The drums are beating again in Arkansas for the arrival Butch Davis, who might be close to taking over the Razorbacks.
AD Frank Broyles gave current coach Houston Nutt a vote of confidence after the 70-17 loss to USC on Sept. 17. That followed an upset win by Vanderbilt. Another referendum on Nutt's job security is likely to come after this week's home game against Auburn.
Meanwhile, it has long been rumored that Davis, former coach of the Cleveland Browns and the University of Miami, wanted back in. Remember it was Alabama that wooed Davis for one of its openings.
Davis is a Springdale, Ark., native, adding to the speculation. During a Little Rock speaking engagement in Little Rock in September Davis was asked directly about a possible opening with the Razorbacks. He called the question unfair.
"Houston," he said, "is a friend."