Houston Nutt feels vindicated after Ole Miss responds to allegations

Hugh Freeze was adamant that none of the NCAA violations facing Ole Miss would be attributed to his tenure, but he was proven wrong.

With the acknowledgement Friday that nine of the 13 violations facing the Rebels' football program took place under Freeze's watch, his predecessor has been left with some sense of vindication.

"It's the most frustrating thing there is, to be on the sidelines and hear your name keep getting mentioned and mentioned," Houston Nutt told FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman. "It's hurtful. It makes you mad. I don't have a major violation in 30 years of coaching."

Nutt has been waiting for his next job since he was fired by Ole Miss at the end of the 2011 season following a 2-10 campaign. The 58-year-old said he hopes to return to coaching sooner rather than later, though his name isn't often mentioned as a candidate to fill vacancies around the nation.

While the NCAA's notice of allegations against Ole Miss put Freeze under the proverbial bus, it didn't completely clear the Nutt regime of any wrongdoing. Four allegations are still tied to Nutt's tenure, including allegations of academic fraud orchestrated by two assistant coaches.

Nutt spent four seasons with the Rebels and posted a 24-26 record over that span. His recruiting habits, which included oversigning, was a frequent topic of controversy when he was at the helm of the Rebels.

Prior to his stint at Ole Miss, Nutt coached 10 seasons at Arkansas. Overall, Nutt amassed a 135-96 record at Murray State, Boise State, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.