Sam Pittman Needs Everyone At Arkansas To 'Embrace The Hog' As Pivotal Season Begins

DALLAS - Sam Pittman will be the first one to tell you that expectations at Arkansas were not met last season, and if everyone doesn't come together to ‘Embrace The Hog’, things might look different in Fayettville after this season. 

One of the most charismatic coaches in college football, Sam Pittman is not the one to shy away from questions about his future, or how he has become the CEO of the Arkansas football program. It was just three seasons ago that the Razorbacks finished the season 9-4 and expectations were skyrocketing for the football program. 

But after going 7-6 the following season, then putting up an abysmal 4-8 record in 2023, the pressure is on to find better results in 2024. In his quest to do this, Sam Pittman hired former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator, which sent shockwaves around the football community. From getting fired for lying about the infamous motorcycle ride to his inappropriate relationship with a staffer, Petrino was an afterthought in Fayettville, until an old friend came calling. 

"It's been great. I mean, he's passionate," Pittman said about Petrino. "He likes to win, likes to win and score points. So it's been great."

If there was one thing that needed to change for the 2024 season, it was the offensive production, which decreased last year with KJ Jefferson at quarterback. So, bringing in a familiar face, and someone who you know is going to score as many points as possible, the Petrino situation works. And let's be honest, if athletic director Hunter Yurachek thought it would not pass the smell test with the Arkansas community, Petrino would not be the offensive coordinator right now. 

Sam Pittman waves to the media as he takes the stage to talk about his Arkansas Razorbacks football program at SEC Media Days Via: Trey Wallace

And one of the best pickups for that offense was Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green. While deciding on who to bring in, Sam Pittman entrusted Bobby Petrino to make the decision, mentioning that they had a group of about five quarterbacks they were looking at, and it ultimately came down to Petrino to make the pick. 

"Bobby has been a great resource for me. Not only I think he's a wonderful offensive coordinator, he also was a very successful head coach," Pittman added about Petrino. "So there is a lot of times where I'm able to run things by him and we decide collectively at times what is best for the University of Arkansas football team."

Arkansas Players Have To ‘Embrace The Hog’ Or 2024 Will Be It For Pittman

For Sam Pittman to survive for another year, there has to be a drastic change in the mindset around the Arkansas program. We all know that it has to work this season, or the Razorbacks could be looking for a new head coach to lead the team in 2025. 

And guess what? Sam Pittman embraces the situation, knowing that what transpired last season is not going to be tolerated in 2024. But the laid back persona of Pittman is one to admire, knowing that he'd love to be celebrating wins with a cold beer, not having to worry about his job security on a weekly basis. 

When asked about being on a number of ‘Hot Seat’ lists heading into the 2024 season, Pittman did not shy away from the question, but rather spoke truth about the situation. 

"I’m popular now, the wrong way. I’m hot. I’m at the top of the (hot seat) list," Pittman said on Thursday. 

FAYETTEVILLE AR - SEPTEMBER 17:  Head Coach Bobby Petrino of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on during warm ups before a game against the Troy Trojans at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 17, 2011 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  The Razorbacks beat the Trojans 38 to 28.  (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

What you get from Sam Pittman is genuine, so i wouldn't have expected any other answer from the Razorbacks head coach. Just the same as him talking about his massive lake house that has a massive Arkansas razorback statue sitting in the backyard. 

"We got a new pool house, and new flooring and it looks bad to the bone"

So when the country tries to put pressure on Sam Pittman, he knows there's only so much he can control, and having him in the SEC is such a positive for the conference. You won't find many coaches like him, confident within his skin, knowing that nothing is guaranteed in this business, besides a contract negotiated by ‘Super-Agent’ Jimmy Sexton. 

Arkansas 2024 Schedule Is Very Unique For A Team That Needs To Win

One of the more interesting aspects of the 2024 Arkansas Razorbacks schedule is where the team will play its opening five games. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a schedule that will see one team play in five different cities to open the season. 

The Razorbacks will play in Little Rock, Stillwater, Fayettville, Auburn and Arlington in the first five games of the 2024 season. 

"All I can say is we're going to embrace that," Pittman mentioned. "Last year we had the away games right there in a row, what was it, at Alabama, LSU, on the road. We needed to a better job than what we did a year ago."

You won't hear excuses from Pittman, he's not built that way. So as we enter the 2024 season, it might be a make-or-break year, but the outside noise won't affect how the Arkansas coach handles his everyday life. Here's hoping Sam Pittman gets to enjoy at least six victory beers this season, which should be enough for him to return in 2025.