Pittman Tells Memphis Reporter He Needs to Step Up His Beer Game

Even when it comes to taking in a cold one, Arkansas coach isn't going to take political easy way out, demands better

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jul 19, 2023 3:24 PM EDT

In this story:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There were plenty of comedic moments where Arkansas coach Sam Pittman shined through at SEC media days on Wednesday. He absolutely blew away all of his head coaching counterparts at the SEC Network desk with his awe shucks, just hanging out having a good time with the boys banter. But now, a bit of that nature has started to creep into the most uncomfortable place for the Arkansas coach – at the podium.

Known as a man who keeps it real without coming off as mean, Pittman handled a few questions in a way that jokingly jabbed back at the media in attendance. He had a fun back and forth with a reporter he thought was named Garth Brooks and questioned whether he had even been asked a question at one point. However, the coach who is known as the SEC coach fans would most like to have a beer with didn't miss a beat when a Memphis area reporter threw in a plug for a specific brand of beer that Pittman apparently tried back in his assistant coaching days, but no longer cared for now that he is in a better place in life.

"You famously said coming off the field after a big Razorback win one time, how you were going to celebrate," the reporter said. "'I think I'm going to go home and have me a cold beer.' Would that ever include a Hamm's beer?"

Not the most well known of the many beer brands, Hamm's beer markets itself as a premium beer, yet sells at $16.99 for a 30 pack at Target. For comparison, Natural Light, affectionately referred to as Natty Light among the college crowd that doesn't have the funds to typically afford beer, sells for $20-$23.

Arkansas may have been the Hamm's beer of college football when Pittman arrived, but he has since managed to get everyone around him to raise their standards. Not one to follow the political way of going about things, Pittman extended a bit of his persuasive magic to the reporter in question, encouraging him to raise his game also.

"I like an old Hamm beer, but you burp a lot afterwards," Pittman said holding back a wry smile that would eventually break through. "You seem like you got a good job, man. Step it up a little bit."