Second in a series previewing SEC football teams.

HOOVER, Ala. — Houston Nutt found himself in familiar surroundings Thursday, but there was something different about his 11 th consecutive appearance at SEC football media days.

The dark blue suit and red tie Nutt wore looked like what he has donned for official duties as Arkansas’ coach, but a closer inspection revealed a small “Ole Miss” pin on the left lapel of his jacket.

Nutt is getting ready for his first season as the Rebels’ coach after a 10-year run at Arkansas, which ended Nov. 26 when he resigned under pressure.

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“After 10 years, we knew it was time to go,” said Nutt, who had a 75-48 record at Arkansas with eight bowl teams, but ultimately too many off-the-field distractions. “What’s great is that I was fortunate enough to get to Ole Miss.

“ You’re proud to stay in the SEC. I love the SEC.”

A few hours after holding a news conference in Fayetteville to announce he was leaving, Nutt had been hired at Ole Miss, the Razorbacks’ SEC West rival.

“It was a fast hire, but I would have done the same thing if I had Coach Nutt in the picture,” Ole Miss senior offensive tackle Michael Oher said. “We just took it and ran with it and haven’t slowed down one bit.”

Nutt, a Little Rock native, will bring the Rebels to Fayetteville to face Arkansas on Oct. 25.

“It will be a little different coming in from the other side,” Nutt said. “But that game is a long ways away. We’ve got a lot of football to play between now and then.”

Nutt said it didn’t seem strange to be at SEC media days representing Ole Miss instead of Arkansas.

“It feels like I’ve been [at Ole Miss ] a long time,” he said. “It’s the way I feel right now... I think because of the transition. It’s been so smooth.

“ I feel re-energized. We’ve got a lot of passion going on right now.

“ I know we haven’t played a game yet, but you just feel good about it.”

Nutt replaced Ed Orgeron, a former Arkansas graduate assistant who was 10-25 in three seasons at Ole Miss, including 3-21 in the SEC.

Orgeron signed some highly rated recruited classes but was doomed by Ole Miss’ 0-8 SEC record last season.

The Rebels return 16 starters, and sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead, a transfer from Texas who didn’t want to be Colt Mc-Coy’s backup, is ready to lead the offense after redshirting last year after transferring.

“There is some [talent ] here,” Nutt said. “Our problem is we’ve got to build a mind-set of winning. Our guys didn’t win a game in the SEC last year, but they’re awfully hungry. They’ve had a tremendous work ethic and attitude.”

Ole Miss senior defensive tackle Peria Jerry said it doesn’t seem odd to be playing for a coach whose Arkansas teams were 7-3 against the Rebels, including 38-3 and 44-8 victories the past two years.

“That really doesn’t mean anything to me,” Jerry said. “We’re just proud to have him with us now.

“ I think Coach Nutt is a perfect fit. He can turn things around for us.”

But Nutt said the key to a turnaround is the players.

“That’s one of the things we really talked hard to our players about, that just because you’ve got new coaches... doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to win,” Nutt said. “You guys are the ones out there blocking and tackling.

“ We look good in a uniform, but there’s a whole lot more to that in 60 minutes that you have to execute.”

Nutt, whose first Arkansas team finished 9-3, said he’s not looking for a gradual rebuilding process at Ole Miss because it would be unfair to the seniors.

“We’re not built that way,” Nutt said. “Our staff is built to let’s go, let’s go as hard as we can, and let’s go right now.”

Next: Arkansas