Join HawgSports.com publisher Trey Biddy as he exits Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and walks off Arkansas' 44-20 win over the FIU Panthers Saturday night.
247Sports sources say Sam Pittman to return as Arkansas football coach, as Razorbacks AD Hunter Yurachek informs team: 247sports.com/college/arkansas/article/arkansas-football-ad-told-team-sam-pittman-will-return-to-team-next-season-per-matt-zenitz--220803077/
Yurachek deserves the Jeff Long treatment. Hunter’s fault he gave this dolt a huge pay day because he managed to pull a rabbit out of his hat once. Arkansas is in for another 4-8 season next year, but will be even more irrelevant. The only time I have ever felt like the administration was willing to do the right thing to save the program was the day they fired Chad Morris, only to follow up with the incredibly underwhelming hire of Pittman, as if the athletic department had learned nothing from the last time they made such a weak, underwhelming statement by hiring Morris.
And I wish I could say that I'm super-excited and pumped that Pittman will be back next year...but I can't say that. Like I said, stuck between a rock (keeping Pittman--meh) and a hard place (starting over again--ugh.) I guess "meh" is better than "ugh." I guess.
I'm not investing anymore time and money on the Football team. Thanks Hunter! Im curious what happens if the economy gets worse how are you going to fill the stands? Real question
Combine that with the fact that they completely Miss evaluated the offensive line Talent we had on campus and you have a problem we're seeing right now
He runs like Fred Talley use to. We had Cedric Cobbs that was super muscular and could run sub 4.4 forty. Ced was either hurt or dancing in the hole and not making big yards. Talley would hit the hole hard and bounce around like a marble occasionally breaking a huge run but always getting at least 5 yards. Rocket w b great on a team with a big O line that creates an initial lane, but can’t run with this type of line.
@@RazorbaXThere were not 61K people there. Maybe 61K tickets sold, but not physically there. Interesting to see if they release how many people actually scanned to enter the game…my guess is more like 25-30k.
Trey, this W&T pretty much sums up a lot of the fans' feelings right now. It's all beyond our control at this point, we have no input on any solution, and there's nothing left to express but apathy towards where the football program is.
@@JRC_86 Apparently, the SEC money is now enough to balance out the half-empty stadium, unsold merchandise, dwindling donations,, etc. For sure, the fan support has less importance to a program than it once did.
I don't know if I agree with the fact that one side costs a lot of money in one side doesn't. If we have 30 to 40,000 at the games next year and have a season like this again some of those fans might not come back for quite some time or not at all
It’s hard to believe how this season went and the outlook of the team being where it is. The fans really like Pittman for who he is as a person generally speaking. Losing can turn everything against someone so fast. I know a lot of people are resigned and have their minds made up, but I think whether or not Pittman returns depends on if they beat Missouri, and the way things look in terms of recruiting. Arkansas has and I can’t stress enough they absolutely H A V E to start leveling up to other schools NIL incentives. There is abundance but very few decide whether or not that’s worth spending
I’m with you Trey. Poor play and bad decisions and not winning hurts recruiting. A head coach saying “He got out coached on more than one occasion” is hurting recruiting. It’s not the sports media. Hunter & Sam need to do a joint statement with no questions and say that Sam is our coach and he won’t be fired and then walk off. Sam blaming the news media is wrong on his part.
Love Sam.....have zero idea whats going to happen at this point. Auburn game changed alot of things for me...the lack of effort....the laughing etc with opposing players after they just beat you down at your place...made we wonder what is going on exactly. I assume your opinion is the same Trey on job security ....we will see I guess. Id say if he beats mizzou hes def back....another auburn performance and hes gone....jmo. WPS
@@KingofDiamonds85🤣😂 Put that crack pipe down. Based on what? Our "thrashing" of FIU? Or was it last week's beatdown at the hands of Auburn that is leading you to this delusional thinking. Don't set yourself for the disappointment bro
It's what does it mean by blowing it up. Like if he can fix some things up front on offense and have many key players back, especially on defense, what could next year look like? 23 of the 24 starters have eligibility left. Or is he just not the guy and it won't matter.
@@HawgSports Do you think Auburn regrets firing Harsin and bringing in Freeze? Is Tennessee better with Heupel than the guy he replaced? Dykes took TCU to title game. Hard to believe a new coach would do worse than 4-8 as long as you don't rehire Morris.
What bad ass offensive coordinator would come to this situation to work under this coach amid this toxic attitude in the fan base with a program that is only 3 games better than Vandy over the past 11 year sample size? It would take some unprecedented guarantee for an assistant coach and even that might not be enough. How much money do you need in salary to put your entire career in jeopardy?
Sam needs to take responsibility for this team. Fans doesn’t want to see what happened last week and then you expect that stadium to be full the next. No! The fans deserve better. It’s their hard earned money that’s being spent and wasted to see a team with no heart and a coach that doesn’t know what he’s doing. Coaches are being paid to win, not look what I did 2-3 years ago. He was supposed to be the best O-line in the country and a great recruiter and none of that has happened. I don’t keep spending money on something that doesn’t work and neither does anyone else.
Nobody wants instant gratification, i think we just want improvement. This team has slid backwards the past 2 years with no indication of getting better.
Well stated. As a guy like myself whose been around since the 1950s, played football since the 60s and 70s...seen a lot of coaches. And I know what is a good head coach, and one who is just not . And this fan base is so excuse ridden and undiscerning it is just why it is the way it is; mediocre. That's what next year will look like.
We are also going to struggle next year with Pittman. Teams quit on Pittman. We have clearly seen that the last two years. They quit because the team has no discipline. Pittman may now be spurring the team with rhetoric about saving him as their coach. If so, I hope that spurs them next week past Missouri. However saving Pittman's job will not work very long next year with this team. Then it is again back to mediocre bad football. Bad football is the future with Pittman.
I think there's a couple ways to look at it. Do they get thrashed at home by Missouri Friday or do they battle? Next season needs to be special or there won't be any 'what should be done?' Everyone will without a doubt know.
@@HawgSports Who would possibly expect Ark to have a satisfying year next year if Pittman returns? At the very best it would be about 6-6 but I'd wouldn't even bet for that.
Arkansas is finished like alot of schools... college football has changed forever with the portal and NIL.. Pittman needs to stay and you die hard need to accept a 7-5 season as a great year.. You've never gotten 5 🌟 players and it's definitely not happening now with you wanting to fire a coach every 2-3 years because you didn't go to 6 bowl
@@brianstewart9470 Maybe so. Time will tell. The NIL & Transfer Portal are innovations very new to college football. Not time yet where judgements as you make can be set in stone. Whatever? This fan base will never be satisfied with 7-5 seasons as great years. Pittman will be fired next year by Yurachek or a new AD. Yurachek has now publicly backed Pittman for another season. Yurachek has made a Jeff Long type bad decision.
I don’t buy the theory that hiring a new coach automatically dooms you to failure the first year. Look at what Lou Holtz, Kenny Hatfield, Houston Nutt did their first years.
One thing to remember about attendance is that a lot of students are home. My daughter’s classes were cancelled for the upcoming Thanksgiving week so she was home and we (her parents) weren’t going to go to the game with her home. I love seeing Bud Walton Hall on the Walk and Talk. I lived and was an RA there while I was in school (Graduated 1999). It’s cool hearing kids give you the “I love you! I love the show!” That’s who we are. That’s what we’re about as Hog fans.
@@LrTiger24 Where in my statement did I allege that if more students had been there it would have been a 60k + crowd? I think I only commented that it had some impact on attendance. In our situation, our daughter not being there meant that 4 people weren’t there (her, my son, my wife, and me). Multiply that by other families and it had some impact.
I want to say this only 3 teams have been able to satisfy their fans this season and two of those could have went badly if not for 61 yard field goal and the return of benched QB. So hang in there and support Sam I'm a Kentucky fan nobody's happy about our season, it's been tuff year for most others in this league just look around.
Gee all we got to look forward to is being frickin spoilers AAgain ! I’ve been an Arkansas razorback fan for over 30 years and I’ve come to the realization that as far as football is concerned, we can only compete on a national level about every 11 years…. Thank the good Lord --basketball season is upon us !! WPS 🐷 Alumni ‘87
I agree. My concern would be if he's the one keeping Sam from being fired and things don't go well he could be collateral damage. TV $ from football pays for other sports. Fans of each school want to see all of their teams games, but the general public and TV wants interesting, competitive games. At some point weaker conferences members may be pushed out of the picture. And how long are we going to be able to keep Muss? @@mrwoods12
I’ve been wanting a change with our head hog since I watched Liberty come in here and whoop us. The BYU game sealed it for me this season regardless however finished. If we get blown out Friday Sam is gone. Danny Ford vibes with Sam and of course old Bert. I’m still scratching my head why we didn’t hire Mike Norvell 🤷♂️🤦♂️
Thanks again for the walk and talk I always enjoy it I was glad to see the younger players come in and show what they can do I hope we beat missouri but will be hard to do
During Norvell's interview it was brought up about him sending a lady D pics and Mike got pissed and abruptly walked out, he believed it to be a personal matter, he had wanted the Arkansas job for several years at the time.
We need two separation receivers and an improved o line. The Isiah’s can be quality players. Health of the team is a key issue. Lost 2 running backs in one quarter. Get that stupid trophy back.
It's been a strange and disappointing season to say the least, but win or lose if they make a good stand against Missouri, I think Sam Pittman will be the coach next season, and it'll probably be for the best right now.
The culture with the team and the lemon coaching our O line currently just aren't doing it, and Sam doesn't have the IQ to be the HC when the games need him to have it.
With a move to the 12 team playoff next year, the “next level” is more attainable than ever. So if Pittman isn’t the guy, then you’re just delaying any shot you have at getting in the field. Based on the current talent level and recruiting class, it’s pretty clear Arkansas isn’t close to the top tier schools in this league.
Yah he is. It’s crazy how the announcers said Pittman was told by Yurachek he has another season. Then he says in the presser that he has not talked to Yurachek about his job security and he did not have a 2 hour conversation with him like the guy said. Hmmm
@@brettwalker4915 I might have to listen to it again, but I don't think he said he didn't have the conversation with Hunter. I think he said he never told those announcers anything (They said he told them)
@@brettwalker4915 Yurachek was sitting in on that press conference after the game. If Pittman was definitely returning, Yurachek could have just stood up and said so. I still expect him to be fired next Saturday after the Missouri game on Friday.
Usually the year where everyone says it’s the year. Usually aren’t. Next year will be better. Arkansas will be fine and Sam Pittman will get us to the next level. I believe in him. Go Hogs!!! Beat Mizzou!!!
There is no next level. Hog football is at the very bottom already. Pittman is a disgrace! Way worse than Chad Morris. Why do think NOBODY gave this Bozo a head coaching job in the last 30 years of his coaching career! They all knew he is not head coaching material!! Hope the AD wakes up next year after another clown show team wins 4 games and finally fires this good ole boy Bozo. FIRE PITTMAN. FIRE PITTMAN. FIRE PITTMAN.
I think we just overvalued the team this year. KJ being people’s pick for the best SEC quarterback and a sneaky heisman before the season started is a prime example of that.
Tired of the delusional Pittman defenders. If we are stuck with their turd for another season, he needs to put his money where his mouth is. Do what Harbaugh did. Agree to a pay cut and reduced buyout. Sam knows he doesn’t deserve $6 million a year.
Sam’s biggest fault is his favoritism, playing Dubinion instead of Augustave, playing Latham and Clark as starters, ad nauseum. Retaining Cody Kennedy as OL despite his inability to field even a mediocre offensive line. We all get that Sam is a good human being but he is in way over his head as a head coach.
Pittman has to go. There is no need need to tie the next coach up with Sam's players. If we are being honest Sam took steps backwards in year three and four it's time to end this experiment.
You did fine, Trey. Not a lot to say about the game. Nice that we won, but it was kinda empty & anticlimactic. Sam is not the guy, but you can't say that.
Arkansas should move to the Sun Belt conference they have proven they can not compete very well in the SEC which is only going to get stronger next year.
This defense is worth building on. To keep those coaches you have to keep coach. And defense like that don't come often. Yes, they could be better. And the offense well come. These young ones- linemen well be better. And coach can get some ,he knows what he's looking for. Just hope they can be found and come. This team isn't that far away from being a very good team. Like the back up quarterbacks and the running backs. A reciever or two and those returning ends can be strong. NOT THE TIME FOR CONFUSION! Time to see the future.
Hate to say it given all of Pittman's negatives this year but I have to agree on this point... Aside from the Auburn game and second half against LSU, the defensive staff have had their guys fired up. If a new coach comes in (unless it's Malzahn, which seems unlikely) TWill and Woodson are almost definitely gone. Yurachek has probably taken that into consideration in making his decision on Pittman's status. Good defense is hard to come by in college these days, and a total house cleaning at Arkansas would make things worse on that side of the ball in 2024. Success on defense depends a lot on continuity and chemistry. Look at Colorado: Prime's totally rebuilt roster didn't really have time to gel in one off-season, especially on defense, and it showed in the miserable defensive stats all year. If Pittman gets canned and the defensive staff isn't retained by the new HC, we would likely be looking at a massive portal exodus and a defense in 2024 ranked in the low 100s nationally.
I watch everything about the razorbacks. Love Hawg Sports and Trey BUT Sams recent comments about the press and him not being the coach etc and it hurting recruiting- my answer is what hurts recruiting is the win loss record
So now Pittman's getting snippy about the "fire his a** rumors" and how they're hurting recruiting blahblahblah. Yeah, well, too bad so sad for him but at the end of the day the results on the field are what count. Am I supposed to be impressed we beat a lesser team by 24 pts? We were SUPPOSED to beat them. And that first quarter...sheesh. (And Auburn, which completely throttled us last Saturday, turned around and got throttled at home by New Mexico State yesterday. New Mexico State!! How does THAT make us look?) Now we're 4-7. Big whoop. I'm must kind of apathetic about this team at this point. Even beating Mizzou--highly unlikely as they are rolling at 9-2 and have owned us for most of the past decade--won't undo this disappointing season. I was on the way to apathy after that Miss St game but that hideous performance last week against Auburn did me in. And keeping Pittman? Meh. I'm not in favor of it. I do not think he's an SEC-level coach. But getting rid of him means starting over...again. Ugh. We're stuck between a rock and hard place.
The state of Arkansas doesn’t have the resources to complete with NIL . Plus the fan base and state are mostly disinterested due to 20 yrs od dismal teams
I have liked Coach Pittman from day one and still do. However, this year should have been our year… 1. Year 4 under Coach Pittman should been “The Year” for us to see exactly what he can produce with HIS players. 2. Year 4 of Coach Pittman just happened to line up with a year where the West was very winnable. Based I these two points, this should have been, “The Year Of The Hog!”… but it wasn’t. For these reasons I just don’t see Sam being successful by himself. I believe we are missing Odom way more than we may have ever thought. If we don’t hire an offensive coordinator that will be, or has been a head coach, we will not see success under Sam. I hate it for him, but after the major let down that was this season, I just don’t see Sam taking our program to a level of success that most Hog fans will be happy with.
I wanted to keep Sam before this game I still want to keep him after I hope he gets another year I don't want to watch a new coach come in and be trash for 2years before we have a chance to be even decent again this is my opinion I know most ppl want him gone
I always laugh when nearly every SEC fan base (excluding Georgia and Alabama) starts screaming “FIRE THE COACH” after a few bad games or one bad season. Okay! Great! Let’s fire the coach!! Now… who are we going to hire? “Uh…. well we didn’t think about that.” Exactly. Other than Kirby Smart and Nick Saban, there isn’t a single football coach in America that would be a guaranteed successful hire. Literally no one. Lincoln Riley was supposed to make USC a super power again. How’s that going? Hugh Freeze is a genius!! Oh really? Why did they lose as a 25 1/2 pt favorite at home to New Mexico State 31-10 yesterday? Lane Kiffin!! Lane led his Rebels into Athens last week and got absolutely DESTROYED. I believe in Hunter Yurachek and if he thinks that Sam Pittman is the right coach for our Hogs, I trust him.
Time for a change in HC because if not there is fixing to be a mad exiting in the transfer portal. Go look at Rhett Lashley at Houston in what he’s done. Bring Rhett home back to the hill
Of all the things that need to change I think you have to start up front. I don't know is it's the O Line coach or just the level of athletes on the line. But that has to change! We have a better O lIne a lot of this stuff will fix itself. As to coaching change. Who is out there. Firing the coach brings a whole nother set of problems. I will say Auburn getting whipped by NM state made me pretty mad. We are a mess; hope they can get it together for a good final game this year. Go Hogs Beat Mizzou!
My prob with Sam is...i dont think he is FULLY realized as a head coach even after four years.....IF!....IF!...he can get a SLAM BANG HUMDINGER of a Offensive Coordinator AND...win at the portal and at recruiting AND!...AND!...construct outta this year 4 mess AT LEAST an 8-4 regular season next year....then....maybe....🤕
Hyped up running backs, and they usually turn out to be like we see in him. A stall of running backs need to be used so they are reluctant to get the BIG Head
Thank u trey i dont know what to say ethher hope they win this nxt game but mo.is good i will agree on what u said about the change with someone new coming .look forward to ur nxt walk and talk.
How many schools will be leaving the SEC. In a couple years because of NIL. Now that Texas and Oklahoma will be coming in next year. The rich get richer everyone else will be suffering.
Coach needed this win, big time. And the players needed it too. In fact, we all did. Just glad the the PitBoss is gonna get another year to try and get it right.
Sam has a bad history of losing to byu and liberty. Plus playing in the sec you just cant afford that. Fire him and get new blood. He needs to be fishing on the lake everyday instead of coaching a sec team. 😮😮
change the coach. it is a business decision not an emotional one. l like sam he got us out of the cellar but he is not the coach going forward. time to get young new blood in here.
Auburn lost at home to NM St by 3 TDs. Our asst coaches cannot coach consistency. Just because someone does their job well one year does not mean they will the next year or the year after that. The O line is terrible and the O line coach has not done his job well. The D has not been consistent either. The special teams is terrible and has been most of the year. Pittman better find good assistants or he will be fired after next year.
I’m writing this after Yurachek has announced Pittman will be back next year. Money loss in the contractural agreement seems like the deciding factor, that would favor Pittman and not the university. Next year is going to be traumatic. The relaxing can commence all the more, as Arkansas will drift further into mediocrity. I hope this is a wrong forecast, but seriously doubt that.
I believe if Arkansas can play Missouri a close game and not look like a lethargic team like they did tonight against this bad team then Sam can hold his head up higher.
I'm praying Pittman gets a new motorcycle and a blonde for Christmas!!!!! Thats our only chance for the future. Feel sorry for the football team next year because it's gonna get worse!
One more thing: In last 13 seasons, Arkansas has had the least SEC wins besides Vandy. We are Vandy. Fans need to realize that and understand this is a low population state and as long as Ark is in the SEC, Nick Saban couldn't win in the SEC here. 7-5 and 3-5 is the average year, if that, over last 13 seasons. Stop thinking this is the 1960s and 1970s with Broyles and Holtz. Ark hasn't been at that level in over 30 years consistently and that coincides with Ark joining the SEC. Ark is a small fish in a huge ocean.
A lot of the people being the loudest are absolute casuals who honestly have no clue what they're talking about. And that shows with the names they keep throwing out there. Coaching names that were successful the last time Arkansas was really good. So they're obviously not paying attention enough to know that Gus destroyed Auburn's program. They have no idea what they're talking about.
As bad as the line was you lost 4 games by 7 or less...so each one of those games was winnable. You win those and you have 8 wins. That's the positive outlook. Go Hogs!
