Associated Press



LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Gus Malzahn and Tulsa want a rematch with the Southeastern Conference.

The Golden Hurricane’s unbeaten run ended with a loss to Arkansas last weekend, so their focus has turned from the Bowl Championship Series to the Liberty Bowl, which pits Conference USA against the SEC.

“I don’t know who that’ll be,” Malzahn said. “It could be Ole Miss.”

The crowd at the Little Rock Touchdown Club laughed hard when Malzahn said that. It was the closest he came Monday to addressing his relationship with former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, who now coaches Ole Miss. Malzahn spent much of his speech at the club’s luncheon talking about his current team.

“We’re thinking Liberty Bowl, and the Liberty Bowl plays one of the SEC teams,” said Malzahn, an offensive assistant at Tulsa. “We’re wanting another crack at it.”

Malzahn was Arkansas’ offensive coordinator under Nutt in 2006, but he left abruptly after the season to go to Tulsa. Malzahn’s departure fueled speculation that he and Nutt didn’t work well together.

Malzahn didn’t talk much about that, but he did revisit some fond memories for Arkansas fans. Malzahn previously talked to the Touchdown Club in 2005 when he was coaching high school football at Springdale. Led by quarterback Mitch Mustain and wide receiver Damian Williams, Springdale blew out every opponent en route to an unbeaten season.

Mustain and Williams went to Arkansas with Malzahn, but they left around the same time he did. Both transferred to Southern California.

Malzahn said he talks to both occasionally, and he expressed disappointment that there was so much turmoil when they departed.

“They’re extremely happy. They’re at a place where obviously they’re winning,” Malzahn said. “And I will tell you that both of those kids are outstanding kids, and it was pretty tough to hear some of the stuff and all that.”

Malzahn also apparently keeps in touch with Alex Tejada, a Razorback who kicked for him at Springdale. Malzahn joked about offering Tejada support when the sophomore was struggling earlier this season — only to see him make three field goals in Arkansas’ 30-23 win over Tulsa on Saturday.

The loss halted the Golden Hurricane’s hopes of reaching a BCS bowl.

Malzahn praised a few of the Arkansas products who play for Tulsa — running back Charles Clay and wide receivers A.J. Whitmore and Slick Shelley.