Austin, Texas ? Texas coach Mack Brown is staying away from the psychobabble heading into today’s game at Arkansas.

Before last year’s home game against the Razorbacks, Brown showed his team a picture of Arkansas coach Houston Nutt flashing a downward hook ’em horns sign in the closing minutes of the Razorbacks’ 27-6 victory against Texas in the 2000 Cotton Bowl.

Brown also had defensive line coach Mike Tolleson, a former assistant at Arkansas, give a fiery speech to last year’s team about how the Razorbacks would turn any football game against Texas into a holy war.

After all that, Arkansas won, 38-28.

So, even though Brown could show his team several photos of Arkansas players flashing downward hook ’em horns signs in the north end zone of Royal-Memorial Stadium last year, he won’t do it.

“We did everything like that last year, so we’re not going to do anything like that this year,” Brown said. “The loss last year should speak for itself.”

The loss ended Texas’ 20-game home winning streak, exposed UT’s run defense as soft and dropped Brown to 0-2 against Nutt. Of the coaches Brown has faced more than once since coming to Texas in 1998, he has a losing record against only two: Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops (1-4) and Nutt.

Nutt has a reputation as a great motivator. Brown has a reputation as a great recruiter. Nutt played on that reputation Monday when talking about today’s game against Texas.

“I think the main thing we try to stress each time we play Texas is they are a team with a lot of All-Americans, Parade All-Americans and top recruiting classes,” Nutt said. “Coach Brown does a great job. We tell our players, ‘You will always be the underdog when you play Texas, and everyone is depending on you to come through. So roll up your sleeves and get to work.”‘

Texas coach Mack Brown pulls off his headset before questioning a call. Brown hopes to earn his first victory against rival Arkansas today in Fayetteville, Ark.

Brown said Nutt doesn’t get enough credit for recruiting top high school talent. Brown added that Arkansas, despite losing four underclassmen to the NFL draft and 24 seniors from last season, should be ranked in the top 10.

“Their players are as good as ours,” said Brown, whose team remained No. 7 in the AP poll after a 65-0 victory over North Texas last weekend.

Arkansas (1-0) failed to crack the poll after beating New Mexico State, 63-13.

Arkansas players say Nutt is a constant source of energy. But they notice even a different intensity during Texas week. Maybe it’s because Nutt played quarterback for the Razorbacks in 1976 in the last matchup of coaching legends Darrell Royal of Texas and Frank Broyles of Arkansas.

“As far as motivation, coach Nutt is real high-energy, but he never just says something for effect,” said Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones, the only returning starter on offense from last year’s 9-4 team. “He believes what he’s saying. It’s not fake. That’s what helps his players relate to him.”

Brown has a simple explanation for why Arkansas has beaten Texas in the last two meetings:

The Razorbacks have been more physical. Arkansas scored 14 points off three UT turnovers and ran for 265 yards while defeating then-fifth-ranked Texas last year. Several UT players said they underestimated Arkansas in 2003 and won’t do it again.

“Last year, they came in here and just ran the ball down our throat,” Brown said. “Both games have been disappointing for us.