Video Shines Light on Everything Right About Pittman, Big Thing Wrong About Last Season

Pittman's creative way of answering question summed up his relationship with one recurring theme of the season

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Feb 8, 2023 5:43 PM EST
Original:
Feb 8, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – While spending Wednesday morning combing through press conferences from Arkansas coach Eric Musselman and Kentucky coach John Calipari following an 88-73 Razorback win in Rupp Arena, YouTube suggested watching a different press conference for a brain break.

The clip feels so long ago that I forgot we had even posted it. It's a clip of Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman addressing the media after a difficult win over Bobby Petrino and Missouri State in Razorback Stadium the third week of the season.

Much like would be the case throughout most of the year, there was that one question of "The offense put up a ton of numbers, but what about this head scratcher of an offensive call that could have put Arkansas at risk of losing or did cost Arkansas a chance to win the game" that came up.

Arkansas got the win, but it was easy to see that PIttman was already getting tired of having to answer for play calls on offense, so he answered it in the way that fits him best. A little bit of biting humor.

In this particular instance, the call was a run play on 4th & 9 in the second quarter at the Missouri State 39-yard line with the Razorbacks trailing 17-7.

Reporter: "You mentioned that fourth down call where you ran it on 4th & 9. What happened there?"

Pittman: "Well, we ran it on 4th and 9 is exactly what happened. He turned around, he handed the ball, and he ran in there for about five. And then he official come up and he goes [signaling first down] 'The other way' and Missouri State's team came out and they started hauling butt down the field."

Pittman went on to attempt to explain the particulars behind the choice before giving up on having to defend the call.

Pittman: "It didn't work and that's the honest to goodness truth. I wish I could tell you that we had a pass on and something happened. That's the truth though. It didn't work."

Clearly, Pittman's intention was to deflect with humor. However, there was no doubt to the tinge of annoyance in his voice.

By late November, answering those questions had worn him down.

Once December rolled around, PIttman's physical appearance and demeanor was so concerning that I called for change in how the NCAA handles the end of the season before something bad happens.

It was a story I started writing a week before it was finally published. In it, I wrote specifically out of genuine high levels of concern for Pittman.

The story was rightfully held and updated because the day before it was to be published, we got a tip out of Mississippi a few hours before everything became public that Mike Leach had been rushed to the hospital.

A couple of days later Leach passed away and I had to add "Attend Mike Leach's funeral with Hunter Yurachek" and a few minor adjustments to the overwhelming list of things Pittman had to do the first half of December.

It is my hope that Pittman's humor will return next fall.

Replacing Briles with Dan Enos will at least go a long way toward eliminating weekly questions like "Can you talk about the decision to direct snap it to the tight end near the goal line instead of letting your 240 pound quarterback or stable of future NFL draft picks at running back try to take it in?"

Pittman's comedic timing, self-deprication and energy with a vibe of the dude down the street with the nice garden who gives out big candy bars at Halloween are what endeared him to Arkansas and the college football world.

There have been a lot of changes this year both in roster and staff. Hopefully those changes will be what is needed to bring the man Pittman was back for good.