High School. Mitch Mustain's net worth estimate is $100,000 - $1M. Get on tape, be consistent in your performance and your growth, and be clear about your objective. Houston Nutt, who was the coach at Arkansas and recruited Mustain and Williams, recently talked about how it all went wrong with the quarterback during an interview with Gio and Jones on CBS Sports Radio. They lived on the Arkansas side but Mallett would attend Texas High, on the Texas side, in part because of his mom and dad taught on the Texas side. SPRINGDALE, Ark. Q: Why do you think coach Malzahn declined to participate in the documentary? I think there was a lot of animosity. The end of the movie focuses on the many different things Mustain has tried his hand at doing since leaving USC, which include professional baseball, selling cars, and his current role as an Arena League quarterback. The season quickly got off track with early losses, and the only saving grace of the year was beating then #1 LSU in Baton Rouge. How Much of a Shot Does Arkansas Have Against Sooners for Super Recruit Gentry Williams? Mustain threw 10 touchdown passes and nine picks as a freshman at Arkansas during an 8-0 start, but after failing to start the final five games behind Casey Dick, he transferred to USC and never. On the other hand, USC has its disadvantages for someone in his position. From then on, that Michigan football coach pursued Mallett. When his head coach Lloyd Carr retired, Michigan brought in Rich Rodriguez to replace him. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. I don't think some people there can keep their hands off the program long enough to not frick it up, but that's his call in the end. After seeing the documentary profiling Mustain's tempestuous time in Arkansas, we caught up with Mustain to ask a few follow-up questions about Gus Malzahn, Houston Nutt, the 2006 Arkansas . So it's just a matter of running that track. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In May 2006, I enrolled at the University of Arkansas two days after my high school graduation. Once Dick was named starter, the offense changed. We never really meshed both offenses together. January 13, 2012, 2:36 AM. (Producer) Matt (Wolfe) and I spent a couple months discussing what he had in mind for the film. I wanted to put it behind me. Mustain should look to guys who did not have it easy in college, and/or went to schools that were not considered Football Factories, who then went on to succeed. Wide receiver Damian Williams, my classmate and teammate at both Springdale High School and Arkansas, departed for Southern Cal after the SEC Championship loss to eventual BCS champion Florida. We had the front-runner Heisman candidate back and lost very little on both sides of the ball from the team that went 10-4 the year before. But Nutt did quick work todispelthe non-believers. There are nearly as many factors being weighed during the recruiting process as there are individuals, and regional and familial considerations loom large among them. And it never really matched up. So, when Michigans quarterback coach asked his Texan counterpart if there were any good quarterbacks in the area, the first name that came up was Malletts. In those ten years, Nutt went 2-5 in bowl games. The Texas coaches were already familiar with Mallett through his high school coach. The documentary, "The Identity Theft of Mitch Mustain," was supposed to . Mitch Mustain? February 16, 2012. And its hard. He was booked for a felony and was released after posting $30,000 bail,. For all of the times Nutt was successful when he shouldnt have been, it was amazing to see an offense capable of so much (Heisman-caliber RB, SEC-starting caliber 2nd RB, All-SEC FB, All-Time Razorbacks TD receptions leading WR, highly recruited QB, WR and TE), accomplish so little. Not only is he by far the strongest-armed quarterback** in Arkansas history, he is among the strongest-armed quarterbacks at the high school level anywhere. So I'm training physically for special warfare. By Dave Curtis. And if not, Im prepared to go to the next level.. And Robert played well enough that the truth is I probably never should've started at that point. -- A couple of times each week, to get away from it all, Mitch Mustain heads to his town's tiny airport. And that began to manifest certainly as October hits and the (Year of the Dog) book comes out. And now Houston Nutt is over-achieving again at Ole Miss. Mustain, 22, was arrested at about 8 p.m. Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley by LAPD West Valley Station detectives. Former Springdale High and Razorback quarterback Mitch Mustain was arrested late Tuesday night on suspicion of selling prescription drugs. Chicago White Sox signed free agent RHP Mitch Mustain to a minor league contract. In the eight years prior to Nutt, we had gone to a total of two bowl games. It would have been a boxed answer, which is fine. (NWA Media). Heres what didnt work for Nutt at Arkansas hisstubbornness. Its definitely worth a watch. There was a time there you see early on just relying on the promises of other people and really almost sitting back and hoping and wishing. Thats barely over a .500 winning percentage. Buy our NEW apparel: https://teespring.com/stores/szhighlightsMitchell Stewart Mustain (born February 27, 1988) is a former professional football and baseball player. When youve got one above all others that needs the ball, and a team that needs him to have the ball, what better way for him to get the ball than snapping it to him directly?. On Friday, the Michigan football program offered a scholarship to Kane Archer, a 13-year-old who has already shown potential to one day join Mallett and Mitch Mustain as the states only five-star quarterbacks in the modern era. So I'm trying to explain this one to them and they're trying to explain the other stuff. But I did. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. But the game eventually became a job, and Mitch struggles to balance who he was and . After losing the first game of the season to USC, Mustain was named starting QB and rattled off eight-straight wins. Mitch Mustain. (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Mark Gastineau (Complete Story). I didn't know these plays and they didn't know these. Mitch. A rumor circulated online right before this time that Houston Nutt, then Arkansas coach, wanted to switch Mallett from quarterback to tight end while recruiting him the summer before his junior year. That's just the way he is. Of course, one of the most difficult things for any person to do is to make an objective analysis of their situation and determine what factors are in their control and then to see how changes will affect their standing. But its a shame. He called me and gave me a heads up. Fast forward 15 years, and history may be repeating itself. But that played absolutely no part of me not deciding to go to Arkansas, Mallett told Mattingly. He was tough, but loved his athletes and encouraged them to be their best on and off the field, his obituary states. The quarterback certainly never expected that five total seasons in two . Salary in 2020. And to have that expectation and hope that it was, was foolish. Prior to the 2007 season, Mustain transferred to Southern Cal and the rest as they say is history. In 2005, Mitch Mustain was the most decorated high school football player in all of America. SPRINGDALE, Ark. Not too long ago he was the quarterback of the Arkansas Razorbacks and had an 8-0 record in the SEC. Sanchez beat redshirt freshman Aaron Corp and Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain for the honors. For a non-starter with NFL aspirations, USC is the best place to be in todays college football world based on the amount of national attention the program gets. Then, the movie spends the next 90 minutes apparently trying to disprove that theory. He tried to make a transition to baseball cuz he hit in the 90s in high school and never played passed 8th grade. It has been eight long years since he gripped a baseball in a competitive setting. After one season and clashing with coaches he left The Hill for sunny California. I think it turned out well. That job came with benefits. It wasn't physical. ProFootballHistory.com. All rights reserved. And maybe, after a college career that went very wrong, he can finally get a shot. Arkansas top-rated commit is from Michigan: Stay up to date with notices of the latest features, 15 Years After Getting Ryan Mallett, Michigan Offers Arkansas Next Great Quarterback, as the No. I hope it's well-received. This lead to Williams transferring to USC, Malzahn not getting an extension and leaving for Tulsa, which was followed by Mustain opting to transfer as well, too which Nutt did not object. Notre Dame had finally made a bold move and hired Charlie Weis, who brought along David Cutcliffe, and they had all the appearances of making a return to prominence. The stats didn't quite match up (69 of 132 for 894 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions), but something was happening, and it was pretty impressive. Arkansas football fans hope Sam Pittman will still be their coach in five years, but a lot can change between now and then. After eight consecutive starts at quarterback, I was benched and saw little playing time afterward. Named the first ever consensus Gatorade, Parade, and USA Today Player of the Year, Mustain grabbed the spotlight from future NFL players such as Tim Tebow and Matthew Stafford. (Story), The Life And Career Of Blair Thomas (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Joe Namath (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Wayne Chrebet (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Curtis Martin (Complete Story), What Happened To Dee Milliner? My astute readers will also point out that Im not Catholic, alas. The latest from the Flyer, straight to your inbox. Nutt said he only wants players who want to be at Arkansas. I met him a couple of times. 2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. I know Barkley is a Christian too and does mission trips in South Africa (ala Tebow). He played high school football and baseball at Springdale High School in Springdale, Arkansas. "We all just wanted to work and get better and fight for a common goal." Mustain became a household name in Arkansas before he ever took a snap in a varsity football game . Weis hitched his wagon to Clausen when he decided against pursuing Mitch Mustain in 2006 (with Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones in the fold) and starting Clausen as soon as he was healthy enough to . (Mustain) came out of Springdale, hes a 5-star Parade this, Parade that, and Casey Dick, my starting quarterback was hurt at the time. The Bulldogs went on to lose 30-21 in the semifinal game. Some guys love college and want to play for the best team and win championships and make a name, and others just want to make it to the NFL. His sense of humor and the many pranks he played will live on in the memories of many with whom he coached and taught.. Mustain went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, and signed a 10-day free agent contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League on June 1, 2011 to see if he could win a backup job. But when it comes down to it, Nutt is a good coach who has enjoyed success during a majority of his coaching years. Between their success and trades of, Its amazing how quickly those on the PGA Tour have done a 180 regarding cuts in tournament golf. In the very least, I think hes gone in the next two seasons. There was just a lot of stuff going on in the Hill, and I just didnt want to be a part of it.. Kiffin has previously been head coach of the Oakland Raiders (2007-08) and Tennessee Volunteers (2009). After going 9-13 in his first two years, his third and fourth years at Murray State were good ones his team went 11-1 in 1995 and 11-2 in 1996. And we were just the catalyst for it and an obvious target for it, as well. In my 31 years of coaching, that was the worst scenario ever, Nutt told the hosts. The game will be televised by ESPN, rather than the SEC Network as originally planned. In stints at Arkansas and Southern Cal, Mustain combined for a 54.7 completion . MrSnydersMicropenis 6 mo. Second, I firmly believed that my development as a player would be sharply curtailed if I were to stay. We all know who has had more success in the NFL thus far. And as the Trojans moved from Mark Sanchez to Matt Barkley, Mustain could never punch through the glass ceiling, and finished his USC career with 52 completions in 89 attempts, three touchdowns and three interceptions. I saw the film Saturday night and here's what I took away from it. Mustain decided to stay at USC because in a pro-style offense, he thought he'd be more attractive to NFL teams. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. I obviously didn't want it to be exploitative. Where could you have coached? https://t.co/WRXYwqxsLG. Hes a master motivator, a players coach, if you will. I'll be happy when it's over. Q: When you were at Arkansas and coach Malzahn was the coordinator, how much was he really the coordinator? Nearly. It's a precipitous fall, but there is one good side to Mustain's potential CFL adventure. It wasnt navigated very good. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The 2006 experience had effectively quashed what enjoyment I had and, just as important, had dulled the sharp edge the near arrogance that is required to be a great player: the supreme confidence that whatever bad happens, I can overcome and defeat it and anyone in the way. Mustain: Absolutely. But, if you ask me, I think this stint at Ole Miss is just a blip for Nutt. Hope is one of the only things Mustain has at this point. Also, waaaaay back in the day, Nutt played quarterback at Arkansas (1976-77) before transferring to, and playing at, Oklahoma State. Named the first ever consensus Gatorade, Parade, and USA Today Player of the Year, Mustain grabbed the spotlight from future NFL players such as Tim Tebow and Matthew Stafford. Michigan is the second school to offer Kane Archer, who appears to be the all-time youngest Arkansan recruit to receive a major college football scholarship offer. But you need to consider how they will affect you if you choose them. Texas was running hot with Vince Young and Austin has a draw all its own. Weve also seen a 14-year-old quarterback (Tate Martell) commit to Washington and kill it in the high school, but then bounce around like a pinball on the collegiate transfer market. Frank Broyles, longtime icon here, they move him out. Last year they averaged just under . Im not going to parse out every detail of what happened and why and attempt to tie the whole story together in the immaculate form. I told Matt it would've been nice to have him, but there wouldn't have been anything groundbreaking.