The Identity Theft of Mitch Mustain (2013) - full transcript

**

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[MAN SHOUTING ON TV]

ALL RIGHT,
YOU READY TO PASS?

ALL RIGHT,
YOU READY TO PASS?

[NARRATOR]
MITCHELL STEWART MUSTAIN

WAS JUST LIKE
ANY OTHER KID GROWING UP.

HE LIKED PLAYING BALL,

BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT KIDS DO.

THEY GO OUTSIDE,
AND THEY PLAY BALL.

AND NO MATTER THE SPORT.



PARENTS WILL ENCOURAGE
THEIR KIDS TO PARTICIPATE.

BECAUSE SPORTS ARE GOOD.

THEY TEACH STRUCTURE.

THEY TEACH DISCIPLINE.

THEY TEACH YOU
HOW TO PLAY NICE
WITH OTHERS.

HOW TO PICK YOURSELF UP.

BUT ABOVE ALL,
THEY TEACH TOGETHERNESS.

NO ONE KID
MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE OTHER.

NO "I" IN TEAM.

AND EVERYONE
GETS A TROPHY.

BUT BEFORE LONG,

SOMEONE'S GONNA START
TO KEEP SCORE.

AND THAT'S
WHEN THINGS WILL CHANGE.

CERTAIN KIDS WILL
BEGIN TO OUTSHINE
THEIR TEAMMATES.



THEY'LL
RUN FASTER,

THEY'LL
JUMP HIGHER,

AND THEY'LL
THROW HARDER.

AND IT WILL
COME NATURALLY FOR THEM.

THAT'S THE UNFAIR PART.

AND FOR THOSE
GIFTED ONES,

THE ONES
THAT HAVE THAT THING,

THEY'LL HAVE
THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE.

THEIR HOMETOWNS
WILL PRAISE THEM.

YOUNG KIDS WILL ASK THEM
FOR AUTOGRAPHS.

REPORTERS WILL
EARN A LIVING

BY CHASING AFTER THEM.

CHEERLEADERS WILL FLIRT.

AND NO ONE
WILL TELL THEM NO.

THEIR PARENTS WILL
TAKE BRAGGING RIGHTS.

RETIRED MEN
WILL DISCUSS THEM
OVER COFFEE.

WHILE HAS-BEEN ATHLETES
WILL DISMISS THEM,

OVER BEER.

OTHERS WILL CHOOSE
TO MENTOR THEM.

COACH THEM.

LIVE THROUGH THEM
FROM THE SIDELINES.

AND THESE
HOMETOWN HEROES,

THEY'LL BE LEFT
TO TRY AND MAKE SENSE
OF IT ALL.

MITCH MUSTAIN
TURNED OUT TO BE
ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

HE TOOK TO FOOTBALL.

IT CAME NATURALLY.

BUT TO SAY
THAT HE WAS MERELY
A HOMETOWN HERO,

WOULD BE
A WASTE OF TIME.

BECAUSE WITH THE HELP
OF OTHERS,

MITCH MUSTAIN
WAS SHAPED

INTO ONE
OF THE MOST DECORATED

HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL PLAYERS
IN AMERICA.

[DAD]
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MUDDY,
IT'S FOOTBALL!

[NARRATOR]
WHETHER HE ASKED FOR IT,
OR NOT.

[MITCH MUSTAIN]
YEAH, I MEAN I CAN
CERTAINLY LOOK BACK

AT MY CHILDHOOD NOW,
GROWING UP AND THINK THAT

THERE'S CERTAINLY A PATH
FROM THE TIME

I WAS 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD.

I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND IT.

BUT YOU COULD ARGUE,

YOU COULD LOOK
AT THAT AND ARGUE

THAT YEAH,
THERE WAS CERTAINLY A PATH

THAT WAS ALREADY
KIND OF BEATEN A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS NOTHING

REALLY EXCEPTIONAL
ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD.

IN TERMS OF LIKE,
SPORTS TRAINING.

I WASN'T GROOMED
TO BE A QUARTERBACK.

IT CAME EASY.

IT JUST CAME
KIND OF NATURAL TO ME.

THE AWARDS,
I DIDN'T REALIZE
WERE EVEN THERE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE
YOU COULD WIN LIKE
THE GATORADE AWARD,

THE PARADE AWARD.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND I THINK EVEN THEN,
WHEN ALL THAT
WAS HAPPENING,

I DIDN'T--
IT WASN'T REALLY
IMPRESSED UPON ME.

I MEAN, AGAIN,
I DIDN'T REALLY,

I GUESS WE'D SAY,
SEEK IT OUT.

WHEN I WAS
EIGHT YEARS OLD,

I WANTED TO BE
IN THE MILITARY.

I WANTED TO BE
A FIGHTER PILOT.

I WANTED TO DO
ADVENTUROUS THINGS.

TO PLAY QUARTERBACK
IN COLLEGE,

IT WAS NOT MY DREAM.

THIS WASN'T IT.

AND IT CERTAINLY BEGS
THE QUESTION,

OF WHETHER...

WHETHER
I MISSED SOMETHING

OR WHETHER
I JUST WENT THE COMPLETELY
WRONG DIRECTION.

BUT OUT BEYOND ALL THAT,
THE DECISIONS I MADE,

THE DIRECTIONS I WENT,
WERE MINE TO MAKE.

LET'S BRING IN,
ONE OF OUR COLLEGE
FOOTBALL ANALYSTS,

AND THAT IS JOE SCHAD.
JOE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US...

YOU KNOW, MY WIFE
WAS ASKING ME LAST NIGHT,

YOU KNOW,
WHO WAS MITCH MUSTAIN.

AND I SAID,
"WELL, HE WAS THE NUMBER ONE

QUARTERBACK
IN THE NATION."

AND HE BEGAN
HIS CAREER

AS A COLLEGE QUARTERBACK
WITH EIGHT CONSECUTIVE
VICTORIES.

AND SHE SAID, "OKAY,
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?"

AND I SAID,
"I DON'T KNOW."

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD
TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.

IF THIS WAS
JUST ABOUT MITCH MUSTAIN
GOING OUT THERE,

AND GOING 8-0
AND GETTING BENCHED

AND SCREWING UP
ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD

AND TRANSFERRING
AND SCREWING UP
OFF THE FIELD.

AND NOT BECOMING...
THERE'S A MILLION
OF THOSE GUYS.

OUT THERE THAT WERE
VERY PROMISING

AND JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.

BUT THE INTRIGUING
PART OF IT IS,

IS THAT THERE WAS
A WHOLE LOT MORE
TO THE STORY

THAN JUST MITCH MUSTAIN
NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL

ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

HE WASN'T NAMED
THE "NATIONAL PLAYER
OF THE YEAR"

IN HIGH SCHOOL
FOR NOTHING.

HE HAD THE ABILITY

TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD

WITH HIS ARM,
OR WITH HIS LEGS.

THERE WERE VERY FEW THINGS
THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL.

I MEAN IT'S,
IT'S ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT THAT HIS WENT DOWN.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN
WHY HE NEVER FULFILLED

ALL THE PROMISE THAT WAS
IN HIS RIGHT ARM.

[NARRATOR]
NOW IF YOU'RE NOT
FROM ARKANSAS,

YOU MAY NOT GET
WHAT THIS STORY MEANT.

BUT NO MATTER
WHERE YOU'RE FROM,
OR WHERE YOU'RE AT,

WE ALL LIKE HEROES.

AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS,
IT SEEMED WE HAD IT.

YOU KNOW,
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY,

IT REALLY DIDN'T--
I DON'T THINK STARTED TO SHOW

UNTIL PROBABLY
EIGHTH GRADE.

SOMEBODY ELSE
MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT
RECOLLECTION OF IT.

COACHES THAT I HAD,
I COULDN'T,

I COULDN'T SAY.

THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE

THAT I WAS
THE QUARTERBACK FULL-TIME.

AND SO THAT,
I THINK THAT'S WHY
I THINK OF IT THAT WAY.

WHERE I KIND
OF CAME ABOUT.

SO HOW OLD WOULD
I HAVE BEEN, 13?

THAT'S WHEN THINGS
KIND OF TOOK OFF.

MITCHELL MUSTAIN,
NUMBER SEVEN,

QUARTERBACK.

* BIG FAME

* BIG FAME

* GET ON MY LEVEL

* GET ON MY LEVEL

* BIG FAME

[MUSTAIN]
I HAVE A HARD TIME
REMEMBERING THAT FAR BACK

BUT CERTAINLY,
I MEAN EVER SINCE
I CAN REMEMBER

I'VE ENJOYED
PLAYING IT.

I DON'T THINK I HAD...
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORMAL
INSTRUCTION

IN FOOTBALL
UNTIL PRIOR

TO MY JUNIOR YEAR
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I GUESS WHENEVER
HE GOT HIS FIRST
SCHOLARSHIP OFFER,

IS KIND OF WHEN I REALIZED--
THERE'S POTENTIAL THERE.

THEY WENT OFF
TO HOOVER, ALABAMA

FOR A 7 ON 7
TOURNAMENT.

I GUESS RIGHT BEFORE
HIS JUNIOR YEAR.

JUST OUT OF THE BLUE

I WAS COMING BACK,
I WAS DRIVING BACK

FROM A 7 ON 7
TOURNAMENT

IN HOOVER ALABAMA,

THAT WE JUST WON,
GOT A PHONE CALL.

THIS WAS LONG BEFORE
I HAD GIVEN ANY THOUGHT

TO PLAYING FOOTBALL
IN COLLEGE OR EVEN KNEW
IF I HAD THE TIME.

I HADN'T STARTED
A HIGH SCHOOL GAME YET.

AND THEN
RIGHT AFTER THAT
IS WHEN THINGS

KIND OF STARTED
PICKING UP.

AS FAR AS,
LETTERS COMING IN,
SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS.

DIFFERENT COACHES,

SCHOOLS CALLING.

IT GOT REALLY CRAZY
REALLY QUICK AFTER THAT.

I HAD JUST COME BACK,
I HAD BEEN WORKING NEWS
FOR A WHILE.

CAME BACK,
GOT BACK INTO SPORTS.

I THINK IT WAS BEFORE
I'D EVEN GONE OVER
TO THE SCHOOL.

THAT I HAD SOMEONE
WITHIN THE OFFICE
TELL ME,

THEY'VE GOT
THIS KID COMING UP
WHO'S THE REAL DEAL.

AND THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME

I HEARD THE NAME,
MITCH MUSTAIN.

I CAN REMEMBER
JUST HEARING ABOUT IT
AND THEN SEEING IT

AND SEEING IT SOME MORE.

PROBABLY FOR ME,
IT WAS HIS JUNIOR YEAR.

I WAS AT KNWA,

AND WHEN I GOT
THE JOB THERE

THE IDEA WAS
WE WERE GOING TO OWN
THE RAZORBACK COVERAGE.

WE WERE GONNA
DO A BETTER JOB
THAN ANYBODY ELSE,

COVERING THE RAZORBACKS.

IN OTHER WORDS,
WE WEREN'T GONNA COVER
EVERYTHING.

YOU MIGHT HAVE
THIS GREAT HIGH SCHOOL STORY
OVER HERE,

BUT WE WEREN'T
COVERING THAT.

WELL, HERE COMES
THIS KID IN HIGH SCHOOL

THAT'S CHANGING
OUR PHILOSOPHY.

HIS COACH,
GUS MALZAHN

HAD ARRANGED
FOR A TELEVISED
SATURDAY GAME

THIS WAS THE FIRST
GAME OF THE SEASON,

OF THE 2004 SEASON.

AND IT WAS
GONNA BE ON TELEVISION,

AND EVANGEL
HAD THIS REPUTATION

OF BEING KIND
OF A FOOTBALL FACTORY.

HERE IS EVANGEL
WHO... THEY'RE A POWERHOUSE

IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA,
OUT OF SHREVEPORT.

AND THEY'RE
NATIONALLY RANKED
YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

YOU KNOW WHEN
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN COMES UP,
FROM SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA

TO PLAY SPRINGDALE,

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON THE MAP.
I ACTUALLY CAME BACK

AND SAW
AND WATCHED THE GAME.

I WENT
AND WATCHED THEM PLAY.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[ANNOUNCER] THE ICONIC
HIGH SCHOOL COACH,

GUS MALZAHN AND THE MUCH
ANTICIPATED DEBUT

OF THE JUNIOR,
MITCH MUSTAIN.

IF YOU'RE WONDERING
ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN,

HE'S ALREADY BEEN OFFERED
A SCHOLARSHIP

BEFORE HE EVER
PLAYED A DOWN ON--

BEFORE HE EVER PLAYED
A DOWN ON THE VARSITY LEVEL.

OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP
BY RAZORBACK HEAD COACH
HOUSTON NUTT--

COACH HOUSTON NUTT,
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.

HOUSTON NUTT TOLD ME
ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT MITCH MUSTAIN,

I HAD ASKED HIM
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

HE SAID, "MITCH MUSTAIN
WOULD BE THE BEST QUARTERBACK

ON OUR CAMPUS RIGHT NOW,
EVERYBODY KNEW IT.

THERE WAS A LOT
OF HYPE ABOUT THIS.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
MITCH FROM SQUAT.

HE DIDN'T PLAY
THE YEAR BEFORE,

AND I DIDN'T PAY
ANY ATTENTION TO JUNIOR,

I'VE NEVER GONE
TO JUNIOR HIGH GAMES.

AND I DIDN'T GO
TO THE GAME,

I WATCHED IT
ON TELEVISION.

[ANNOUNCER]
THE OFFENSE IS CLICKING

BEHIND THE JUNIOR,
MITCH MUSTAIN.

A YOUNG MAN
WHO'S SPENT HIS LAST
TWO YEARS PLAYING

ON THE FRESHMAN
AND SOPHOMORE TEAMS,

LEARNING
THE MALZAHN SYSTEM.

LEADING THEM BOTH
TO UNDEFEATED SEASONS.

MUSTAIN ON THE KEEPER.

IT'S A FOOT RACE.

AND A FOOT RACE
HE WILL WIN.

TOUCHDOWN.

67 YARDS
ON THE TOUCHDOWN RUN
BY MITCH MUSTAIN.

IT WAS EASY TO BELIEVE
AT THAT POINT,

IT WAS EASY
TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT THE HYPE
WAS ALL ABOUT.

[ANNOUNCER]
WHAT A WAY TO DEBUT.

HE'S GONNA
HAVE A 300-YARD DAY.

IN RUSH FOR NEARLY 100 YARDS,
67 BIG ONES THERE.

TAKE A LOOK
AT MITCH MUSTAIN.

HIS SECOND
RUSHING TOUCHDOWN.

AND THERE
GOING UP TOP.

FINDS THE OPEN MAN.

HE THROWS FOR A COUPLE,
AND RUSHES FOR A COUPLE.

GUS MALZAHN COULDN'T
HAVE DREAMED

MITCH WOULD HAVE
A DEBUT LIKE HE DID TODAY.

IT LOOKS MORE AND MORE
LIKE THIS SPRINGDALE FIVE
IS LEGIT.

SO IT WAS
A BIG DEAL FOR US,
MY FIRST START.

AND... IT ENDED UP,
WE HAD A REAL GOOD GAME
AGAINST THEM.

IT WENT ON.

WON, IT WAS 12 STRAIGHT.

AND THEN I HAD TO PLAY
LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL.

IN LITTLE ROCK.

FIRST PLAY
OF THE SECOND QUARTER
OF THAT GAME

I BROKE MY ARM.

I WAS OUT FOR THAT.
MISSED THE REST
OF THAT GAME.

WE LOST.

AND THAT WAS IT
FOR THAT SEASON.

[NARRATOR]
SO EVEN WITH A FRACTURED
RIGHT ARM,

MITCHELL'S FUTURE
WOULD BE FOCUSED UPON.

I FOUND IT AMAZING
JUST HOW MUCH INTEREST

ON WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITH HIM,

AND HIS REHABILITATION.

WAS HE GONNA
BE ABLE TO PLAY AGAIN?

WHAT WAS HIS FUTURE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK
IN THE OFF-SEASON,

THAT HE HAD SURGERY,
THAT HE MIGHT NOT
BE THE SAME.

WOULD HE OKAY,
HOW WOULD THAT PLATE
IN HIS ARM,

HOW WOULD THOSE
SCREWS REACT?

COULD HE GRIP THE BALL?

I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

I BROKE MY ARM,
I BELIEVE IT WAS
NOVEMBER 26TH.

I STARTED THROWING AGAIN
IN FEBRUARY.

AND WAS REALLY FOCUSED
ON THAT FOR THE NEXT
COUPLE MONTHS.

AND AS WE GOT CLOSER
TO SPRING FOOTBALL
OF THAT YEAR,

I STARTED TO REALIZE

THERE'S A LOT
OF INTEREST HERE.

FOR ME,
I FELT CONFIDENT

THAT I'D
BE ABLE TO PERFORM,

THAT WE'D BE
AN EVEN BETTER TEAM

THAN WE WERE
IN '04.

REALLY JUST WANTED
TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD
AND PROVE THAT.

I REMEMBER WE SENT
A CREW TO COVER THEIR

7 ON 7
TOURNAMENTS

IN THE SUMMER.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE,
AND WELCOME TO A SUMMER
WITH SPRINGDALE.

OVER THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS
WE WILL TAKE YOU INSIDE
THE BULLDOG PROGRAM.

AND GIVE YOU
AN IN DEPTH LOOK

AT THEIR CROSS COUNTRY
7 ON 7 FOOTBALL TOUR.

FROM LOS ANGELES
TO ALABAMA, ALL IN AN EFFORT
TO SHOW THE COUNTRY,

JUST HOW GOOD THEY ARE.

IT WAS A REALLY
FUN EXPERIENCE,

BECAUSE THAT ALLOWED
PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE

TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING,
AND WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

BECAUSE WE WERE
WHAT PEOPLE WANTED TO HEAR.

THE COACHES
STARTED TO SHOW UP.

LARRY COKER,
WHO WAS A HEAD COACH
AT MIAMI SHOWED UP.

MACK BROWN CAME UP
FROM TEXAS.

CHARLIE WEIS SHOWED UP
FROM NOTRE DAME.

THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED
AROUND HERE BEFORE.

AND I THINK CAUSED
A PROBLEM FOR HOUSTON NUTT,

I THINK HE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT THAT.

YOU SUDDENLY GOT
THIS TALENT IN YOUR BACKYARD,

EVERYBODY EXPECTS YOU
TO GET HIM.

BUT YOU GOT
TREMENDOUS COMPETITION.

I MEAN IT'S HEAD COACH,
AFTER HEAD COACH COMING
TO SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS.

NINE MILES DOWN THE ROAD
IS THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.

I CAN REMEMBER
HOUSTON NUTT

TOOK ALL OF HIS COACHES,

TO SPRINGDALE
PRACTICE ONE DAY,

BECAUSE FLORIDA,
OR SOMEBODY

WAS GONNA--
OKLAHOMA MAYBE,

WAS GONNA HAVE
FOUR COACHES THERE.

SO THEY TOOK
THEIR WHOLE STAFF,

TO MAKE SURE
THEY OUT NUMBERED

OKLAHOMA'S COACHING STAFF
IN SPRINGDALE THAT DAY.

OFFERS START COMING IN,
COACHES START COMING
TO SPRING PRACTICE,

AND WATCHING SUMMER
AND ALL THAT STUFF.

A LOT OF THEM
OFF THE BAT,

WERE SCHOOLS
I KNEW I WASN'T
INTERESTED IN,

I DIDN'T WANT
TO GO TO.

SO THAT WAS EASY
TO RULE OUT.

THERE WERE SEVERAL
THAT I WAS EXTREMELY
INTERESTED IN.

THAT HAD GOOD PROGRAMS,
WERE NICE PLACES.

I JUST HEARD RUMORS
ABOUT THE KID.

"OH, HE'S GOT THE BIG HEAD.
HE'S GOING TO TEXAS.

WHAT KIND OF A KID
FROM SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS,

NINE MILES
FROM RAZORBACK STADIUM
WANTS TO BE A LONGHORN?"

HE'S INTERESTED
IN NOTRE DAME,

HE'S INTERESTED
IN MICHIGAN.

HE'S GONE
BIG TIME ON US.

THEY'RE NOT
GONNA GET HIM.

AND IT'S HIS MOTHER, TOO,
BECAUSE HIS MOTHER DOESN'T
WANT HIM TO GO THERE.

HIS MOTHER HAS A CRUSH
ON MACK BROWN.

MACK BROWN SENT
HIS MOTHER FLOWERS
ON HER BIRTHDAY.

AND SHE'S JUST SMITTEN
WITH THIS GUY.

SO MITCH IS GONNA
GO THERE.

EVERYWHERE YOU WENT,
YOU HEARD THESE RUMORS.

AND I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED
WHEN HE SUDDENLY CALLED
A PRESS CONFERENCE

AND ANNOUNCED
HE WAS GOING TO ARKANSAS.

I WAS LIKE
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING
ANYWHERE BUT ARKANSAS.

YOU HAD LIVE TIE-INS
FROM TV STATIONS

ACROSS THE STATE
WATCHING.

YOU CAN SAY, EQUAL PARTS
RELIEF AND EUPHORIA

THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

FOR HIM I THINK
IT WAS A LITTLE MORE RELIEF.

I'VE DECIDED
TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS

-AND BE A RAZORBACK.
-[AUDIENCE CHEERS]

-I'M SO HAPPY! WHOO!
-[AUDIENCE CHUCKLES]

[NARRATOR]
AND WITH THOSE FEW WORDS

MITCHELL MUSTAIN
BECAME THE PRODIGAL SON
OF ARKANSAS.

I GREW UP HERE,

LISTENING TO ARKANSAS
FOOTBALL.

ON THE RADIO,
TO PAUL EELLS.

WHAT'S NOT
TO LOVE ABOUT IT?

YOU GREW UP
IN THE STATE

IT'S THE ONLY SCHOOL
IN THE STATE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO,
YOU FOLLOW THE RAZORBACKS.

YOU HAVE ARKANSAS STICKERS,
IT'S ODD FOR THAT.

YOU GO TO CALIFORNIA,
YOU HAVE SC STICKERS,
AND UCLA FANS,

AND ALL THAT.
THEY'RE DIVIDED.

AND YOU GO TO ALABAMA,
AND THEY'RE DIVIDED.

YOU GO TO MISSISSIPPI
AND THEY'RE DIVIDED.

EVERYWHERE HAS
BIG TIME PROGRAMS,

WHERE THE FAN BASE
IS DIVIDED,

ARKANSAS ISN'T LIKE THAT.

THAT'S A SELLING POINT.
THAT'S A SELLING POINT

THAT EVERY COACH
THAT'S EVER COACHED

AT THE UNIVERSITY
IS WHEN YOU COME HERE,

YOU'RE THE DALLAS COWBOYS,
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE
IN THE STATE.

UNLESS YOU'RE FROM HERE,
UNLESS YOU SPEND A LOT
OF TIME HERE.

YOU DON'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND IT.

SO I COMMITTED TO ARKANSAS
AND THAT WAS THAT.

IT WAS VERY MUCH
A CELEBRATED DAY THAT THIS,

ONE OF THE TOP
QUARTERBACKS

IN THE COUNTRY
WAS GONNA STAY--

STAY HOME, AND PLAY
FOR HIS HOMETOWN TEAM.

I JUST WANTED
TO GET IT OUT OF THE WAY,

GET IT DONE.

AND GET BACK
ON THE FIELD AND...

REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING,
TEST MYSELF AGAIN.

I BROKE MY ARM THE LAST PLAY
I'D EVER PLAYED IN.

WE COME IN, WE GO DOWN
TO SHREVEPORT.

WE BEAT THEM
THE YEAR BEFORE,

I THINK THEY HAD
A LITTLE BIT OF HURT PRIDE.

AND WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE UNDEFEATED.

WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE THAT TEAM

THAT WAS ONE FOR THE AGES
AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS JUST LIKE
THE YEAR BEFORE,

IT WAS 90
SOME ODD DEGREES,
100 DEGREES,

WHATEVER IT WAS.
REALLY HOT.

ON THE TURF.

THE GAME WAS
NO LET DOWN.

THERE WAS NOTHING STELLAR,
BUT FOR ME IT WAS A BIG GAME.

BECAUSE IT WAS
THE GAME WHERE,

I HAD BEEN TACKLED,

I HAD DONE
QUARTERBACK DRAWS.

AND GOT A FEW YARDS.
GOT HIT,

OKAY, MY ARM'S FINE.

MY HEAD'S FINE.
LET'S GO PLAY AND LET'S WIN.

SO I REMEMBER PROBABLY
THE MOST DISTINCT THING

WAS JUST HOW THE NUMBERS
KEPT PILING UP.

AND THEN YOU KNOW
WHO GUS MALZAHN IS.

YOU KNOW THE SUCCESS
THAT HE'S HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND IT WAS REALLY
JUST SORT OF A PHENOMENON.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS
WHERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT,

EVERYBODY GOES AND WATCHES
THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PLAY.

BUT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE
A PARTICULAR HIGH SCHOOL,

AND MAYBE
EVEN IF YOU DID,

YOU'D SNEAK
OVER TO SPRINGDALE

AND YOU'D WATCH
A QUARTER OR HALF

FOR THIS DAMIAN WILLIAMS GUY
OR MITCH MUSTAIN.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS
JUST TOO EASY.

[BEN CLEVELAND]
YOU KNOW OUR MINDSET
GOING INTO IT EACH GAME

WAS HOW FAST CAN WE GET
TO THE MERCY RULE.

IS IT HALF TIME,
OR IS IT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE SECOND QUARTER?

HOW FAST CAN WE GET
THIS GAME OVER WITH?

[BO MATTINGLY] IT WAS
JUST AN ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR

FOR TWO YEARS...
IN ARKANSAS.

[CLINT STOERNER]
WASN'T HARD TO BELIEVE, MAN,

I MEAN,
HE OBVIOUSLY DID

SOME REAL SPECIAL THINGS
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS FUN TO WATCH.

FRIDAY NIGHTS WERE
WHERE WE WANTED TO BE.

AND THAT WAS,
THAT WAS OUR FUN.

I MEAN IT WAS FUN
BEING THAT GOOD.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO REMEMBER MOST
ABOUT THIS YEAR?

[MUSTAIN]
MY TEAMMATES REALLY.

YEARS FROM NOW
I PROBABLY WON'T

EVEN REMEMBER THE SCORE.
BUT I'LL REMEMBER THEM.

[REPORTER]
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THAT'S MITCH MUSTAIN.

WE'LL BE BACK
WITH THE FINAL WORD,
RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[NARRATOR]
SO WHILE MOST
OF HIS CLASSMATES

WERE BUSY
BEING TEENAGERS,

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
AND SUCH.

MITCHELL AND HIS TEAMMATES
WERE THE VIDEO GAME.

AND WHILE HIS CLASSMATES
WERE BUSY READING
PAPERBACK NOVELS,

MITCHELL AND HIS TEAMMATES
WERE HAVING BOOKS WRITTEN
ABOUT THEM.

[KURT VOIGT]
I THOUGHT YOU KNOW,
OKAY IT'LL BE

A NEAT LITTLE
COFFEE TABLE TYPE BOOK

ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL TEAM.

LET'S FACE IT,
THIS IS A TEAM

THAT HAD 35,000 PEOPLE

AT THEIR STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THEY HAD ATTENTION,
UNPRECEDENTED ATTENTION

FOR A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
TEAM IN THIS STATE.

I HAD NO IDEA
WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO.

[NARRATOR]
AND AS FOR MITCHELL
HIMSELF,

HIS SENIOR SEASON
WOULD BE CAPPED OFF
WITH AN AWARD TOUR.

I, JERRE M. VAN HOOSE,

MAYOR OF THE CITY
OF SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS.

DO HEREBY DECLARE...

AS...

IT'S A DANG DAY DEDICATED
TO HIM AT SPRINGDALE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT.

IT'S MITCH.
MITCH, MITCH, MITCH.

A DISCLAIMER
BEFORE OUR NEXT STORY,

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR
MORE MITCH MUSTAIN HYPE.

THE INCOMING FRESHMAN
QUARTERBACK

MADE A TRIP
TO HOLLYWOOD LAST WEEK
TO ATTEND THE ESPY'S

THAT AIR TONIGHT
AFTER BEING NOMINATED

FOR NATIONAL ATHLETE
OF THE YEAR.

ALL THESE AWARDS
WERE BUILT UP,

I HADN'T SEEN
THE GUY CHANGE.

I HADN'T SEEN
HIS MIRROR CHANGE

AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.
IS A QUARTERBACK.

HE'S NOT
A BIG HEADED PERSON,
HE'S NOT A HOT EGO GUY.

I LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM.
AND I THINK HE'S VERY
TEAMMATE ORIENTED.

I LOVE THAT.
TO ME THAT'S UNSELFISHNESS,
THAT'S A GIVING HEART.

HE HAS ALL
THOSE QUALITIES

TO MAKE
A GREAT QUARTERBACK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY,
"MITCH MUSTAIN THIS,

MITCH MUSTAIN THAT"
BUT IT DOESN'T GET OLD.

YOU GIVE CREDIT
WHEN CREDIT'S DUE.

[NARRATOR]
BUT WHILE THERE
WAS PLENTY CALLS

FOR CELEBRATION.
THERE WERE ULTIMATELY
COMPLICATIONS.

THAT-- MALZAHN
CALLED ME IN,

I BELIEVE IT WAS THE DAY
OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

WE WERE IN LITTLE ROCK,
IN THE HOTEL.

HE CALLED ME
INTO HIS ROOM
AND JUST SAID,

"HEY, I WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT ROY WITTKE

THE QUARTERBACK COACH,
THEY LET HIM GO."

OKAY, I FORGOT ABOUT IT.

WE WENT AND PLAYED THE GAME.
HAD AN AWESOME NIGHT.

AFTER THAT,
I'M THINKING

IF I'M A HEAD COACH
AND I FIRE A QUARTERBACK COACH

AND HE'S DEALING
WITH ONE OF OUR RECRUITS,

I'D PROBABLY MAKE
A PHONE CALL

OR HAVE SOMEBODY
MAKE A PHONE CALL.

AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY
THAT I EXPECTED TO BE INFORMED

OF EVERY DECISION
OR BE A PRIMA DONNA ABOUT IT.

IT'S JUST,
I ALREADY HAVE
SOME PRETTY BIG DOUBTS.

NOBODY BOTHERED
TO ASK MITCH.

AND SUDDENLY
ROY WITTKE IS FIRED.

WELL, WAS IT ANY WONDER
THIS KID DECOMMITTED?

NOBODY HAD TALKED TO HIM.
NOBODY ASKED HIM.

[NARRATOR]
MITCHELL HAD FIRST
COMMITTED

TO PLAY
FOR THE RAZORBACKS

BECAUSE HIS HEART
TOLD HIM TO DO SO.

BUT HIS GUT
WAS NOW TELLING HIM
TO LOOK AT HIS OPTIONS.

I CALLED HOUSTON,
AND MET WITH HIM
IN PERSON.

I TOLD HIM,
"HEY, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S--

WHO I'M GONNA
BE WORKING WITH.

AND TO BE HONEST,
I HAVE OPTIONS

THAT I'M GONNA
EXPLORE AGAIN"

BECAUSE THERE'S
STILL TWO MONTHS
AT THAT POINT.

AND I FELT IT WAS
BEST FOR ME TO MOVE ON.

I KNEW IT WAS
A BIG DEAL

BECAUSE OF HOW HIGHLY
RATED HE WAS.

I MEAN EVERYONE KNEW
THE NUMBER OF AWARDS
HE WON.

EVERYONE KNEW WHAT
THE EXPECTATIONS WERE.

HEY, THIS IS A KID
WHO WAS RATED HIGHER
THAN TIM TEBOW

COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A KID

WHO WENT
TO THE ALL-AMERICAN
GAME IN SAN ANTONIO.

HE'S DOWN THERE
WITH TEBOW.

HE WAS THE ONE THAT NATIONAL
MEDIA WAS FOLLOWING.

SO TO THINK THAT MUSTAIN
WAS CONSIDERED

THE MORE ACCURATE PASSER,
THE BETTER PRO PROSPECT,

THE MORE READY-TO-PLAY
QUARTERBACK.

REALLY TELLS YOU
JUST HOW HIGH

THE EXPECTATIONS WERE.

[REPORTER]
TONIGHT ON "COUNTDOWN
TO SIGNING DAY."

THEY'RE TWO
OF THE HIGHEST RATED

QUARTERBACKS
IN THE COUNTRY

WHO COULD COMPETE
AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN YEARS TO COME.

BUT ONLY ONE CAN BE NAMED
FIRST TEAM ALSO.

WHO WILL IT BE?

I REALLY TRY NOT
TO FOCUS ON THE RANKING.

AT THAT POINT
JUST KIND OF GOT BACK
INTO THE RECRUITING SWING.

HAD THE ARMY GAME
COMING UP.

THE LANDSCAPE
HAD CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

IN TERMS OF WHERE
EVERYBODY ELSE HAD GONE.

SOME OF THE OTHER BIG NAME
QUARTERBACKS,

THEY'D ALL KIND
OF SETTLED THEMSELVES.

THERE WAS JUST
A LOT GOING ON
AT THAT POINT.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE--

I WASN'T REALLY MAD
OR UPSET,

I WAS JUST KIND
OF WONDERING,

WHAT WAS GOING ON,
WHAT WAS IN MY HEAD.

ADMITTEDLY,
I DIDN'T PAY MUCH
ATTENTION TO IT.

AND I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD HAVE HELPED ME
TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW,
SO MANY COACHES

AND SO MANY ATHLETES
WILL TELL YOU,

"I DON'T READ THE NEWSPAPER.
I DON'T READ BLOGS.

I DON'T LISTEN
TO SPORTS TALK RADIO."

OKAY, MOST OF THE TIME
THEY'RE LYING.

THE DRAMA GOT RIDICULOUS.

YOU KNOW MITCH MUSTAIN
HAD THE MISFORTUNE

OF COMING ON RIGHT
ABOUT THE TIME

MESSAGE BOARDS
GOT BIG IN ARKANSAS.

HE HIMSELF, SIGNED
ON TO THIS BOARD.

AND HE WOULD GET
IN ARGUMENTS WITH PEOPLE
ABOUT HIMSELF.

SOME GUY COMES ON THERE
AND SAYS,

"I HAVE IT
ON GOOD AUTHORITY

THAT MITCH IS GOING
TO NOTRE DAME."

AND THEN MITCH
WOULD GET ON THERE
WITH THIS FAKE NAME,

AND SAY,
"I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY

THAT MITCH MUSTAIN HASN'T
DECIDED WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO."

THIS IS A KID
THAT TOOK MY PHONE NUMBER

AND PUT IT ON FACEBOOK
AS HIS PHONE NUMBER.

AND I WAS GETTING
PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

"COME TO ARKANSAS!
MITCH, YOU'RE THE BEST!"

THIS IS ON MY PHONE.
AND HE'S JUST PLAYING
A PRANK ON ME.

"WHAT'S THIS KID DOING?"
BUT THAT'S MITCHELL.

OKAY, I MEAN,
THAT'S JUST MITCH.

AND THERE WERE
ALL THESE RUMORS
FLYING ABOUT,

WHAT'S HE GONNA DO?
HE'S NOW MAD AT ARKANSAS.

THIS KID'S CRAZY.
AND WE JUST DECIDED

TO SEE IF HE WOULD
COME ON OUR RADIO SHOW

AND TRY TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

HE DID A MARVELOUS JOB
OF DOING THIS TWO-HOUR
INTERVIEW

AND NOT GIVING US
ANY HINT

ABOUT WHERE
HE WAS GONNA GO
TO SCHOOL.

BUT WHILE
HE WAS DOING THIS

I NOTICED THERE WAS
A LITTLE

3X5 CARD,

AND IT HAD AN ARKANSAS
SCHEDULE ON IT.

SCHEDULE OF GAMES
FOR THAT YEAR.

AND HE TOOK ONE
OF THESE 3X5 CARDS

AND HE BEGAN
FOLDING THIS CARD.

FOLDING IT, AND FOLDING IT,
AND FOLDING IT.

AND THEN TOWARDS THE END
OF THE FIRST HOUR.

I SAW HIM TEARING
THIS CARD

INTO LITTLE PIECES.

AND THEY WERE
ALL THE SAME SIZE.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE

YOU JUST SCRATCHED
THE SURFACE

OF FINDING OUT
WHAT A PERSON'S REALLY LIKE.

[NARRATOR]
IF MITCHELL HAD DOUBTS,

IT WAS UP
TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS TO ERASE THEM.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT
FOR NUTT TO KEEP MUSTAIN
IN STATE.

WHETHER OR NOT HE BELIEVED
THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE

A FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN
QUARTERBACK OR NOT.

BUT HE NEEDED TO MAKE
A CHARGE AT THEM.

HE NEEDED
TO GET MITCH.

THAT'S JUST
THE BOTTOM LINE.

THE '04 AND '05 SEASONS,
HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR,

ARKANSAS FOOTBALL
WAS HORRIBLE.

BACK TO BACK LOSING SEASONS
UNDER HOUSTON NUTT.

NOW PEOPLE
ARE WATCHING,

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S IN HIGH SCHOOL,

THIS MALZAHN GUY
AND THESE FLASHY PLAYERS
THAT ARE REALLY TALENTED

DOING REALLY
ENTERTAINING THINGS,

THAT OH BY THE WAY,
YOU CAN WIN WITH.

AND SO WITH IT
BEING SO CLOSE TO ARKANSAS,

THE FAYETTEVILLE CAMPUS

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST START
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS
THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

WITH BOOSTERS, AND PEOPLE
THAT HAVE INFLUENCE
IN THE PROGRAM.

AND GRADUATES
AND OF COURSE HERE COMES
THE BIG ARGUMENT:

CAN A HIGH SCHOOL COACH
IN MALZAHN REALLY HELP
THIS TEAM?

I THINK EVERYBODY
THAT KNOWS ANYTHING
ABOUT FOOTBALL

IS YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT
SKEPTICAL ABOUT WHETHER
A HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM

IS GOING TO WORK
AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL.

IN PARTICULAR THE S.E.C.

PEOPLE SAW HOPE
IN THAT SPRINGDALE FIVE

FOR SOMETHING
THEY DIDN'T HAVE.

WHICH WAS
A PASSING ATTACK TO GO

ALONG WITH THESE
GREAT RUNNING BACKS.

YOU KNOW ARKANSAS
CAN RUN FOR A BILLION YARDS
IN A GAME,

BUT THEY COULDN'T
PICK UP A BIG THIRD DOWN
WHEN THEY HAD TO HAVE IT.

THE COMBINATION
OF THE RAZORBACKS
NOT BEING VERY GOOD,

THE OFFENSE BEING
PRETTY CONSERVATIVE,

AND THIS REALLY
ATTRACTIVE THING

THAT MET THE NEEDS

OF THOSE FIRST TWO
I MENTIONED.

RIGHT UP HERE
AT SPRINGDALE

NOT FAR
FROM THE ARKANSAS CAMPUS.

SEEMED LIKE,
IT JUST HAD TO HAPPEN.

ON THE SURFACE IT SEEMED
LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

I MEAN,
HERE IS THIS GUY

WHO OBVIOUSLY
IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE
OF OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL.

ARKANSAS NEEDS
TO IMPROVE ITS OFFENSE.

IT NEEDS
A QUARTERBACK.

WHY NOT BRING HIM
AND HIS EXPLOSIVE
WIDE RECEIVER FRIEND,

AND HIS STAND OUT
TIGHT END ALONG WITH HIM.

[NARRATOR]
SO SOME FOLKS
GOT TOGETHER

-[CELL PHONE BUZZING]
-AND CAME UP WITH A PLAN.

IT SEEMED LIKE
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO I REMEMBER ANSWERING
THE PHONE AND I SAID,

"YES, SIR,
WHAT'S GOING ON?"

AND HE SAID,
"WELL, I JUST WANT
TO LET YOU KNOW,

I TOOK THE OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR JOB

AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS."

SOME BOOSTERS
GOT TOGETHER, DECIDED,

"HEY, WE'LL
BRING GUS MALZAHN IN.

HOUSTON
IS A GREAT HEAD COACH

BUT HE'S
A BAD PLAY CALLER.

WE'LL SOLVE
THIS ONE PROBLEM BY BRINGING

THIS TREMENDOUS
PLAY CALLER IN.

WITH HIS GREAT OFFENSE,

AND WE'LL GET
ALL THESE PLAYERS.

WELL I MEAN,
THERE WAS GREAT PRESSURE

ON HOUSTON TO,
YOU KNOW--

WHO DELIVERED,
WHO MADE MALZAHN HAPPEN?

WAS IT A BOOSTER?
WHO MADE--

WAS IT LINDSEY?
I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW
IF THERE'S ANYBODY

THAT CARES MORE
ABOUT THE RAZORBACKS
THAN JIM LINDSEY.

JIM LINDSEY STARTED
ARKANSAS,

PLAYED IN THE NFL,
CAME BACK TO ARKANSAS.

I MEAN HE HAS
REALLY STARTED

FROM THE GROUND UP
AND BUILT AN EMPIRE.

JIM LINDSEY
IS ALSO A PRETTY
HUMBLE GUY

THAT HAS GIVEN
A LOT OF MONEY

TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS,

PLAYED
FOR FRANK BROYLES

AND THERE WAS A--
YOU KNOW THERE'S

A TIGHTNESS
OF FRIENDSHIP THERE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY TESTED
IN THIS WHOLE TIME.

BECAUSE RIGHT
ON THE OTHER SIDE,

IS ONE OF JIM LINDSEY'S
BEST FRIENDS,

GARY GEORGE.
WHO IS AT THE HEART
OF SPRINGDALE.

AND THEY HAVE
A POULTRY COMPANY.

THERE WAS
A INTERESTING TRIANGLE

BETWEEN SPRINGDALE'S
GARY GEORGE,

JIM LINDSEY RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE,

AND FRANK BROYLES
AND THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS.

AND I'M SURE
THAT THERE WERE A LOT

OF REALLY INTERESTING
CONVERSATIONS.

I KNOW JUST ENOUGH
TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE
MANY CONVERSATIONS.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE
THIS INTIMATE OF A SITUATION,

IT BECOMES
REALLY PERSONAL.

AND WHAT FOLLOWED
WAS A PRETTY MUCH
REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE

OF THAT CLASSIC LINE
FROM "COOL HAND LUKE,"

"WHAT WE HAVE IS A FAILURE
TO COMMUNICATE."

NOBODY COMMUNICATED.

THE THING IS, THERE'S
A LOT OF SPECULATION

ABOUT EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED.

WHO TOLD WHAT TO WHOM.

SOMEONE WITHIN
THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT,
HIGHER UP THAN HOUSTON,

MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE
HAD TO HIRE GUS MALZAHN.

AND TO OFFER HIM
WHATEVER IT TOOK.

THEY NEEDED
TO GET GUS,

AND THEY NEEDED
TO GET MITCH,

AND THEY NEEDED
TO GET DAMIAN

AND THEY HAD TO GET
THESE SPRINGDALE KIDS
TO COME.

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW,
IT SURE WAS HARD TO BELIEVE

THAT IT WASN'T
A BAD MARRIAGE
FROM THE GET-GO.

THE CONTRASTING STYLES

WERE AN INDICATOR
FROM THE WORD "GO."

EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS
HOUSTON NUTT,

HE'S A RUN FIRST GUY.

BALL POSITION,
PLAY GOOD DEFENSE.

AND EVERYBODY
THAT KNOWS MALZAHN,

KNOWS THAT HE'S
A SPREAD THEM OUT,

SLING AROUND THE FIELD
AND SCORE 50.

YOU RELATE THAT
TO THE KIND OF THE WAY
THAT IT HAPPENED,

I THINK ALL OF THOSE KIDS
WERE GOING ELSEWHERE.

YOU KNOW, HERE I AM,
I'M COMMITTED TO FLORIDA.

DAMIAN IS COMMITTED
TO FLORIDA.

WHAT DOES FLORIDA DO?
THEY THROW IT ALL OVER
THE FIELD.

BARTLEY'S COMMITTED
TO NORTE DAME.

MITCH WANTED TO GO
TO NOTRE DAME AND HE WAS
GONNA GO WITH BARTLEY.

WHAT DID NOTRE DAME DO?

THEY THREW IT ALL OVER
THE FIELD.

SO WHY WOULD WE WANT
TO COME TO AN OFFENSE

WHERE THEY
HAND THE BALL OFF
50 TIMES A GAME?

WELL ARKANSAS
BECOMES SOMETHING OTHER
THAN A RUN-FIRST TEAM,

IF THEY HAVE A QUARTERBACK
LIKE MITCH MUSTAIN.

YEAH, ONCE MALZAHN
GOT ON BOARD

AND THAT WHOLE DEAL
PICKED UP,

THERE WAS
THE SPECULATION

FOLLOWING THE END
OF OUR SENIOR YEAR.

BUT LIKE I SAID,
"I MADE MY DECISION,

I'M GONNA MOVE
ON AND GO LOOK AT
MY OPTIONS AGAIN.

YOU GUYS FIGURE
IT OUT AND WE'LL TALK
WHEN YOU DO."

AND THERE WAS A PERIOD
OF ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS

RIGHT AFTER
THAT HAPPENED,

WHEN IT WASN'T CLEAR

THAT GUS WAS GONNA
BE ABLE TO BRING HIM.

AND THEN MOST OF US
WERE GOING,

"WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
YOU HIRED THIS GUY

IN PART TO BRING
THIS QUARTERBACK HERE."

WHAT IF HE DOESN'T COME?
WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?

I DON'T REMEMBER
WHEN WE ALL KIND OF MADE
THAT DECISION,

WE'RE ALL GONNA GO
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.

I TOLD YOU,
I HAVE BAD MEMORY
WITH THIS SHIT,

I WIPE IT OUT.

HE IS MITCH MUSTAIN,
HE JOINS US NOW ON "THE U"

AND I'M GONNA
IGNORE THE FACT

THAT YOUR NAME IS AWESOME,
AND JUST MOVE ON.

INITIALLY, MITCH,
YOU COMMITTED TO ARKANSAS.

THEN YOU WANTED
TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.

THEN RECOMMITTED
TO ARKANSAS.

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT
FROM YOUR FIRST COMMITMENT
TO THIS FINAL ONE?

WELL, THE FIRST TIME
I COMMITTED,

THEY HAD AS THEIR OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR ROY WITTKE

WHO IS NOW
AT ARIZONA STATE.

HE GOT FIRED.
I DECIDED TO OPEN UP
AT THAT TIME

LOOK AROUND
A LITTLE BIT,

AND REALLY MAKE SURE
I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND THEY MADE
SOME HIRES AT ARKANSAS
AND PUT TOGETHER

A STAFF THAT I FELT
REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.

IT WAS GUS MALZAHN
AND ALEX WOOD COMING IN.

[HOST]
WELL, FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T KNOW,

GUS MALZAHN
IS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH

OVER AT SPRINGDALE.
HE WAS NAMED ARKANSAS'
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

HOW IMPORTANT
WAS THAT TO YOUR DECISION?

THAT WAS A KEY FACTOR
AS FAR AS BEING COMFORTABLE

BUT IT WASN'T
THE DECIDING FACTOR.

LIKE MOST PEOPLE
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

AN ICONIC HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL COACH,

WHO HAD NEVER COACHED
IN COLLEGE BEFORE,

WAS LANDING
A PROMINENT POSITION.

AND I THOUGHT
IT WAS NO COINCIDENCE

THAT THE BEST PLAYER
IN THE COUNTRY,

WHO HE COACHED
IN HIGH SCHOOL,
AND ALL HIS FRIENDS,

WERE LINING UP TO JOIN
THE RAZORBACKS PARTY.

THE NUMBER ONE
QUARTERBACK RECRUIT

IN THE NATION,
MITCH MUSTAIN.

THANKS SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME

AND GOOD LUCK
OVER AT ARKANSAS.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
GUYS.

HE'S STAYING
IN STATE,

HE'S STAYING
WITH MANY OF HIS TEAMMATES.

HE'S STAYING
WITH HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH.

WELL HOUSTON NUTT--
BEST RECRUIT

MIGHT HAVE BEEN
THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU GET THE QUARTERBACK

AND YOU GET THREE
OTHER PLAYERS.

THERE SHOULD BE
NO APOLOGIES FOR THE FACT

THAT IT WAS
A PACKAGE DEAL.

THE NCAA DIDN'T CONSIDER
IT TO BE A VIOLATION

SO WHY SHOULD THEY?

I THINK ADMITTEDLY
IT WAS A BIT STRANGE
FOR ALL OF US.

THE PHILOSOPHIES
ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

SEEING WHAT I'VE SEEN
OF HOUSTON, AND HIS GUYS
AND THE WAY THEY OPERATED.

WE'RE PREPARING TOGETHER,
AND IT'S JUST BEEN GOOD.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT FIT.

SEEING THOSE
TWO PHILOSOPHIES
COME TOGETHER,

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE
IF OBAMA HIRED PRESIDENT BUSH
TO BE HIS ADVISOR.

IT JUST DOESN'T
REALLY FIT.

I THINK I WOULD
BE LYING TO YOU

IF I TOLD YOU
AT THAT POINT,

YOU CAN GO
WHAT IN THE HELL
IS GOING ON?

AND YOU REALLY HOPE
AS A FAN AT THAT POINT,

AND AS A FORMER PLAYER,
AS ALUMNI, YOU HOPE
IT WORKS OUT.

WE HAD A LOT OF REASSURANCES
FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE,

A LOT OF GUYS
THAT HAVE A LOT OF PULL.

THAT, "HEY WE'RE
GONNA MAKE SURE

THAT THIS IS
WHAT WE GET.

WE GET TO MALZAHN'S
TYPE STYLE."

OUR HEAD COACH
IS THERE,

HE'S THE OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN PLAY
IN A SPREAD OFFENSE.

LIKE WE WANTED TO.

LOOKING BACK
ON IT I MEAN,

THERE WERE THINGS
SAID THAT I KNEW

AND I FELT THAT I KNEW,

REALLY HONESTLY
THAT THESE ASSURANCES
COULDN'T BE KEPT.

AND THEY COULDN'T BE MADE.
IN ANY REAL SENSE,

BUT ALL THE PIECES
WERE PUT TOGETHER.

EVERYBODY
PUT ON THEIR FACE

KIND OF TOLD US
WHAT WE NEEDED TO HEAR.
WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR.

AND SO WE THOUGHT,
"OKAY, IT'S PERFECT."

I REMEMBER WHEN I VISITED
WITH THE SPRINGDALE FIVE

AND GUS MALZAHN
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN FAYETTEVILLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT ALL THE PLAYERS
TOLD ME

WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T
JUST CONSIDER MALZAHN
THEIR COACH,

THEY CONSIDERED HIM
A FATHER FIGURE.

[SCHAD]
THEY CONSIDERED HIM
A SPIRITUAL LEADER.

ONE AND OFF THE FIELD
HE WAS A BIG INSPIRATION
IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.

SPIRITUALLY,
HE LED A GOOD EXAMPLE.

[SCHAD]
THEY ATTENDED
THE SAME CHURCH,

THEY PORTRAYED THEMSELVES
AS A GROUP WHO DIDN'T

JUST STUDY
FOOTBALL TOGETHER,
THEY ALSO PRAYED TOGETHER.

WHICH TO ME,
WAS VERY TELLING.

I THINK LOCKED
IN THERE SOMEWHERE
IS THIS WHOLE BUSINESS

OF HIS DAD
NOT BEING AROUND,

AND DOESN'T HAVE
THIS FATHER FIGURE.

YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE MALZAHN

WAS A FATHER FIGURE
TO US.

SO I THINK MITCH
PUT A LOT OF TRUST
INTO HIM.

SOMEONE HE COULD
TAKE ADVICE FROM,

AND SEE WHAT
HE NEEDED TO DO,

SEE WHAT WOULD BE BEST
FOR HIM.

WE WERE SET
AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS.

[MUSTAIN]
WORKING ON AN OFFENSE
THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH,

WE'RE ALL GOING
TO GET TO PLAY TOGETHER.

AT A SCHOOL
THAT WE'D ALL LIKE
TO PLAY AT.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
ONE BIG HOLDUP

AND THAT WAS THE STAFF
THAT WAS ALREADY THERE.

THAT WAS THE ONLY
HOLDUP WE HAD.

OUR ONLY RESERVATION.

THIS PACIFIED A LOT
OF THAT, AND WE THOUGHT,

"ALL RIGHT,
WE CAN GET THIS DONE,
WE CAN LIVE WITH THIS.

AND WE MADE
THE DECISION, WE COMMITTED."

I MEAN, THE REST
IS KIND OF HISTORY
FROM THERE.

IT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
OF PEOPLE

THAT DON'T KNOW
FOOTBALL,

GETTING INVOLVED,

INFLUENCING
AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR,

WHO THEN SAYS,
"HEY, WE NEED TO DO THIS."

HOUSTON NUTT DESERVES
SOME BLAME IN THIS TOO,

BECAUSE HE NEVER
STOOD UP AND SAID,

"I DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS."

WHAT'S SO AMAZING
IS NOBODY REALLY BELIEVED
IN THE SITUATION.

NUTT DIDN'T BELIEVE
IT WAS REALLY GONNA WORK.

THE KIDS DIDN'T
REALLY BELIEVE
IT WAS GONNA WORK.

THE PARENTS
DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE
IT WAS GONNA WORK.

IT'S LIKE
THE WORST MOMENT IN LIFE

IS WHEN WE KNOW
WE SHOULDN'T DO SOMETHING,

AND SOMEBODY
CONVINCES US TO DO IT.

AND WE GO,
"I KNEW I SHOULDN'T
HAVE DONE THAT.

YOU TOLD ME
TO DO THAT."

MALZAHN HAD TO HAVE
HIS DOUBTS COMING IN

ABOUT REALLY CALLING
HIS OWN OFFENSE.

I MEAN, TALKING
TO THE FAMILIES
OF THE SPRINGDALE FIVE,

LEADING UP TO THEM
COMING TO ARKANSAS,

THEY DIDN'T
REALLY BELIEVE

THAT HOUSTON NUTT
WOULD EVER CHANGE.

AND NUTT DIDN'T
REALLY EVER WANT
TO CHANGE.

BUT HE HAD TO.

I THINK WHAT
WAS GOING THROUGH
HOUSTON NUTT'S MIND IS,

"OUR PHILOSOPHIES,
OUR THEORIES,

OUR APPROACHES
TO OFFENSE

AREN'T THE SAME
BUT I'LL FIND A WAY

TO MAKE THIS WORK.
'CAUSE IT'S WORTH IT."

AND SO HE HAD TO DO
SOME THINGS TO SAVE HIS JOB.

MALZAHN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO COACH FOR THE RAZORBACKS

AND PROBABLY
PART OF HIM FELT LIKE

HE CAN KIND OF HELP
THIS SITUATION TOO.

BUT I THINK EVERYBODY
WENT AGAINST

THEIR OWN CONVICTIONS
OF WHETHER THIS WAS
REALLY GONNA WORK.

AND THERE WAS
JUST THIS IMMENSE PRESSURE

TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND SO IT DID.

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE

IS FAILURE
TO COMMUNICATE.

[NARRATOR]
SO WITH A PLAN IN PLACE,

MITCHELL AGAIN
FOLLOWED HIS HEART.

HE STAYED HOME.
HE AND HIS TEAMMATES

WOULD BE ARKANSAS
RAZORBACKS.

WE GRADUATED
ON A SATURDAY,

MOVED INTO THE DORM
ON SUNDAY,

AND STARTED CLASS
ON MONDAY.

AND SO THAT WAS
HOW WE STARTED COLLEGE.

I WISH I WAS LIVING
IN ONE OF THE NICE
FOOTBALL MOVIES,

BUT I CAN'T REALLY
HONESTLY SAY THAT I WAS,

MAYBE SOME
OF THE OTHER GUYS WERE.
AND GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT MY FOCUS
WAS ON THE FACT

THAT I DIDN'T WANT
TO LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT,

OR LOOK LIKE A FOOL
IF I GOT TO PLAY IN A GAME.

[HOST]
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
BEFORE THE START

OF FALL CAMP
AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S

PUT UP
OR SHUT UP TIME.

THE HYPE, THE EXCITEMENT
LEVEL IS RETURNED,

DESPITE BACK-TO-BACK
LOSING SEASONS.

[SPORTSCASTER]
DO YOU FEEL LIKE
WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING,

IT'S BEEN RE-ENERGIZED?

[HOUSTON NUTT]
I DO, I DO.

I THINK WE NEED
TO BE CAUTIOUS
A LITTLE BIT,

BECAUSE THERE'S
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS

ARE BEING SAID
RIGHT NOW.

AND IT WASN'T
TOO LONG AGO,

IT WASN'T
TOO MANY GOOD THINGS
BEING SAID.

I THINK THERE WAS
A LOT OF HESITATION

IF YOU LISTEN
TO THE TALK RADIO SHOWS,
OR THE NEWSPAPER

OR ANYTHING
AT THAT TIME.

IT MADE IT SEEM LIKE
ARKANSAS NEVER WON
A FOOTBALL GAME.

AND NOW THAT MALZAHN
WAS COMING AND THEY GOT
US GUYS TO COME,

THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN
WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE S.E.C.

AND THIS, THAT
AND THE OTHER.

I CAN UNDERSTAND
HOW THAT RUBS PEOPLE WRONG.

IT'S PRETTY INSULTING,

IF YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING
FOR 3, 4, 5 YEARS
AT THIS POINT.

YOU'RE WORKING
YOUR BUTT OFF,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYBODY

IS JUST FOCUSED
ON THESE NEW GUYS
THAT ARE 18 YEARS OLD.

[ANNOUNCER]
IT'S INTERESTING,
WE HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT

ABOUT THE INCOMING CLASS,
THEY HAVE KIND OF BEEN
LOW KEY OVER THE SUMMER.

HOW MUCH HAS IT HELPED
THEM TO KIND OF BE OUT

-[ANNOUNCER] OF THE SPOTLIGHT?
-[NUTT] YOU KNOW,

I THINK IT'S GOOD.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU GUYS
PROBABLY DON'T LIKE THAT,

I THINK IT'S GOOD
THAT WE JUST DON'T PUT
SO MUCH ATTENTION

ON THOSE GUYS RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH.

WE'VE GOT SOME MOMENTUM,
AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT--

WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD
RECRUITING CLASS.

AND THIS IS BIG STEP
FOR THEM.

FROM FRIDAY NIGHT
TO SATURDAY NIGHT, BIG STEP.

YOU KNOW,
A LOT OF THE JUNIOR,

SENIORS,
THE OLDER CLASS.

THE UPPER CLASS GUYS.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE
FOR A WHILE.

WHO HAD PLAYED FOR A WHILE,
PLAYED FOR A LONG TIME,

CERTAINLY HAD
THEIR LOYALTIES.

OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND
WHY THE ATTITUDES

ARE WHAT THEY ARE,

AND THERE'S NOT
A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO
TO CHANGE THAT.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T
CHANGE THE FACT

THAT THEY HIRED
MALZAHN

AS THEIR OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR.

BUT IT IS
WHAT IT IS.

AND EVERYBODY ON THAT TEAM,
TO THAT POINT HAD MADE

THE DECISION
THAT WAS BEST FOR THEM.

UPPERCLASSMEN,
UNDERCLASSMEN,

DIDN'T MATTER,
COACHES.

THEY'RE ALL THERE BECAUSE
THAT'S THE DECISION THEY MADE

FOR WHATEVER REASON.

WITH THE NEW GUYS
COMING IN, AND TRY
TO GET ORGANIZED

AS FAR AS GIVING
YOUR GUYS THE BEST CHANCE
AT BEING SUCCESSFUL

DURING THE GAME,

YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY
ORGANIZED IN PRACTICE.

AND SO WE FEEL GOOD
ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT
GETTING TO THE FIELD
AND PROVING IT.

THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF TALK AND ALL THAT

AND THINGS LOOK GOOD
AND ALL THAT,

BUT WE'RE-- OUR PLAYERS
AND COACHES ARE READY

TO GET TO THE FIELD
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND THEN YOU THROW IN,
TRYING TO GET READY
FOR USC ALSO.

[SPORTSCASTER]
THE VERDICT'S IN
AND ROBERT JOHNSON

GOT THE NOD,
WHEN OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR

GUS MALZAHN
TOLD THE TEAM
AN ANNOUNCEMENT

THAT THE TEAM APPLAUDED
AND HOUSTON NUTT ENDORSED.

WE'RE GONNA NAME
ROBERT JOHNSON

OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK.

AND I TELL YOU WHAT,
ROBERT HAS IMPROVED

AND WE WANT EVERYONE
TO GET BEHIND HIM.

SO JOHNSON IS GONNA
TAKE THE FIRST SNAP
AGAINST SOUTHERN CAL,

SOMETHING HE'S EARNED
IN THE OFF-SEASON.

AND DESERVES A LOT
OF CREDIT FOR,

CLEARLY HE'S NOT
THE FAN FAVORITE,
AND HAD TO OVERCOME

NOT ONLY
LAST YEAR'S WOES

BUT THE HYPE
OF MITCH MUSTAIN.

MITCH MUSTAIN
IS AN EXCELLENT QUARTERBACK.

AND FOR A FRESHMAN,
HE'S DONE A LOT
OF GOOD THINGS.

I AGREED WITH IT,
TO BE HONEST.

I THOUGHT
HE WAS OUR BEST OPTION.

THE YEAR BEFORE
AT SC HAD BEEN A BLOWOUT.

THEY'D LOST A LOT
OF THEIR GUYS,

REGGIE AND MATT
WERE GONE.

SO THERE'S
A LOT OF EXCITEMENT

THAT THIS
MAY BE OUR CHANCE.

I THINK.
IN THE BACK OF OUR HEADS,

WE ALL KNEW THAT SC,
THEY JUST RELOAD.

WE KNEW THAT WE HAD
OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US.

SO WE GET
IN THE GAME.

IT ENDS UP
BEING A ROUTE,

KIND OF DASHED
OUR HOPES A LITTLE BIT.

AND AS FAR
AS I WAS CONCERNED,
THE GAME WAS OVER.

THAT WAS IT.
BEFORE I KNOW IT,

I GET THE CALL
TO START WARMING UP.

PROBABLY ABOUT AS NERVOUS
AS I'D BEEN,

AS I CAN EVER
REMEMBER BEING.

AT THIS POINT,
I FORGET HOW MANY MINUTES

ARE LEFT IN THE GAME.
BUT I GET IN THE GAME.

I DON'T REMEMBER
EVEN WHAT PLAYS WE CALLED.

IT JUST KIND OF WENT
BACK TO HABIT.

[ANNOUNCER] AND THERE
IS THE FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK,

THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

GATORADE USA TODAY,
JUST HAD REMARKABLE NUMBERS

AT SPRINGDALE,
ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL
RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THE CROWD
WAS VERY WELCOMING.
FOR THIS LOCAL HERO.

I REMEMBER RUNNING,
HAVE TO ROLL OUT MY LEFT

AND LAWRENCE JACKSON
KNOCKING ME DOWN.

I MEAN, THAT WAS
KIND OF AN EYE OPENER.

[ANNOUNCER]
AND HE COMPLETES
HIS FIRST PASS.

AND THEY ROAR
LIKE HE JUST THREW

A 70 YARD
TOUCHDOWN PASS, RIGHT?

WELL THIS IS WHAT
HE'S USED TO DOING.

THE HURRY-UP
TWO-MINUTE TYPE OFFENSE

THEY'RE IN THAT MODE
COMPLETELY, RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS IS WHAT
HE DID EVERY GAME,

ALL GAME AT SPRINGDALE
LAST YEAR.

AND THEN I THREW
A LONG PASS AT DAMIAN,

EVERYTHING JUST GOT
SUPER CHARGED.

I MEAN, THAT WAS
ABOUT THE MOST ENERGY

I'VE EVER FELT
IN THAT GAME IN MY LIFE.

[ANNOUNCER]
MUSTAIN LOOKS
VERY COMFORTABLE.

THROWS A STRIKE
TO WILLIAMS,

HIS TEAMMATE
IN HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR.

AND A 42-YARD STRIKE.

AND YOU ARE WITNESSING
THE BEGINNING

OF WHAT COULD BE
THE MITCH MUSTAIN ERA
AT ARKANSAS.

[MUSTAIN]
AND THEN RAN

THE QUARTERBACK SNEAK
IN THE END ZONE.

REALLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

[ANNOUNCER]
AND NOW THE QUARTERBACK
WILL TAKE IT HIMSELF.

WELL HOW IMPRESSIVE
WAS THAT?

[MUSTAIN] OBVIOUSLY,
I DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME

TO STOP
AND SOAK IT ALL UP

AND TAKE IT ALL IN
FOR WHAT IT WAS, BUT...

EVERY TIME SOMEONE
ASKS ABOUT IT,

OR THAT FILM POPS UP,
IT KIND OF TAKES ME BACK
A LITTLE BIT

AND MAKES ME
KIND OF WANT
THAT TIME BACK.

THERE'S ALWAYS
THAT THOUGHT OF,

IF I KNEW THEN,
WHAT I KNOW NOW.

[ANNOUNCER]
AND HE LOOKED
EXTRAORDINARILY AT EASE.

[ANNOUNCER #2]
WELL, THAT'S HIS SYSTEM.
HE'S MORE COMFORTABLE

IN THIS OFFENSE
THAN ROBERT JOHNSON.

[NARRATOR]
AND WITH THAT,

MITCH MUSTAIN
WAS A HERO.

THE HERO
WE HAD HOPED FOR.

THE FIRST GAME
AGAINST USC,

WAS A DEAL BREAKER,
FOR HOUSTON.

I THINK THAT GAME
WAS ONE WHERE YOU GET
EMBARRASSED AT HOME,

NEW SYSTEM.
ALL THE GREAT PLAYERS.

IS THIS ALL
REALLY WORTH IT?

BREAKING NEWS,
WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT
TO HOUSTON NUTT.

IN A LATE AFTERNOON
PRESS CONFERENCE

IN WHICH HE ANNOUNCED
THAT FRESHMAN MITCH MUSTAIN

WILL NOW BE
THE STARTING QUARTERBACK.

WE'RE GONNA GO
WITH MITCH RIGHT NOW,

GET HIM READY.

AND CASEY WILL BE
RIGHT THERE BEHIND HIM.

CASEY WILL BE
RIGHT THERE BEHIND HIM.

AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME,

I JUST FEEL LIKE
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS MOVE.

[NARRATOR] HE WAS NOW
A PUBLIC FIGURE.

WHETHER HE ASKED
FOR IT, OR NOT.

[STOERNER]
WHEN YOU'RE
THE RUNNING BACK,

QUARTERBACK,
IT'S AS BIG

AS ANY POLITICAL
POSITION OUT THERE,

AS ANY CEO OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHEN IT KIND OF SOAKS

IN TO REALLY WHAT
YOU'RE DOING,

AND WHAT YOU'RE
IN THE MIDDLE OF.

AND THE MAGNITUDE
OF IT ALL.

THERE'S
NO BETTER POSITION,

AND THERE'S
NO WORSE POSITION.

AND THE PROBLEM
IS FOR A YOUNG MAN,

PEOPLE COMPARE YOU
TO THE GOVERNOR

OR THE HEAD COACH
TO THE GOVERNOR.

WELL THOSE TWO GUYS
ARE ADULTS, YOU'RE NOT.

EVEN SOME OF THE MOST
EXPERIENCED POLITICIANS

OR POWERFUL GUYS
IN THE COUNTRY,
CAN'T HANDLE THAT.

AND THEY'VE
GOT A LOT OF HANDLERS

AROUND THEM,
TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP.

BUT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT A FRESHMAN,

DEALING
WITH ALL OF THE STUFF.

THE UPS AND DOWNS
OF WHAT IT MEANS

TO BE THE MOST POPULAR
PERSON IN YOUR STATE.

IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
I MEAN, IT REALLY IS.

IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS

WHERE YOU'VE GOT
TO TAKE THE GOOD
WITH THE BAD.

AND THE BAD
WITH THE GOOD.

THAT AT THE END
OF THE DAY,

IT'S WHAT MAKES
A PLAY SPECIAL.

BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE,
IT CAN BURY YOU AS WELL.

[MUSTAIN] EVERYTHING
FROM THAT POINT ON

JUST GOT ACCELERATED.
I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT

TO GET THE START
IN THE NEXT WEEK.

IT'S ONE THING TO GO IN
FOR TWO DRIVES

AGAINST USC AND SCORE
A TOUCHDOWN, THAT'S FINE.

BUT FROM THAT POINT ON,
IT JUST BECAME A BLUR.

AND WEEK AFTER WEEK
WENT BY.

REALLY JUST TRYING
TO KEEP MY HEAD
ABOVE THE WATER.

[IRWIN]
FROM THAT POINT ON,
IT WAS JUST A MESS.

ONCE THAT SEASON STARTED
AND IN PARTICULAR

ONCE MITCH MUSTAIN
STARTED THE SECOND GAME
OF THE YEAR,

TWO FACTIONS
OF SUPPORTERS STARTED
GOING AT EACH OTHER.

PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED
HOUSTON NUTT,

AND PEOPLE WHO
SUPPORTED GUS MALZAHN.

THERE WAS RESENTMENT
IN THAT LOCKER ROOM

TOWARD MALZAHN
AND HIS BOYS.

AS THEY WERE
REFERRED TO.

YOU HAVE
A FRESHMAN CLASS--

A VERY HERALDED
FRESHMAN CLASS.

ON MAGAZINE COVERS,
TALKED ABOUT ON RADIO

AND THEN YOU HAVE
A GROUP OF GUYS THERE

WHO ARE VERY MUCH
COMMITTED TO HOUSTON NUTT.

VERY TALENTED
GROUP OF GUYS.

OKAY, I MEAN,
WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT DARREN MCFADDEN,
FELIX JONES.

GUYS WHO WENT ON
TO PLAY IN THE NFL.

I MEAN, YOU HAD
A REALLY TALENTED TEAM.
THERE WAS RESENTMENT THERE.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY
A SPLIT.

THE TENSION WAS REAL.
I MEAN, YOU COULD FEEL IT.

I DON'T THINK IT REALLY
MANIFESTED ITSELF

UNTIL LATER ON
IN THE SEASON.

WE SAW SOME GLIMPSES
OF WHAT MUSTAIN COULD DO.

I'M THINKING
OF THE VANDERBILT GAME.

IN NASHVILLE,
HE KIND OF PUMPS
THE SAFETY OFF,

THROWS IT OVER THE TOP.
PRETTY SURE IT WAS TO MONK.

[ANNOUNCER]
THIS WILL BE A TOUCHDOWN
FOR THE HALLS,

MARCUS MONK.

I MEAN,
YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND THAT,

WE HADN'T SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND SO ANYTHING
MITCH DID IN TERMS

OF THROWING
THE FOOTBALL WELL,

WAS A BIG DEAL
FOR RAZORBACK FANS.

[ANNOUNCER]
SIDE ARM SWINGING,
PASSED. IT'S MARCUS MONK.

THERE WAS JUST A GAP
FROM CLINT STOERNER'S
SUCCESS AS A QUARTERBACK

TO THE YEAR
MITCH MUSTAIN GOT HERE.

AFTER CLINT HAD LEFT
THERE WASN'T A QUARTERBACK
THAT HAD COME THROUGH

THAT HAD SHOWN
HE COULD OWN A GAME.

SO FOR MOST
OF HOUSTON NUTT'S TENURE,
IT WAS A COMBINATION

OF QUARTERBACKS
NOT BEING VERY GOOD,

OR SUPREMELY
GIFTED ATHLETICALLY
LIKE MATT JONES.

MATT JONES CERTAINLY
DID HIS PART,

BUT HE DID IT
IN THE WAY THAT

YOU WOULD EXPECT
A FREAK ATHLETE TO DO.

AND I, I DON'T HAVE
THOSE TALENTS.

SO WHEN MUSTAIN
GOT HERE.

IT WAS FINALLY
BACK TO A QUARTERBACK

THAT COULD THROW THE FOOTBALL,
THAT'S HOW PEOPLE FELT.

[ANNOUNCER]
MUSTAIN OVER THE MIDDLE!
TOUCHDOWN ARKANSAS!

BEN CLEVELAND
WHO HE CONNECTED WITH

THROUGHOUT HIS
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

THEY WILL GO HOME NEXT WEEK
TO MEET THE CRIMSON TIDE.

THAT WAS A GAME
IN WHICH MITCH THREW
FOUR, FIVE INTERCEPTIONS.

HE WASN'T VERY GOOD.
ALABAMA COULD'VE
WON THE GAME.

THEY MISSED A FIELD GOAL
TO WIN IT.

WENT INTO OVERTIME.

ONE PLAY LEFT,
AND THAT'S THE PLAY
WHERE HE THREW THE BALL

BETWEEN TWO DEFENDERS
TO BEN CLEVELAND

AND WON THE GAME
WITH THAT TOUCH DOWN PASS.

AND IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN IT,
IT HAD TO BE PERFECT.

[ANNOUNCER]
RUSH THREE,
AND DROP EIGHT.

IN THE CORNER.

TOUCHDOWN!

[CROWD CHEERING]

TOUCHDOWN ARKANSAS!

MUSTAIN IS 3-0
AS A STARTER.

BUT YOU KNOW,
IT WAS INTERESTING,

MITCH NEVER
GOT CREDIT FOR THAT.

HE WAS THREE OF SIX
WITH THREE INTERCEPTIONS
UNTIL THAT LAST TD PASS.

BY THAT POINT
THIS WHOLE THING
WAS SO CONTROVERSIAL,

PEOPLE HAD PICKED SIDES.
YOU'RE EITHER ON GUS'S SIDE
OR ON HOUSTON NUTT'S SIDE.

YOU EITHER LIKED
MITCH MUSTAIN,

OR YOU DON'T LIKE HIM.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM,
HE DIDN'T WIN THAT GAME
WITH THAT PASS.

DIDN'T HAPPEN.

[SCHAD]
THE GAME IS OVER,
THE FIELD IS CLEAR.

THE STADIUM IS EMPTY.

AND I GET A PHONE CALL
FROM MY PRODUCER.

MY PRODUCER SAYS,
"WHO CAN YOU GET FOR US?

WE'RE LIVE ON THE AIR.
WE WANT A GUEST".

I SAID,
"HOW ABOUT MITCH MUSTAIN?"

SO I GIVE MITCH
THE PHONE

AND I'M SORT
OF STANDING THERE
WATCHING THIS

WITH GUS MALZAHN OFF
TO THE SIDE WITH HIS WIFE.
THEY'RE ALL BEAMING.

AND I'M THINKING
TO MYSELF,

"THIS IS THE FIRST
OF MANY

MITCH MUSTAIN
ESPN INTERVIEWS."

AND I'M THINKING NOW
THAT WAS PROBABLY

MITCH MUSTAIN'S LAST
ESPN INTERVIEW, SO...

YOU'VE GOT A STARTER,
THEY'RE WINNING GAMES.

MAYBE HE DOESN'T
LOOK GREAT EVERY WEEK

BUT HE DOES
HAVE HIS MOMENTS.

HE GOES ON THE ROAD
AT AUBURN,

AND AUBURN WAS RANKED

I THINK IN THE TOP FIVE
AT THAT TIME.

AND YET
HE JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE

THAT PEOPLE
WERE ACCEPTING THIS GUY.

AND WHAT HE WAS DOING.

[ANNOUNCER]
THAT BALL SHOULD
HAVE BEEN INTERCEPTED!

I KNEW WHAT
I WAS LOOKING AT.

I'VE BEEN AROUND
LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW

FRESHMEN DON'T
USUALLY DO THAT.

MATTHEW STAFFORD
WAS STARTING AT GEORGIA
AND HE WAS STRUGGLING TOO.

I KNEW WE HAD
THE SUPPORTING CAST

WITH MCFADDEN,
FELIX, PEYTON, MARCUS MONK,

ALL OUR GUYS ON OFFENSE.

I KNEW THAT I HAD
ENOUGH TALENT AROUND ME

TO REALLY PROP ME UP
AND HELP ME IN THAT ASPECT.

BUT PERSONALLY,
IT WAS A REAL STRUGGLE.

WHEN I THINK
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

YOU GET SOME
PRETTY GOOD TALENT
AROUND HIM

AND THE FURTHER
THE YEAR WENT ON,

I THINK
THE BETTER MITCH GOT.

BUT NOW WE'RE GETTING
MORE INTO GUS'S OFFENSE,

WE'RE GETTING FURTHER
AND FURTHER AWAY

FROM WHAT COACH NUTT
BELIEVES IN

AS THE YEAR GOES ON.

FROM A MITCH MUSTAIN
DEVELOPMENT STAND POINT,

I JUST DON'T THINK
HE EVER GOT A CHANCE
TO DEVELOP.

THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM THAT MITCH HAD
IN HIS DEVELOPMENT

OR ANY QUARTERBACK
UNDER HOUSTON NUTT,

AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS

WAS THE LACK OF REPS
THEY GOT THROWING
THE FOOTBALL IN PRACTICE

I CAN REMEMBER GOING
TO LOS ANGELES

AND WATCHING ARKANSAS
AND SOUTHERN CAL
IN WARM UPS.

AND HOW MANY REPS
THAT MATT LEINART
AND THOSE GUYS

GOT BEFORE THE GAME
IN 7 ON 7 PASSING DRILLS,

WERE MORE
THAN ARKANSAS HAD
IN PRACTICE ALL WEEK.

[MUSTAIN]
HERE IT WAS LIKE,
"WHOA, LET'S SAVE YOUR ARM."

WHICH IS FANTASTIC
IF YOU'RE 50 YEARS OLD.

IT'S GONNA
BE MORE DIFFICULT

WHEN YOU DON'T
HAVE AS MANY REPS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE
SOMEBODY THAT'S THERE
TO DEVELOP YOU

AND TO SAY,
"OKAY, HERE'S WHERE
YOU'RE MAKING MISTAKES."

AND ALL OF THAT
BASED AROUND A CORE.

OF CORE PHILOSOPHY,
"HERE'S WHAT WE DO."

"HERE'S HOW WE DO IT."

AND WITHIN THAT,
YOU CAN DEVELOP
YOUR QUARTERBACKS.

AND SO HIS DEVELOPMENT,
I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT
WAS GIVEN A CHANCE.

FROM THE OUTSIDE,
I THINK WE TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED

BECAUSE WE WERE
ON THE INSIDE OF IT.

AND WE SAW
KIND OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

FROM THE OUTSIDE IT WAS,
"OKAY, GUS IS HERE NOW.

AND IT'S HIS OFFENSE.
HE'S THE COORDINATOR.

SO OBVIOUSLY,
WHATEVER WE'RE DOING
IS HIS STUFF.

CONSTANTLY AS WE WIN,
IT'S OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW,

WE'RE WINNING
BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING
GUS'S DEAL.

AND GUS'S DEAL IS GREAT.
AND IT'S DOING THIS.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
IT'S PUTTING UP.
LOOK WHO IT'S BEATING.

WE BEAT AUBURN AT AUBURN

WHEN THEY WERE RANKED
NUMBER TWO."

AND HOUSTON NUTT
ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT

NOT CARING
WHO GOT THE CREDIT.

HE WOULD TEACH THAT.

BUT IT SEEMED LIKE
THERE ALWAYS HAD TO BE

A SCORE ON WHO GETS
THE CREDIT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY
RUNNING GUS'S STUFF,

SOME OF THIS
IS THE OLD STUFF,

WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING
THE CREDIT FOR IT?

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE I THINK HOUSTON NUTT
IS A PRETTY GOOD GUY,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE
IN A POSITION

WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE BEING DEVALUED,

WELL, WHAT'S NUTT GONNA DO?
DEFENSIVE.

THIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH

AND MAYBE
I'M KIND OF TIRED OF HEARING
ABOUT HOW SMART HE IS,

BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET
THAT HOUSTON NUTT

WAS AN OFFENSIVE MIND,
HIMSELF.

[STOERNER]
COACH NUTT HAD GREAT
ASSISTANT COACHES,

THAT'S WHERE HE THRIVED

WAS WHEN HE HAD
ASSISTANT COACHES
AROUND HIM.

NOT GUYS THAT WERE COMING UP
THAT WERE GONNA GO

AND MOVE ON TO BE
HEAD COACHES.

I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY
OBVIOUS FROM THE GET-GO

THAT GUS WAS GONNA
END UP BEING

A BIG TIME COORDINATOR
AND POTENTIALLY
A HEAD COACH.

AND, UH,

MAYBE THAT WAS A
LITTLE THREATENING,
I DON'T KNOW.

IF MITCH SUCCEEDED,
GUS SUCCEEDED.

AND I THINK
HOUSTON NUTT HAD A PLAN

TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO EITHER NEUTRALIZE HIM--

GET HIM AWAY
FROM THE OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR'S POSITION,

OR GET HIM
TO LEAVE ENTIRELY

AND I THINK HE HAD
THAT PLAN BECAUSE HE FELT
THREATENED.

YEAH, I THINK
THERE WAS CERTAINLY
A LOT OF RESENTMENT,

A LOT OF ILL WILL
BETWEEN THE PARTIES
AT THAT POINT.

AND IT ONLY COMPOUNDED,
I THINK, IN LATE IN OCTOBER

ABOUT THE TIME
SOUTH CAROLINA CAME UP
THAT THE BOOK CAME OUT.

THAT KURT VOIGT WROTE
ABOUT THE SPRINGDALE TEAM.

COMMENTS THAT I HAD MADE,
COMMENTS I DON'T REGRET.

COMMENTS I THINK
WERE SPOT ON.

[VOIGT]
HE CALLED HIM A DORK.
HE WAS FRUSTRATED.

AND SO WE
ACTUALLY TALKED,

HOW CAN HE HANDLE
THIS THE BEST?

AND KIND OF THE IDEA
THAT WE CAME UP WITH WAS,

BEAT HIM TO THE POINT,
YOU KNOW, GO AND APOLOGIZE
IN ADVANCE.

[MUSTAIN]
GO TO HIM, EXPLAIN MYSELF

SO THAT WE CAN MOVE
PAST THAT.

AND SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THAT
AND THAT WAS IN OCTOBER.

SAID, "HEY, I WAS
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I SAID THESE THINGS,
I'M SORRY. I WAS A KID."

AND HOUSTON TOLD HIM,
"NO PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND IT,

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE."

THE FIRST TIME HOUSTON
WAS ASKED ABOUT IT ON CAMERA,
A MOMENT WHEN HE COULD'VE

ENDED EVERYTHING,
HE COULD'VE JUST SAID,

"MITCH CAME TO ME
TWO WEEKS AGO AND APOLOGIZED
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S WATER
UNDER THE BRIDGE."
HE DIDN'T.

IT'S EASY TO SEE
THE GUYS WHY UNDER TWO WEEKS
THERE PRIOR

TO SOUTH CAROLINA,
WHY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF DIGRESSION.

HE HAD A LOT ON HIM.
HE HAD A LOT ON HIM.
IT WAS A BOOK.

IT WAS A BOOK HE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT IT.

WHEN HE DID THAT,
WHEN HE HUNG HIM OUT TO DRY
LIKE THAT.

IT JUST OPENED
THE FLOOD GATES
FOR PEOPLE

WHO ALREADY HARBORED
RESENTMENT TOWARD MITCH,

TOWARD GUS,
TOWARD THIS GROUP.

BY THIS POINT
WE WERE A WEEK BEFORE
THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAME.

I REMEMBER SOUTH CAROLINA,
WE WERE DOING A WALK THROUGH

AND THEY HAD
SOME DIFFERENT SCHEMES
AS FAR AS BLITZING.

AND MITCH WASN'T
ABLE TO PICK UP THIS
CERTAIN READ.

AND COACH KEPT GETTING
FRUSTRATED WITH HIM.

AND NEXT THING I KNOW,
HE SAYS, "CASEY COME HERE.

I NEED YOU TO PICK UP
THIS CHECK RIGHT HERE.
YOU KNOW THIS CHECK?"

"YES SIR, I DO."
AND CASEY COMES BACK
A LITTLE BIT LATER,

I SAID, "WHAT DID
COACH NUTT SAY?

IT WAS THE THURSDAY BEFORE
THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAME.

BEN GOT--
WE WERE IN THE STAIRWELL,
HE STOPPED ME AND SAID,

"HEY, CASEY TOLD ME
THAT COACH NUTT
APPROACHED HIM

AT PRACTICE AND SAID,
'THE FIRST MISTAKE
HE MAKES,

FIRST PICK HE THROWS,
YOU'RE GOING IN.'"

EVEN IF IT WOULD'VE NEVER
GOT BACK TO MITCH,

THERE'S NOT
A MORE DIFFICULT
THING TO DO

THAN TO PLAY
THE QUARTERBACK POSITION

WHEN YOU KNOW
THERE'S DOUBT

IN THE GUY THAT'S MAKING
THE DECISION OF WHETHER
YOU PLAY OR NOT.

AT THAT POINT
IT WAS DAMNED IF I DO,
DAMNED IF I DON'T.

I MEAN,
THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS THAT AT SOME POINT

I WAS GONNA THROW
ANOTHER INTERCEPTION,

AT SOME POINT
I WAS GONNA MAKE A MISTAKE.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN ONCE YOU
DECIDE TO GO WITH A GUY,

I'M GONNA DO
EVERYTHING IN MY POWER

TO ALLOW THAT GUY
TO PLAY HIS BEST.

AND IN MY OPINION
THAT'S NOT DOING THAT.

[ANNOUNCER]
THEY CAN NEUTRALIZE
SOME OF THAT SIZE.

WILLIAMS, FISH AND CRAWFORD,
IS THREE WIDE RECEIVERS.

AND MUSTAIN TO THROW.

AND IT'S INTERCEPTED.

PICKED UP
BY CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN

WELL, MITCH MUSTAIN,
NOT THE START THAT HE WANTED.

HE DID NOT PLAY
VERY WELL LAST WEEK

AGAINST LOUISIANA MONROE,
THREW THREE INTERCEPTIONS.

[MUSTAIN]
YOU GET IN THERE
THE GAME STARTS,

AND I DON'T REMEMBER
THE PLAY, I JUST REMEMBER
JUST TO THE LEFT.

AND I THREW IT.
PICKED OFF.

I GET YANKED.
CASEY GOES IN.

AND I REMEMBER
STANDING ON THE SIDELINE
AND BEN COMING OVER.

[CLEVELAND]
AND I SAID,
"HEY, I TOLD YOU.

ONE OF THOSE
KIND OF DEALS." HE GOES,
"YEAH, YOU WERE RIGHT."

AFTER HE BENCHED ME,
THAT'S FINE. I UNDERSTAND,
I'M NOT PLAYING STELLAR.

AND CASEY PLAYED FINE
AFTER THAT. HE DID A GOOD JOB.

THAT ALL MAKES
PERFECT SENSE TO ME.

THE PROBLEM WAS
THAT NOBODY SAID
A WORD TO ME ABOUT IT.

AND I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT ENCOURAGEMENT,

ABOUT "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP."
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

I CARE ABOUT,
LET'S FIX THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING
THAT IS BOTHERING YOU ENOUGH

THAT WARRANTED PULLING ME.

WELL, NOT A WORD
WAS SAID TO ME.

NOT BY HOUSTON,
NOT BY GUS, NOT BY ANYBODY.

IT LITERALLY SEEMED,
IT WAS LIKE NOTHING
EVER HAPPENED.

IT WAS LIKE I'D NEVER
SET FOOT IN THE BUILDING.

WHEN MITCH THREW
THAT PASS,

AND HE WALKED
OFF THE FIELD,

YOU COULD JUST TELL
THAT THIS WAS GONNA
BE A BIG DEAL.

[CLEVELAND]
HERE'S MITCH,
YOU KNOW, HE'S 8-0

AND TRUE FRESHMAN.

YOU LIVE AND DIE
WITH SOME OF THE THINGS

BUT NOT COACH NUTT.

HE DIDN'T LIKE
THE SHINE OF MITCH STEALING
THE SHOW FROM EVERYBODY.

[STOERNER]
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FRESHMAN
QUARTERBACK PLAYING,

THERE'S GONNA
BE MISTAKES MADE,

THERE'S GONNA
BE INTERCEPTIONS THROWN,

THERE'S GONNA BE
CHECKS MISSED,

AND THAT'S PART OF IT.

BUT INSTEAD OF SAYING
AT YOUR FRESHMAN,

"HE'S GROWING
FROM EACH ONE OF THEM,"
WE SAY,

"THAT'S OUR WEAKNESS.
WE NEED TO REPLACE IT."

AND I THINK
THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT

OF EVERYTHING GOING ON
OFF THE FIELD,

NOT WHAT WAS GOING ON
ON THE FIELD.

IT SEEMED AS THOUGH
HOUSTON NUTT

WAS LOOKING FOR A REASON
TO BENCH MITCH MUSTAIN.

BUT TO ME
WHEN YOUR QUARTERBACK
IS WINNING GAMES,

HE DESERVED
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CONTINUE TO PLAY.

IT DIDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE
THAT MUSTAIN REALLY NEVER
GOT BACK IN THE GAME

AFTER HE WAS TAKEN OUT.

THAT WAS
THE BIZARRE PART.

I HAD AN SEC COACH ASK ME,
THAT OFF-SEASON,

"WHY DIDN'T HOUSTON STICK
WITH MITCH MUSTAIN?"

A PROMINENT SEC COACH.

AND I SAID,
"I'M NOT SURE."

AND THE COACH SAID,
"WELL, I ASKED HOUSTON

BEFORE THE GAME
WHEN WE WERE TALKING."

AND HE DIDN'T
REALLY GET AN ANSWER.

[NARRATOR]
SO WHILE AN 8-0
WINNING STREAK

SHOULD HAVE
BEEN CELEBRATED,

THE STATE
BECAME DIVIDED.

THE LOCKER ROOM
BECAME DIVIDED.

[MUSTAIN]
IT REALLY WAS.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE

PEOPLE WERE
ATTRIBUTING HIS SUCCESS
BECAUSE GUS CAME,

AND BECAUSE WE CAME.

HE'S CERTAINLY HAPPY
WITH THE SUCCESS OVERALL,

BUT NOT WITH WHAT,
NOT WITH HOW IT
WAS HAPPENING.

AND I THINK THAT
REALLY IRKED AT HIM.

AND I-- I MEAN,
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

IF, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WERE SAYING,

"SEE? I MEAN,
ALL YOU HAD TO DO

WAS BRING SOMEONE ELSE
IN BESIDE YOURSELF,

AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS."

AND THEN, YEAH, I MEAN,

YOU'D REALLY HAVE
TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE

AND TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH
AND THEN LEARN WHAT YOU CAN.

AND I THINK
THE GREAT ONES
CAN DO THAT.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN,

WITH A TEAM THAT'S
HAVING SOME SUCCESS,

AND PROBABLY COULD'VE
WON THE LSU GAME,

OR COULD'VE PLAYED
FOR THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP,

IF THEY HAD
A PASSING ATTACK.

THERE WAS
THE HOUSTON NUTT CAMP,

AND THERE WAS
THE GUS MALZAHN,
MITCH MUSTAIN CAMP.

[ANNOUNCER]
DO YOU FEEL MISLEAD
IN ANYWAY

FROM BEING HIRED
AND THINGS THAT WERE TOLD

TO YOU BEING HIRED,
TO TODAY?

NO, YOU KNOW
I'M SITTING HERE

AND I'M OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR

OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARKANSAS GOTTA--

IT'S A DREAM JOB FOR ME,
IT'S A DREAM JOB FOR ME.

AND I'M JUST TRYING
TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER
TO HELP US WIN.

TO AN EXTENT,
YOU CAN'T BLAME
HOUSTON NUTT.

FOR DOING WHAT HE FELT
HE HAD TO DO TO WIN GAMES.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE
DARREN MCFADDEN,

PEYTON HILLIS,
AND FELIX JONES.

YOU NEED TO RUN
THE FOOTBALL SUCCESSFULLY.

BUT I DO BELIEVE,
THAT IF THEY ALLOWED

GUS TO RUN SOME MORE
OF WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

I MEAN, WHO KNOWS.
MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE WON
THE SEC THAT YEAR?

THEY DID WIN 10 GAMES.

BUT EVERYBODY REMEMBERS
THEY LOST THEIR LAST THREE.

LSU, THE SEC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,
AND THE BOWL GAME.

[CLEVELAND]
FOR OUR LOCKER ROOM
TO BE SO DIVIDED,

AND FOR US TO WIN
SO MANY GAMES,

THAT REALLY TELLS YOU
HOW TALENTED OUR TEAM WAS.

IF THESE TWO MEN
HAD EVER SAT DOWN

AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER,
I THINK THEY WOULD'VE WON

THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
THAT YEAR, I DO.

BECAUSE THEY WON
ALL THOSE GAMES

WITH THIS TOTALLY
DYSFUNCTIONAL THING
GOING ON.

THEY HAD A QUARTERBACK
THAT FELT LIKE HIS COACH
DIDN'T LIKE HIM--

HE FELT LIKE
HE DIDN'T BELONG
ON THE TEAM.

HE HAD TEAMMATES
CALLING HIM OUT.

HE HAD BOOSTER FRIENDS
OF THE HEAD COACH

SENDING HIM
OBSCENE EMAILS.

[SCHAD]
I MEAN, MITCH MUSTAIN,

THREW HIS SHARE
OF INTERCEPTIONS,

BUT TO BE CALLED OUT
AS THE INTERCEPTION KING,

WHICH I THINK
ONE PERSON WROTE TO HIM,

WAS JUST A JOKE.
I MEAN THAT PERSON,
WHOEVER IT IS,

HE OR SHE SHOULD BE
ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

I THINK WHERE
IT EVENTUALLY TOOK
HOUSTON NUTT DOWN,

HE HAD A BOOSTER
THAT WAS FRIENDS
WITH HIS FAMILY.

WHO WAS SO UPSET
BY ALL THIS STUFF,

AND SO CONVINCED
THAT MITCH MUSTAIN
WAS A PART OF THIS,

HIS MOTHER
WAS A PART OF IT.

ALL THESE PEOPLE
FROM SPRINGDALE WERE A PART
OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE

ATTACKING HER FRIEND,
HOUSTON NUTT THE HEAD COACH.

THAT SHE TOOK
IT UPON HERSELF TO START
WRITING EMAILS

ABOUT THIS.

AND TRYING TO WARN PEOPLE
OF THE HORRIBLE DANGERS
THAT WERE TAKING PLACE.

THE FACT
THAT MITCH MUSTAIN

RECEIVED HATE EMAILS,

TO ME WAS COMPLETELY
UNCALLED FOR.

IT BASICALLY
DISPARAGES HIM,
IT'S SOMEWHAT OBSCENE

TO SEND THAT
TO A COLLEGE KID
IN HIS DORM ROOM.

HE'S GONNA COME
IN ONE DAY AND CHECK
HIS EMAILS AND SEE

THIS STUFF,
FROM SOMEBODY

HE DOESN'T KNOW,
BUT SOMEBODY HE WILL
EVENTUALLY FIND OUT

IS NOT ONLY A BOOSTER,
BUT A CLOSE FRIEND
OF HOUSTON NUTT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE REACTION WOULD BE?

YOU HAVE ALL
THIS DRAMA GOING ON,
THEY STILL WON 10 GAMES.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S
NONE OF THAT?

[ANNOUNCER]
BIG NEWS, TONIGHT
IN THE RAZORBACKS.

WITH FRESHMAN
WIDE RECEIVER,

DAMIAN WILLIAMS
LEAVING THE TEAM.

NOW, THIS ALL STARTED
WITH A PRIVATE MEETING
LAST WEEK

BETWEEN PARENTS
OF FORMER SPRINGDALE
PLAYERS

AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
FRANK BROYLES.

THAT MEETING BECAME PUBLIC
THIS WEEK

AND CREATED A WHIRLWIND
OF CONTROVERSY.

THE PARENTS
IN THAT MEETING WANTED
TO KNOW WHERE

THE HOG FOOTBALL PROGRAM
WAS HEADED

AND IF THEIR SONS
WOULD BE BETTER SUITED
SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE DO HOWEVER HAVE
SOME CLARITY ON THE SITUATION.

HOUSTON NUTT, GUS MALZAHN,
BEN CLEVELAND, MITCH MUSTAIN,

ALL SAY THEY'RE
HERE TO STAY AND ARE GETTING
ALONG JUST FINE.

I HAD A GOOD MEETING
WITH MITCH,

I HAD A GOOD MEETING
WITH MITCH EARLIER
IN THE WEEK.

AND HE APOLOGIZED TO ME,
HE WANTS TO BE HERE.

HE WANTS TO BE A RAZORBACK.
AND I ACCEPT THAT 100%.

COACH NUTT ALSO SAID
THAT THERE'S NO ANIMOSITY AT ALL

BETWEEN HIM AND GUS MALZAHN.

IN FACT HE SAID,

"PLEASE ASK GUS MALZAHN
ABOUT IT FOLLOWING PRACTICE."

AS FAR AS ME AND HOUSTON
I MEAN, HE HIRED ME.

I CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND,

AND WE'VE HAD
A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

I MEAN, I KNOW PEOPLE
LOVE SEC FOOTBALL

AND I KNOW PEOPLE
IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THEIR FOOTBALL

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WENT DOWN

ARE JUST ILLOGICAL
AND WOULD BE HARD
TO EXPLAIN

TO ALMOST ANYBODY
IN ANY OTHER STATE.

[NARRATOR]
ONLY IN ARKANSAS.
WOO, PIG, SOOIE.

THE DAY HE LEFT
I TALKED TO MITCH.

AND HIS EXACT QUOTE TO ME WAS,
"WHO AM I GONNA TRUST NOW?"

THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT WAS FATHER-SON TYPE
RELATIONSHIP.

THEN I'M MAD AS HELL.

[NARRATOR]
WITH THE WRITING
ON THE WALL,

IT SEEMED CLEAR
TO MITCHELL,

THAT ARKANSAS
WOULD NOT BE

WHERE HE FINISHED
HIS CAREER.

[SCHAD]
I REMEMBER REPORTING
THAT MITCH WAS TRANSFERRING.

I REMEMBER REPORTING
THAT MITCH WAS TRANSFERRING
TO USC.

I REMEMBER REPORTING
THAT GUS MALZAHN TOOK
THE TULSA JOB.

I KNEW MALZAHN WAS
GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL
WHEREVER HE WENT.

AND I KNEW
HE WAS GONNA DO WELL
IN TULSA.

BUT THE WORST THING
YOU COULD DO, YOU KNOW,

YOU BREAK UP WITH SOMEONE,
IS REMAIN CLOSE TO THEM.

AND I JUST REALLY WANTED
TO GET OUT, AND I WANTED
TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO I KNEW
THIS WAS MY OPPORTUNITY
TO GET THAT DONE,

THAN TO GO
SOMEWHERE ELSE

AND TO JUST LIVE
A LIFE APART FROM IT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT MITCH MUSTAIN

WOULD'VE PUT UP
BIG NUMBERS

IF HE HAD FOLLOWED
HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH
ONE MORE TIME.

HE DID IT
FOR FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS

BUT I DON'T THINK
MITCH MUSTAIN HAD IT IN HIM

TO GO PLAY FOOTBALL
IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

I KNEW THAT I'D HAVE TO GET AWAY
FROM ARKANSAS

AND NOT BE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO WHERE I COULD DRIVE

BACK AND FORTH
ON THE WEEKENDS

ON A BYE WEEK
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL IT JUST SEEMED
LIKE TO ME,

THAT IT WAS
A CHANCE FOR HIM
TO START OVER,

AND IT ALSO WAS A CHANCE
TO GO TO THE BIGGEST BRAND

IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
AT THE TIME.

I THINK THE PROBLEM
FOR HIM WAS, HE WENT
TO THE WRONG SYSTEM.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY
A PART OF MITCH MUSTAIN
THAT WANTED TO SHOW

THAT HE COULD BE SUCCESSFUL
RUNNING AN OFFENSE

THAT WASN'T
THE GUS MALZAHN OFFENSE.

AND I THINK ALSO,
MITCH WANTED TO SHOW

THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE HAD POTENTIAL AS A
PRO QUARTERBACK--

AS A PRO STYLE
QUARTERBACK.

YOU KNOW,
HAVING THE EXPERIENCE I'D HAD

THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS--
SEVEN MONTHS,

I'M THINKING,
"OKAY, I'VE SEEN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ROAD."

I DON'T WANT
TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER
AVERAGE TEAM.

I DON'T WANT TO PLAY
JUST TO BE OUT THERE.

I WANT TO PLAY
AND I WANT TO GET BETTER,

AND I KNEW
I WAS GONNA HAVE
TO FIND A--

THERE ARE VERY FEW PROGRAMS
IN THE COUNTRY

THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT,
AND USC WAS ONE OF THEM.

AND TO BE HONEST,
THAT WAS PRETTY WELL IT
FOR ME.

HE WANTED TO PLAY
IN THE NFL.

AND WHAT BETTER SCHOOL,
AT THAT POINT,

TO PREPARE TO PLAY
QUARTERBACK IN THE NFL

THAN UNDER PETE CARROL.

AND IT PROBABLY
WAS APPEALING, YOU KNOW,
TO GO OUT TO HOLLYWOOD,

I MEAN, GET AWAY FROM
THE FISH BOWL,

AND GO TO SOMETHING SO BIG,

THAT, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN GONNA
MESS WITH YOU--

THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA
BOTHER WITH YOU.

[SCHAD]
I MEAN, THERE'S NO DOUBT
THAT MITCH MUSTAIN,

YOU KNOW, FELT THAT HE FIT
RIGHT INTO THAT L.A. LIFESTYLE.

MUSIC, MOVIES, WEATHER,

HOLLYWOOD, WOMEN.

I MEAN, IT WAS
INTERESTING TO ME,

HERE'S THIS KID
FROM ARKANSAS

WHO SO EASILY SLIPPED
INTO THE L.A. LIFESTYLE.

WHILE IT WAS
VERY APPEALING

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK,
IT WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY

THAT HE DIDN'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL
THE DRAMA FOLLOWING.

IT'S SO NICE, MAN.
I'M STAYING HERE.

[CLEVELAND]
I THINK MITCH
WAS A LOST PERSON.

YOU KNOW, HE GOT CAUGHT UP
IN THE HIGH LIFE OF L.A.

OVERALL, I'D CATEGORIZE
IT AS A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE.

CERTAINLY FRUSTRATING
A LOT OF TIMES.

IT STARTS OFF
WITH MY O.A. COMPETITION
WITH MARK.

THERE'S ALREADY
BEEN MADE THAT WE WENT
HEAD TO HEAD IN THAT.

HE PLAYED EXTREMELY WELL.

YOU KNOW,
I HONESTLY COULDN'T SAY
WITH ANY CERTAINTY

THAT I WOULD'VE PLAYED
ANY BETTER.

AND THEN WE GO ON
AND MATT COMES IN,
EXTREMELY TALENTED,

EXTREMELY MATURE
FOR HIS AGE AT THE TIME.

WHEN HE CAME IN,
I MEAN, THERE IS NO DOUBT

HE'D BEEN TRAINED
VERY WELL.

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.

HE UNDERSTOOD
WHAT WAS EXPECTED

AND WHAT
HE WAS GONNA
FACE AND SO.

YOU KNOW, FROM THERE
IT WAS PRETTY WELL SET

I KNEW WHERE
I WAS GONNA BE ON THAT.

SO THAT PART WAS FRUSTRATING.

AND THEN THERE
WAS A LOT OF TIME
IN BETWEEN THAT.

YOU KNOW,
DEALING WITH A LOT
OF THINGS.

THERE WAS A LONG PERIOD WHERE
I REALLY WAS JUST OVER THE GAME.

IT'S JUST HARD
TO UNDERSTAND.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD MAKE CALLS
OUT TO THE WEST COAST,

YOU KNOW, "WHAT'S UP
WITH MITCH MUSTAIN?"

ALL THESE OTHER GUYS
ARE HURT, HOW'S HE DOING
WITH HIS REPS?

AND THEN THEY WOULD SAID,
"WELL, NOT MUCH."

THEY'D SAY, YOU KNOW,
"FOR SOME REASON,

HE'S NEVER REALLY GRASPED
THE OFFENSE.

FAST ONE,
GO AGAIN THERE, MITCH.

[SCHAD]
I MEAN, I REMEMBER SPEAKING
TO LANE KIFFIN

ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK
COMPETITION.

AND I REMEMBER
LANE KIFFIN SAYING

THAT MITCH WAS
HAVING A HARD TIME
GRASPING THINGS.

AND IT DEFINITELY
GOT THE FEELING THAT FOCUS
WAS PART OF IT.

[PLAYERS CHATTERING]

KEEP THAT HIP OPEN
SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON.

[CHATTERING CONTINUES]

[SCHAD]
THE WAY NFL TEAMS SCOUT
COLLEGES NOW,

THERE'S NO QUESTION
THAT EVEN WITH LIMITED
REPETITIONS

YOU WOULD HAVE A CHANCE
TO AT LEAST GET A WORK OUT
FOR A NFL TEAM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY,
"OH, LOOK AT TOM BRADY."

YOU KNOW, TOM BRADY AT LEAST
HAD SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE.

THERE'S HARDLY
ANY VIDEO FOOTAGE

OF MITCH MUSTAIN
FROM USC.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO THINK
THAT HE WAS GONNA FOLLOW

IN THE MATT CASSEL MODEL,

YOU KNOW, TO ME,
YOU KNOW, REALLY WASN'T
VERY REALISTIC.

PART OF THE USC
THING WAS,

YOU KNOW WHAT,
I CAN GO OUT THERE

AND I CAN DO
WHAT BRADY DID.

I CAN BE
A SEVENTH ROUND PICK
BASED ON POTENTIAL.

OR I CAN DO
WHAT CASSEL'S DOING
AND NOT BE DRAFTED.

YOU KNOW,
NOT PLAY AT ALL.

ALSO THINK
WHEN MITCH GOT
OUT THERE,

THERE WAS
A PERSONALITY TRAIT

THAT GOT ACCENTUATED
OUT THERE.

BUT IT WAS
A PROBLEM HERE TOOL.

TALKING TO HIS COACHES
AND FROM USC COACHES,

WAS THAT HIS TEMPERAMENT

REALLY DIDN'T MESH
WITH PETE CARROLL

WHO WAS REAL BIG
ON THE RAH RAH,

AND HE WANTED
A VERY VOCAL LEADER.

HE'S NOT OUTGOING,
HE'S NOT THE LIFE
OF THE PARTY.

HE DOESN'T BUDDY AROUND
WITH HIS TEAMMATES.

HE'S GOT
A REALLY OFFBEAT
PERSONALITY.

HE LIKES A LOT OF THINGS
THAT GUYS HIS AGE

AREN'T TYPICALLY
INTERESTED IN.

HE'S INTERESTED
IN MILITARY HISTORY.

HE LIKES TO READ
SPY NOVELS.

ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT BLOGS

OR MESSAGE BOARDS?

MY FAVORITE ONE IS
ONE CALLED NEPTUNUS LEX.

REALLY FUCKING
AWESOME WRITER.

FOREIGN POLICY,
OR DOMESTIC POLICY.
OR WHATEVER.

AND SO.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK
HE RELATED TO A LOT
OF HIS TEAMMATES.

YOU KNOW, MITCH MUSTAIN
IS NOT A "TYPE A" PERSONALITY.

YOU CAN OVERCOME THAT
AS A QUARTERBACK,

BUT IT A LITTLE BIT
OF A CHALLENGE.

I MEAN, I'M JUST NOT--

I'M REALLY QUIET,
IT TAKES A WHILE TO WARM UP.

AHEM,
HOW NOW BROWN COW.
AHEM, HOW NOW...

AND SO I THINK
THAT IN A SPORT

WHERE EVERYTHING
IS FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A LOT OF IT'S
HOW YOU COME OFF

AND HOW YOU
BOUNCE AROUND.

PEOPLE LOVE THAT.
THE MEDIA EATS IT UP.

I MEAN, TO BE HONEST,
I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT.

EITHER YOU HAVE IT,
AND THOSE GUYS BELIEVE
IN YOU

AND THEY BUY INTO YOU
AND LISTEN TO YOU,

AND LOOK IN YOUR EYES
EVERY TIME YOU'RE
IN A HUDDLE,

AND BELIEVE AND TRUST
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO

OR THEY DON'T.

I THINK IT HURT HIM
IN THAT ONE START

THAT HE GOT
AGAINST NOTRE DAME.

I SAW THAT GAME,
AND I'M NOT SAYING

GUYS INTENTIONALLY
SABOTAGED HIM.

I JUST DON'T THINK
THEY WERE INTO IT.

YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS A TOUCHDOWN PASS

DROPPED AT THE END OF THAT GAME
THAT WOULD HAVE WON IT.

[ANNOUNCER]
GOING DEEP.
OUT THERE,

OPEN AND IT DROPS.

BY RONALD JOHNSON.
THERE'S THE ONE YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT, TODD.

AND THEY HAD IT.

THAT'S ALL
MITCH MUSTAIN CAN DO.

HARRISON SMITH
FALLS DOWN,

THIS IS A TOUCHDOWN
TO TAKE THE LEAD,

AND RONALD JOHNSON
JUST FORGETS ONE THING.

- THAT BALL.
- YEAH.

OH, MAN.

AND THAT HAS TO BE
THE FIFTH DROPPED BALL

ON A WELL-THROWN PASS

BY MITCH MUSTAIN TONIGHT.

ONE OF THE USC'S
SENIORS KNOWS THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN HIS MOMENT.

IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT MITCH HAD BEEN
WAITING FOR.

CERTAINLY, IT COULD HAVE
CHANGED THE WAY MITCH
REMEMBERS USC.

AND IT CERTAINLY MIGHT
HAVE HAD AN EFFECT

ON THE WAY USC FANS
REMEMBER MITCH.

I WAS--
I THOUGHT THE OFFENSE
WAS DOING REALLY WELL,

RUNNING BACKS
WERE RUNNING HARD,

OUR RECEIVERS
WERE READY TO GO.

IT FELT GREAT,
IT FELT LIKE WE WERE GONNA
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

I HAVE A TENDENCY
TO BELIEVE THAT PART
OF THE REASON HE STAYED

OUT IN CALIFORNIA
IS BECAUSE HE KIND

OF GOT CAUGHT UP
IN THE L.A. LIFE STYLE.

AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
L.A. IS COOL AND THE GIRLS
ARE COOL,

AND, YOU KNOW,
I'M LOVING MY LIFE,

AND IF I DON'T PLAY FOOTBALL
THAT'S OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK
MITCH MUSTAIN

FOR AN INTERVIEW HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE HE'S
BEING VERY GENEROUS

AND GIVING OUT HIS AUTOGRAPH
TO A LOT OF THE YOUTH

THAT HAVE BEEN HERE
AND INVITED HERE
TO THE PRACTICE TODAY.

I MEAN, THERE'S A CERTAIN
PRESTIGE THAT COMES WITH BEING
A USC QUARTERBACK.

WHETHER YOU'RE
PLAYING OR NOT...

YOU KNOW, I WONDER,
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING

TO REALLY DIG DEEP
IN TERMS OF THE REGRET.

WHAT DIDN'T HE DO
THAT HE COULD'VE,

WHAT DIDN'T HE DO
THAT HE SHOULD'VE.

I LOOK AT MITCH
AND I SAY TO MYSELF,

HE WAS STAR-CROSSED
THE WHOLE WAY.

AND THEN THIS WHOLE
SELLING OF HIS A.D.D.
MEDICATION ONLINE,

WHERE IN THE WORLD
DID THAT COME FROM?

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
KIND OF A THRILL SEEKER.

AND I'M NOT ALWAYS
THE RIGHT THRILL,

I GUESS, BUT I HIT A POINT
IN THE SUMMER OF '08

WHERE I
REALLY BEGAN

TO STRUGGLE
WITH JUST BASIC
SCHOOLWORK.

AND NOT,
NOT IN UNDERSTANDING IT.
I UNDERSTOOD IT.

BUT I HIT A WALL.

I DID A BUNCH OF TESTS,

AHEM,
DIAGNOSED A.D.H.D.

NO KIDDING,
I MEAN, I THINK ANYBODY
THAT KNOWS ME,

INCLUDING MYSELF,
COULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT
OFF THE BAT.

IT'S JUST APPARENT
TALKING TO HIM.

I MEAN, HE'LL JUST
DRIFT OFF AND BE THINKING
ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

AND THEN SNAP BACK TO IT,
YOU KNOW, FIVE MINUTES LATER.

IS IT RAINING?

[MATTINGLY]
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
AND I'M NOT A DOCTOR,

AND I'M NOT
IN THE MEDICAL FIELD,

BUT THERE'S A LOT
OF PEOPLE THAT I'M CLOSE TO

THAT HAVE A.D.D.
AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE

HOW IT CAN RUIN A LIFE,
HOW IT CAN CHANGE A LIFE,

HOW IT CAN MAKE
SOMEBODY THAT HAS
SO MUCH GOING FOR THEM,

MOVE RIGHT OVER HERE
JUST LONG ENOUGH TO SCREW
SOMETHING UP.

GOT ON THE MEDICATION
FOR IT-- AHEM--

YOU KNOW, IT DID A LOT
OF GOOD FOR ME,

IN TERMS
OF KIND OF PUTTING ME
BACK IN THE ZONE

WHERE I CAN
FOCUS AGAIN.

LEARNING THE PLAYBOOK.
AND UNDERSTAND THE PLAYBOOK.

UNDERSTANDING
OUR GAME PLAN FOR THE WEEK.

I CAN COME
IN ON MONDAY

AND GO THROUGH
OUR INSTALL MONDAY
AND JUST HAVE IT DOWN.

JUST BOOM.
BEING ON ADDERALL,

AND HAVING THAT HELPED

WAS A HUGE BENEFIT
TO ME IN TERMS

OF ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
AND EVEN IN THE CLASSROOM.

ONCE I, ONCE MY BODY
REALLY GOT BALANCED
WITH IT,

AND I'D BE-- AND UNDERSTAND,
IT'LL NUMB THE PAIN

BUT IT ALSO HURTS
A LOT OF PARTS.

I ACHED REAL BAD ON THEM,
BUT I GET THE ADDERALL

AND I'M REALLY STARTING
TO UNDERSTAND THE NEGATIVE
ASPECT OF IT.

AND I DON'T LIKE IT.

AND TALKING
TO ONE OF MY DOCTORS

I DECIDED I CAN LIVE
WITHOUT THIS.

I DON'T-- THIS
IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT
TO BE ON MY WHOLE LIFE.

I QUIT COLD TURKEY.

AND I MEAN,
WE DIDN'T EVEN TAPER
IT OFF. I JUST QUIT.

IT WAS ONE
OF THE HARDEST WEEKS
OF MY LIFE.

I MEAN,
YOU JUST FEEL AWFUL,

YOU'RE DOWN
THE WHOLE TIME.

ANYWAY,
CAME BACK AND HAVE

A WHOLE BUNCH
OF EXTRA MEDICATION.

THEY PULL A PRETTY FAIR
MARKET PRICE.

I THOUGHT,
"HEY, WHY NOT."
IT'S A THRILL.

AND SO I PUT
IT UP FOR SALE

AND IT WENT
FROM THERE.

I GOT ARRESTED FOR IT.

[SCHAD]
IT NEVER REALLY SURPRISES ME
WHEN ANY ATHLETE

IS CAUGHT UP IN A SCANDAL
INVOLVING DRUGS.

CERTAINLY I WAS
VERY SURPRISED

WHEN I HEARD
MITCH MUSTAIN AND DRUGS.

FROM ALL ACCOUNTS
HE WAS A CLEAN KID.

I TALKED
TO HIS BROTHER ABOUT IT
ONE DAY AND HE SAID,

"YOU JUST HAVE
TO KNOW MITCH."

HE THOUGHT
IT WAS FUNNY.

HE SAID HE GOT
A KICK OUT OF IT.

HE THOUGHT,
"HEY, THEY'LL BE
SOME GUY ON THERE

THINKING HE'S GETTING
SOME HEAVY DUTY PRESCRIPTION
NARCOTICS HERE,

AND IT'S JUST
A.D.D. MEDICATION."

FEBRUARY OF 2011,
I GUESS AND I HAD

SOME MISSED CALLS
ON MY PHONE.

FOR SOME REASON
I WENT AHEAD A CHECKED
THE VOICEMAIL

AND IT WAS THE,
I GUESS

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND RIGHT WHEN
I GOT THAT PHONE CALL
I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

[MITCH MUSTAIN]
YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY
KIND OF IRRITATES ME

IS I GOT ARRESTED
AND I DIDN'T GET TO RIDE
IN THE BACK

OF A L.A.P.D.
SQUAD CAR.

I WAS IN THE BACK
OF LIKE A SATURN.

[LAUGHS]

-[MATT MUSTAIN] WHAT?
-BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR
UNDERCOVER.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I DIDN'T GET TO RIDE
IN THE CROWN VIC, MAN.

DUDES WERE WEARING T-SHIRTS
AND BLUE JEANS.

AND DRIVING A SATURN.
FUCKED UP.

TO ME IT WAS KIND OF SAD
TO THINK, YOU KNOW,

SORT OF IN A RYAN LEAF WAY,
I MEAN, HERE IS A GUY

WHO SEEMED TO HAVE
THE POTENTIAL

TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING
WITH A FOOTBALL,

AND NOW HERE HE IS.

I'M JUST FUCKING
CHILLING IN VAN NUYS.

[LAUGHS]

YOU KNOW
WHAT'S CRAZY THOUGH,
IS I LEGIT SLEPT

AS WELL AS I'D EVER SLEPT,
IN JAIL.

LIKE I JUST, I'M JUST LIKE,
FUCK IT, I'M GONNA TAKE A NAP.

I SLEPT LIKE A BABY.
[LAUGHS]

AND THANK GOD
I WAS WEARING A SWEATER TOO,
IT WAS COLD IN THERE.

THEY DON'T FUCK AROUND.

-[BIRD CAWS]
-[MITCH WHISTLES]

IT WASN'T A PROUD
MOMENT AT ALL.

IT REALLY WOKE HIM UP,
I THINK

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW,
"I'M NOT INVINCIBLE."

I THINK IT HURT HIM A LOT,
BUT I THINK

WHAT IT REALLY DID,
WAS IT GAVE AMMUNITION

TO THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ALL ALONG SAID
"THIS KID IS--

THERE'S SOMETHING
MAJORLY WRONG WITH HIM."

[SPORTSCASTER]
OBVIOUSLY, YOU WERE IN THE NEWS
IN THE OFF-SEASON

FOR REASONS YOU'RE PROBABLY
NOT SUPER THRILLED ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THAT
AT THIS POINT--

I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.

I MEAN, I'LL TALK
TO THE TEAMS ABOUT IT.

IT COST ME BIG.
IT TERMS OF THE HIT
TO YOUR REPUTATION.

THE HIT TO MY CAREER
TO THAT POINT.

I DIDN'T HAVE
A LOT OF PLAYS
TO BASE ON,

BUT I STILL HAD ENOUGH
TO WHERE, YOU KNOW,

I WAS GONNA GET SOME LOOKS
AND GET AN OPPORTUNITY,

AND I THINK THAT REALLY
KILLED A LOT OF IT.

[REPORTER]
I MEAN, DO YOU REGRET
THAT I HAPPENED?

YEAH, SURE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD,
BUT YEAH,

BUT NOTHING
WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT
EXCEPT MOVING FORWARD.

IT RUINED ANY CHANCE
HE HAD AT THE NFL.

I THINK THEY LOOKED
AT THAT AND THOUGHT,

"THIS GUY'S GOT
A LOOSE SCREW."

YOU COMBINE THAT WITH ALL
THE OTHER DRAMA AT ARKANSAS.

AND IT'S REAL EASY
TO BELIEVE HE'S THIS GUY

THAT WAS CREATED
BY EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

I UNDERSTAND IT,
AND, YOU KNOW,

IF SOMEBODY'S GONNA PUT A LOT
OF MONEY INTO YOU

AND INVEST A LOT OF MONEY
INTO YOUR TALENTS,

UH, YOU KNOW,

IT'S NOT
A VERY SOUND INVESTMENT

IF-- IF, YOU KNOW,
IF YOUR INVESTMENT IS OUT THERE

AND YOU FEEL LIKE
HE'S GONNA BE A RISK,

UH, YOU KNOW,
I UNDERSTAND THAT SENTIMENT.

[SPORTSCASTER]
HOW DO YOU FEEL
COMING INTO THE DRAFT?

GOOD, YOU KNOW,

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GO
TOO HIGH.

[SPORTSCASTER]
WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK
ARE YOU GETTING FROM TEAMS?

[MUSTAIN]
NOTHING AT THIS POINT, REALLY.
NOTHING STRONG.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

[NARRATOR]
UNFORTUNATELY...

NOT MUCH HAPPENED.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,

MITCH WAS LEFT
WITHOUT A BALL FIELD

OR A TEAMMATE TO THROW TO.

HE WENT FROM A COMMODITY,
TO A LIABILITY.

( MUSIC PLAYING )

* I DON'T RECALL
THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE *

* YOU SAID IT'S MY FAULT

* I STILL DON'T BELIEVE YOU

* OH OH OH OH,
ARKANSAS *

* WE BOTH KNOW
THIS WAS A MISTAKE *

* I'D LOVE TO COME HOME

* BUT I NEED AN ESCAPE

* OH OH OH OH, ARKANSAS

* FADE OUT

* THIS IS WHERE
THE CREDITS ROLL *

* OUR NAME.

[NARRATOR]
THE PRODIGAL SON
RETURNED HOME.

BUT THIS TIME,
THERE WAS NO FANFARE.

MITCH MUSTAIN DAY
WAS NOT CELEBRATED

THAT DECEMBER.

[SPORTSCASTER]
AND IT IS OVER!

[SPORTSCASTER #2] TIM TEBOW,
ANOTHER MIRACLE COMEBACK.

IN 2006,
THERE WAS NO BIGGER NAME
IN THE NATURAL STATE

THAN MITCH MUSTAIN.

[REPORTER]
SIX YEARS AGO,
MITCH MUSTAIN WAS

A SHOE-IN TO BECOME
A RAZORBACK LEGEND.

AND WHEN HE WASN'T
CHOSEN IN LAST APRIL'S
NFL DRAFT,

MUSTAIN MOVED BACK
TO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

HE TOOK A JOB
WORKING AT A BENTONVILLE
CAR DEALERSHIP

TO PLAY THE BILLS.

[MUSTAIN]
I IMAGINE IT'S A LITTLE BIT

SENSATIONAL TO SHOW
THAT I WORK

AT A CAR DEALERSHIP NOW
OR PROBABLY WANT TO SHOW

THE LONG FALL
OR WHATEVER IT IS

THEY WANT
TO PORTRAY IT AS.

WHICH IS FINE.

I MEAN, IT'D BE PRETTY EASY
TO MAKE IT A, UH--

YOU KNOW, THAT LONG FALL
FROM GRACE TYPE DEAL.

I MEAN, I'VE GOT
OTHER THINGS GOING.

PEOPLE CAN TALK
ALL THE SHIT THEY WANT.

IF THEY WANT TO SIT DOWN
AND TAKE THE TIME TO--

TO REALLY REFLECT ON
HOW MUCH THAT MEANS TO THEM,

THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

[NARRATOR]
MANY OF THOSE
WHO ONCE PRAISED MITCHELL

HAVE SINCE
TURNED ON HIM.

AND THEY'RE ENTITLED
TO THEIR OPINION.

BUT WHEN FANS
TAKE ON A SENSE
OF ENTITLEMENT,

THAT'S WHEN LINES
GET CROSSED.

WHAT HAPPENS ON MY RADIO SHOW
EVERY MONDAY AFTER A GAME?

JOE'S GOT HIS OPINION,
BILLY BOB'S GOT HIS.

YOU KNOW,
FRANK IN BEVILLE HAS HIS.

I MEAN, JUST EVERYBODY'S
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

I WANT TO SAY
MY PIECE.

I'M GONNA TELL IT TO YOU
RIGHT NOW.

BUT I DON'T CARE,
SCREW THAT GUY...

[DJ]
I NAMED MY DOG MITCH,
HE LEFT. I SHOT IT.

HE'S DEFINITELY
A MAMA'S BOY,

AND HE WAS ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR HIS MOM
TO PROTECT HIM.

HIGH SCHOOL PTA SHIT
ISN'T GONNA CUT IT.

HE'S PRETTY.
TALL. SEXY.

MITCH BAILED ON US.
MITCH RAN AWAY.

TRUE ATHLETES
DON'T DO THAT.

THEY FIND A WAY TO MAKE
THEMSELVES BETTER.

IS HE SELLING CARS NOW,
I HEARD?

YOU KNOW,
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

LOOK I'M NOT
THE GUY WHO THINKS
IT'S RIGHT TO SAY,

"WELL, HE'S JUST THE KID,
HE'S JUST 18."

'CAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN LEVELS
OF EXPECTATIONS THAT COME

WITH BEING
IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
THE LEVEL OF CRITICISM...

AT A CERTAIN POINT,
IT JUST-- IT'S BUFFOONISH.

I MEAN, IT'S COMICAL.

LOOK, I UNDERSTAND
BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN.

YOU KNOW, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE
THE CRITICISM OF, YOU KNOW,

"WELL, YOU GET
YOUR SCHOOL PAID FOR,"

OR THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.

AND YOU ARE TO SOME DEGREE,
YOU DO CHOOSE IT.

I DID CHOOSE TO PURSUE
THAT AVENUE.

AND I DID CHOOSE
TO GO THAT ROUTE.

SO I GUESS IT'S
A TACIT ACCEPTANCE
OF THE NOTORIETY

OF EVERYTHING
THAT COMES WITH IT.

WHAT THE BLOGS,
THESE PEOPLE REALLY,

I QUESTION
WHETHER THEY SHOULD
HAVE A VOICE SOMETIMES.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES
YOU SO SELF IMPORTANT?

WHY DO YOU FEEL
THAT YOUR OPINION CARRIES
ALL THAT WEIGHT?

OKAY, THE OTHER DAY
WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

THE RESTAURANT
WE WENT TO.

FOR ALL INTENTS
AND PURPOSES--
I MEAN IT WAS,

THE WAITRESS
WAS TERRIBLE. YOU HAVE
THE SMELL OF SEWAGE

DRIFTING
FROM THE BATHROOM.

IT WAS-- YOU KNOW,
THE FOOD WAS GOOD.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE,
WAS JUST A BAD EXPERIENCE.

AND PART OF MY MIND
WAS LIKE, "SHOULD I WRITE
A REVIEW?"

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THE SAD THING IS,
IS THAT SOMEBODY--

IT IS GOING
TO INFLUENCE SOMEBODY.

THE FACELESS COMMENTS,

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REALLY KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY
HAVE TO DO ANY RESEARCH.

HE'S JUST THE EASY TARGET.

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW

IF I SHOULD
TALK ABOUT THIS,
BUT I WILL.

[MUSTAIN]
WE TALK ABOUT MARK SANCHEZ.

I MEAN, I CAN'T
EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH
I DISLIKE THE GUY.

AND MOST EVERYBODY
THAT KNOWS HIM

FEELS MUCH THE SAME WAY.

BUT I SHIT YOU
NOT, WHEN I READ
COMMENTS ABOUT HIM,

IT REALLY KIND OF IRKS ME,
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE.

I'VE BEEN THE ONE
THAT THOSE SAME FUCKERS

HAVE BEEN COMMENTING ABOUT,
AND IT PISSES ME OFF.

PEOPLE LOOK AT HIM
AND THEY SEE SOMEBODY
THAT'S SELFISH.

WELL, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

SO YOU WANT
TO RIP THIS KID,
HE WAS A KID.

WHEN IT COMES
TO MITCH MUSTAIN

ANY PERCEIVED CONFIDENCE
OR ARROGANCE IS MORE BASED

ON THE HUMAN INSECURITY
AND CERTAINTY

THAT WE ALL POSSESS.

[MUSTAIN]
THERE'S NO ATTEMPT
OF UNDERSTANDING.

IT'S JUST IGNORANCE.

IT'S HUMAN NATURE.
PEOPLE ARE DICKS.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY
SOME PEOPLE ARE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO--
THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO HURT.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRY
TO BE DAMAGING.

AND ONCE I ACCEPTED THAT,
IT TOOK ME A WHILE.

BUT ONCE YOU GET
YOU COME TO THE REALIZATION,
IT BECOMES A LOT EASIER.

THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE
HATE MITCH MUSTAIN,

IS A PATHETIC
COMMENTARY

ON WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE.
NOT ON HIM.

THEY LOVED MITCH MUSTAIN
WHEN HE TOOK THE FIELD

GETTING CRUSHED
BY USC IN THAT FIRST GAME.

YOU KNOW,
THEY CHANTED FOR MITCH.

BUT THEY WERE
QUICK TO BOO HIM
WHEN HE THREW

A CRITICAL
INTERCEPTION.

I DON'T PULL
THE SYMPATHY CARD,
I'VE MADE MY DECISIONS,

AND I'VE NEVER SAID
ANYTHING NEGATIVE
IN AN INTERVIEW.

I'VE NEVER ASKED
FOR ANY SYMPATHY
FROM ANYBODY.

MITCH MUSTAIN
SHOULD HAVE BEEN
AND SHOULD STILL BE

A HERO IN THE STATE
OF ARKANSAS.

HE DID WHAT EVERYONE
WANTED HIM TO DO.

HE STAYED IN THE STATE
OF ARKANSAS

AND TRIED TO DO
THE RIGHT THING,

AND YET IT STILL SEEMS
LIKE IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

-3 2 1.
-HELLO, THE AX.

[MAN CALLING IN]
YOUR BOY'S GOT THIS
MITCH MUSTAIN THING

-ALL WRONG.
-[DJ] OH WE HAVE IT
ALL WRONG?

OKAY, TELL US
WHAT WE HAVE WRONG.

[DJ #2]
I THINK THIS IS
MITCH MUSTAIN CALLING.

[ALL LAUGH]
SO WHAT IS DOING NOW?

-SHOOTING GUNS IN THE WOODS.
-IS THAT WHAT HE'S DOING?

-THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO.
-SELLING CARS.

THIS MITCH MUSTAIN
FELLER, HUH?

I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

I JUST DON'T GET,
WHY YOU WOULDN'T

BE A RAZORBACK THROUGH
AND THROUGH.

I'LL PLAY FOR THE DEVIL
IF I COULD BE A HOG.
I DON'T CARE.

IT WOULDN'T
BOTHER ME NONE.

WEARING THAT UNIFORM
AND RUNNING THROUGH THE "A."
OOIE!

I'D LOVE TO GET ME
SOME OF THAT.

[SCHAD]
IF YOU TELL YOURSELF
THAT SOMETHING ISN'T

THAT BIG A DEAL,
THEN IT WON'T BE

THAT BIG OF A LETDOWN
IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND IF YOU TELL
YOURSELF THAT SOMETHING

IS NOT THAT BIG
OF A DEAL AFTER THE FACT,

THEN REALLY YOU'RE
LIMITING THE DEPRESSION
YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE.

THERE WAS A TIME
WHERE IT REALLY WAS
JUST A MESS FOR ME.

AND IT REALLY STRUGGLING
WITH SOME THINGS.

AND ONE
OF THOSE DEALS,

I JUST HAD
TO GET SOME HELP.

AND SEE AND JUST
KIND OF HASH IT ALL OUT

AND REALLY DO
SOME REFLECTION ON IT.

I FELT LIKE THERE WAS
A LOT OF DEMONS TO EXERCISE
AND GET OUT THERE.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT,

BUT, IT, AH--
IT IS HELPFUL.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE ASHAMED OF IT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

[WOMAN]
WITH, WITH MITCH

HE MAY HAVE
HAD A PERIOD OF TIME

WHERE HE WAS SWEPT
INTO BEING THE ATHLETE

AND THEN
IT KIND OF TOOK A LIFE
OF ITS OWN, PERHAPS.

AND WHAT ABOUT BEING
AN ATHLETE WAS FUN?

WAS ANY OF IT FUN?
DID HE LIKE THROWING?

DID HE LIKE BEING
WITH THE GUYS?

DID HE LIKE
THE RITUAL OF IT?

DID HE LIKE
THE STRUCTURE OF IT?

AND TO SEE
IF HE CAN SEE BEYOND

WHAT THAT PARTICULAR
IDENTITY OR PERSONA WAS.

IT WAS JUST ONE WEEK AGO,
MITCH MUSTAIN HAD A TRYOUT
FOR A PRO BASEBALL TEAM.

HE DIDN'T THINK
MUCH ABOUT IT.

IF FACT, MITCH WAS
STILL PLANNING ON PLAYING
ARENA FOOTBALL THIS SPRING.

I LOVED PLAYING
IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND DIDN'T
GET TO PLAY.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE ITCH
TO GET BACK INTO BASEBALL.

[TV HOST]
AND SO HE'S PREPPING
TO POSSIBLY PITCH

PROFESSIONALLY.

I MEAN, IT'S ONE
OF THOSE THINGS I'VE WANTED
TO GET BACK INTO BASEBALL.

I'VE HAD THE RESOURCES
AND THE TIME TO DO IT
RIGHT NOW.

AND SO, IT'S A GOOD TIME.

I FIGURED I'LL DO IT
UNTIL THEY TELL ME

THEY DON'T WANT ME AROUND
AND THEY KICK ME OUT.

THAT WILL BE THAT.
BUT I'D HATE TO BE
SITTING AROUND

THINKING
ABOUT IT LATER ON.

[MATTINGLY]
AS A PERSON,
I JUST WISH THAT HE

COULD DO AWAY
WITH THIS IDENTITY
OF BEING

WHATEVER PEOPLE
HAVE HIM PEGGED AS.

IT'S SAD
BECAUSE I THINK

HE PROBABLY
STILL CARRIES THIS
AS HIS IDENTITY.

MOST OF OF US AREN'T
EVER GOING TO HAVE
TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE
TO CARRY AROUND MY IDENTITY
FROM WHEN I WAS 18.

[MUSTAIN]
THAT DOES DEFINE
A BIT OF WHO I AM.

BASEBALL WAS WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY FOR ME

FOR SEVERAL REASONS,
TO GET OUT OF IT.

TO GO DO
SOMETHING ELSE,
AND TO BE ABLE

TO RESHAPE
THE IDENTITY,
I GUESS

TO WHAT I WOULD THINK
WAS JUST REHAB THE IDENTITY
A LITTLE BIT.

I CHOSE TO DO IT,
BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED
IF I COULD STILL DO IT.

I JUST DIDN'T ENJOY BEING
IN THE GAME. IT WAS STATIC.

AND REALLY
FOR THE FIRST TIME
HAD THIS ITCH

TO BE MOVING AGAIN.

[TV HOST]
HE ATTENDED TWO COLLEGES,

WAS DRAFTED
BY THE CHICAGO
WHITE SOX

APPLIED TO THE MARINES.

PLAYED PROFESSIONAL
FOOTBALL IN CANADA

AND WORKED
IN A CAR DEALERSHIP.

THAT'S A LOT OF LIVING
FOR A 25 YEAR OLD

NAMED MITCH MUSTAIN.

I THINK HE'S
STILL WANTING TO PLAY
IN THE NFL,

I THINK HE STILL
HAS THIS IDEA THAT,
"HEY, IF I GO OUT THERE

AND DO GREAT THINGS
IN THE ARENA LEAGUE,

I CAN STILL BECOME
A WARNER, I CAN STILL GO
INTO THE NFL."

THERE WILL COME A DAY

WHERE I THINK I'LL KNOW
THAT THE TIME'S UP ON IT--

PRETTY SOON PROBABLY,

AND I'LL KNOW WHETHER
I'M GOING TO HAVE

A LEGITIMATE SHOT OR NOT.

THERE'S ALWAYS
THOSE FLYERS, KURT WARNER.

HE WAS A LOT OLDER
THAN I AM WHEN HE MADE IT.

I MEAN,
IF YOU WANT TO GO ON
AND TRY THESE THINGS,

AND GIVE BASEBALL A SHOT
AND ALL THAT.

THAT'S FINE.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF US,

WE GET LOST
IN AN EXCUSE IN OUR LIFE

AND WE JUST
KIND OF HANG OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW,
MY LIFE 20 YEARS
FROM NOW

MAY HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH SPORTS.

MAY HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH MILITARY,
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I MAY BE WALKING
THE HIMALAYAS SOMEWHERE,

BAREFOOT.
I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THERE
ARE TIMES WHERE MITCH
DIDN'T REALLY KNOW

WHO HE WAS
AND WHERE HE WANTED
TO BE.

WHAT HIS PASSION WAS
AND HOW HE WAS GONNA GET

TO WHERE HE WANTED TO BE.

LIKE MANY PEOPLE,

WANTED TO GIVE YOU WHAT
YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.

GOT THE FEELING
THAT YOU WANTED

TO HELP YOU BE HAPPY.

THERE IS SOME I FEEL
THAT I HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE.

TO MYSELF, TO-- TO--
TO EVERYBODY.

[NARRATOR]
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT,

THIS STORY'S NOT
REALLY A BIG DEAL.

A CAN'T MISS KID
TURNS INTO A BUST ALL THE TIME.

IT HAPPENS.

BUT THIS SHOULD
HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

I BLAME THE ADULTS.
I WOULD NEVER BLAME THE KIDS.

I DO THINK THEY WERE PUT
IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

HOUSTON NUTT,
THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
A WORSE PERSONALITY

MANAGING THIS SITUATION.

I THINK HOUSTON NUTT
PUTS MITCH MUSTAIN

AND GUS MALZAHN
IN THE SAME BOX.

AND HE PUT THEM
IN A BOX AND HE PUT IT
ON A SHELF

AND I THINK HE'D LIKE
TO LEAVE IT THERE.

[MUSTAIN]
I THINK WE STARTED
IN THE BOX,

WHAT LITTLE RECOURSE WE HAD
IF YOU EXERCISE IT

GETS SPLASHED ALL OVER ESPN

WITH WHATEVER NARRATIVE
THEY WANT TO PUT ON IT.

YOU DON'T LEAVE
SOMEBODY TO HANG

IN THE PUBLIC EYE
AND THAT BE IT,

BECAUSE YOU
LET THAT SPEAK.

( SOUND OF MUFFLED HEARTBEAT )

GUS MALZAHN HAS DONE THINGS
THROUGH OUT HIS COACHING CAREER

THAT MAKE YOU SHAKE
YOUR HEAD.

IT'S COMMON PRACTICE
FOR COACHES TO TAKE OTHER JOBS

AND NOT TELL THE PLAYERS
THEY'VE RECRUITED.

SO IT DOESN'T
REALLY STUN ME

THAT GUS DID WHAT HE FELT
HE NEEDED TO DO FOR HIM
AND HIS FAMILY.

GUS PUTS CONTROL FREAKS
TO SHAME.

WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD
CONSIDER AN INNER CIRCLE,
GUS HAS LESS THAN THAT.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT

HE DID HOLD
OUR BEST INTERESTS.

BUT I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN IT ALL BEGAN,
WITH BRINGING

EVERYBODY
FROM SPRINGDALE HERE,

I THINK YOU SET
A STANDARD OF

YOU'RE GONNA LET
OUTSIDE BEINGS

AT LEAST WEIGH IN
ON YOUR DECISION

ON HOW YOUR PROGRAM
IS GONNA BE RAN.

I'M AWARE OF DOZENS
AND DOZENS AND DOZENS

OF EXAMPLES
OF LITTLE LEAGUE PARENTS.

IT WAS VERY EASY
TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT

THAT WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITH THIS WOMAN,

BET CAMPBELL,
AND HER SON MITCH MUSTAIN.

AND I HAD THAT VIEW AT ONE TIME
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW 'EM.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE
THIS CONCEPTION

THAT SHE'S JUST SOME
CRAZY PSYCHO WOMAN

THAT DEMANDS THINGS
OR HER CHILDREN,

AND, YOU KNOW,
WANTS EVERYTHING
HANDED TO THEM,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU LOOK IT WAS ONLY

THAT SEVEN MONTH
PERIOD OF TIME, YOU KNOW,

FROM THE START OF THE SEASON
THROUGH JANUARY, I GUESS,

THAT PEOPLE
WERE SAYING THAT SHE DID
STUFF LIKE THAT.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE
A TRACK RECORD,
IN HIGH SCHOOL

OF GOING UP THERE
AND DEMANDING THINGS
FROM GUS.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY RECORD AFTER THAT

WHEN MITCH
WENT OUT TO USC.

SHE WAS NEVER KNOCKING
ON PETE CARROLL'S DOOR
OR LANE KIFFIN'S DOOR

DEMANDING
THAT MITCH GO IN MORE.

HE PLAYED
ONE GAME OUT THERE.

[VOIGT]
IT'S ALWAYS
THE SIMPLEST EXCUSE,

THAT PEOPLE WANT
THE SIMPLEST REASON
FOR SOMETHING.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THE EASIEST
DEFINITION,

THE EASY WAY OUT.
"OH, THAT PERSON'S CRAZY."

[NARRATOR]
IN THE END,
WE ALL HAD A HAND

IN THE IDENTITY THEFT
OF MITCH MUSTAIN.

AND NOW THAT THE DUST
HAS SETTLED,

THE ONLY THING
THAT DIVIDES US

IS WHETHER OR NOT
WE OWN UP TO IT.

I LIKE TO HAVE
THE INDIVIDUAL THINK
ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN

IN THE PAST,
EVEN BEFORE THEY BECAME
AN ATHLETE.

WHAT DID THEY USED
TO LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?
WHAT WERE THEIR ASPIRATIONS?

WHAT WERE THEIR DREAMS?
WHO WERE THEIR HEROES?

AND THEIR WILDEST DREAMS,
IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT,

IF FAMILY WERE NO OBJECT,
WHAT WOULD THEY WANT TO DO?

YEAH, I MEAN,
I REMEMBER READING THAT ARTICLE

ABOUT MATT BARKLEY
AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT
IT ALL CAME TOGETHER.

AND I REALIZED,
THIS WASN'T IT.

THEY TALKED
ABOUT WHEN HE WAS
WHAT, EIGHT,

AND HE MAKES A VIDEO
FOR HIS GRANDMOTHER'S
BIRTHDAY,

TALKING ABOUT HOW HE'S
GOING TO BE THE QUARTERBACK
AT USC.

AND THIS, THAT,
AND THE OTHER...

YOU KNOW, IT HIT REALLY
FOR THE FIRST TIME AT POINT

THAT WE SORTA
TAPPED ON BEFORE,

BUT I HADN'T REALLY
FELT OR BELIEVED,

AND THAT WAS THE FACT THAT,
YOU KNOW,

YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T--
IT WASN'T MY DREAM.

AND, YOU KNOW,
FOR ALL THE TIMES
I SPENT WONDERING,

WHAT AM I MISSING?

WHY DO I NOT FEEL
AS INVESTED IN THIS?

OR WHY--

WHY DO I FEEL LIKE
I'M MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

THAT WAS THE MOMENT
IT WOULD ALL KINDA
CAME TOGETHER.

I REALLY STARTED KINDA
REWINDING THROUGH MY LIFE

AND WONDERING, IF PERHAPS,
I MISSED THE TURN,

YOU KNOW, WHERE I--
I REALLY WAS REALLY MEANT TO BE.

AND THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, AGAIN,

I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY.

I DON'T THINK
HUMANS IN GENERAL,

BUT CERTAINLY I KNOW
I DON'T MYSELF--

I DON'T HAVE THE INSIGHT TO--

I DON'T HAVE THE WISDOM
TO SAY--

YES OR NO TO DEFINITIVELY,
THAT I'M IN THE WRONG PLACE.

AND I'M-- I...

THINK, YOU KNOW,
I HESITATE TO SAY THAT.

[NARRATOR]
WHEN MITCHELL SIGNED UP
TO FIRST PLAY FOOTBALL,

HE WAS SIGNING UP
FOR A RELATIONSHIP

THAT WOULD END BAD.

THE GAME WILL ALWAYS
OUTLIVE THE ATHLET.

AND FOR MITCHELL...

SOME HABITS DIE HARD.

PERHAPS,
IT'S AN ADDITION.

OR PERHAPS
IT'S JUST HOPE.

* LONG BEFORE THE END

* BEFORE THE SKY WAS GRAY

* WE WERE INNOCENT

* SO YOUNG,
SO STRONG AND BRAVE *

* THE WORLD HAD JUST BEGAN

* WE WERE YET KINGS
AND QUEENS *

* BUT AUTUMN TOOK THE SUN

* AND WITH IT
SUMMERS DREAM *

* NOW TRY FORGETTING

* BUT IT WON'T LET ME GO

* AND TIME MOVES SLOW

* FOR WARRANT DREAMS SOULS

* OUR FATHERS
NEVER CARED TO SHOW *

* WHERE TOMORROW GOES

* ( VOCALIZING )

* I DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT WENT *

* A DREAM I THOUGHT WAS MINE

* BUT QUICKLY
DAYS WERE SPENT *

* ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE

* AND NOW THIS DREAM

* IS ALL THAT I CAN HEAR

* AND TEARS TO MELODY

* STILL WAITING
ALL THESE YEARS *

* AND I TRY FORGETTING

* BUT IT WON'T LET ME GO

* AND TIME MOVES SLOW

* FOR ONE DREAM SOULS

* AND OUR FATHER'S
NEVER CARED TO SHOW *

* WHERE TOMORROW GOES

* AND NOW I START TO SEE

* BEHIND THE STORIES
TOLD TO ME *

* THAT ALL MY FATHER'S SINS

* HIS FATHER GAVE TO HIM

* AND TIME MOVES SLOW

* FOR ONE DREAM SOULS

* THE ONE THING
WE WILL NEVER KNOW *

* IS THIS TIME MOVES SLOW

* FOR WONDERING SOULS

* OUR FATHER'S
NEVER CARED TO SHOW *

* WHERE TOMORROW GOES.

* ( VOCALIZING )