Apparently, Pittman will Be Around for Another Week
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek hasn't made any sort of announcement as of early Sunday evening about coach Sam Pittman's status. Apparently, social media reports just after noon about any sort of firing were just another example of everybody has a cousin or friend that knows something.
We'll issue the standard disclaimer here: Until there is an official announcement from the UA everything else is speculation. Somebody else can handle that. I simply know what my sources are saying, but I also know the crack sports information staff put out the weekly media availability with a couple of interesting things:
1. The noon press conference is scheduled as usual with Pittman being the coach listed as being the feature. That has a way out for everybody involved if Yurachek walks in and makes some sort of announcement, but it's not expected.
2. For the third week in a row there is no media viewing at any practices. Since they've had a week where they played decently (Florida win) and a complete disaster (Auburn loss) that simply means they don't want any distractions. They will continue to operate behind a veil of secrecy.
The fact we haven't heard anything shouldn't be that surprising. When Yurachek finally put the Chad Morris Era out of its two-year misery is one of the few times we see a coach dismissed before the last game. They even waited until Bret Bielema lost his last game before firing him as he came off the field, although there are still reports he likely had a good idea it was coming.
Pittman may already know what's coming. It's highly doubtful the subject hasn't been discussed by his agent or directly. It probably won't be an acrimonious breakup. He can finish the last two games against Florida International and Missouri, take a settlement slightly below the actual buyout number then draw a check every month for a few years, go to the house on Lake Hamilton and have a cold one.
If Yurachek doesn't always keep a working list of possible replacements for any scenario, then he's not doing his job, either, but that is highly doubtful. He probably knows who is a pipe dream, who might be interested and the folks who would take the job if it was offered. The rest of it is negotiation. It wouldn't be surprising later to learn that's been going on awhile.
HOGS FEED:
RAZORBACKS' CHOICE OF WHAT TO WATCH AT HALFTIME DOWN 27-3 MAY HAVE SAID IT ALL
DID SAM PITTMAN JUST HAVE HIS WESTERN KENTUCKY MOMENT?
MAKHI MITCHELL'S STEADY PERFORMANCE IN HOGS' WIN NOTICED BY ERIC MUSSELMAN, TEAMMATES
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