Print edition: 
Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson (Miss.) on Tuesday that one of the reasons the Kansas opening was appealing to him was that he may have a better chance of winning a national championship in the Big 12 than the Southeastern Conference.
“It crosses your mind that it might be easier to get to that championship game,” Nutt said. “But I’ve been in the SEC for so long. There’s nothing like a Saturday afternoon in the SEC. No disrespect (to the Big 12), but there’s nothing like it.”
The Eagle reported Monday afternoon that Nutt and KU athletic director Lew Perkins had talked about the KU job. Nutt responded on Tuesday morning with a press release thanking Kansas for the interest and saying he was happy to remain at Ole Miss.
“I appreciated the interest, but the timing wasn’t right,” Nutt said. “I thought we handled this the right way. Kansas called. I discussed things but didn’t let it get too drawn out. And then within 24 hours it’s over.”
Nutt confirmed to the newspaper that he had multiple conversations with KU officials, including Perkins. Nutt said that he also had extensive conversations with Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone and chancellor Dr. Dan Jones, who convinced him the program was headed in the right direction.
Nutt, 52, would have been a big-fish hire for Kansas. In 10 years at Arkansas and two at Ole Miss, Nutt has compiled an overall record of 92-56 and an SEC record of 51-45. He has been selected SEC coach of the year three times (2001, 2006 and 2008). Nutt has taken the Rebels to back-to-back Cotton Bowl berths.
Perkins was believed to be in New York today attending the National Football Foundation’s annual awards luncheon, which featured KU quarterback Todd Reesing, who was up for a scholar-athlete trophy. Reports out of Buffalo, N.Y., have indicated that Perkins was expected to meet with University of Buffalo coach Turner Gill about the opening while there.
