FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas held a press conference with head football coach Sam Pittman on Monday following the team's disappointing 48-10 loss to Auburn in Fayetteville. Pittman spoke about losing momentum, his thoughts on rumors surrounding his job, and a video of the team watching a Christmas movie during halftime.
The loss on Saturday put the team's record at 3-7, making them not eligible for a post-season bowl game. On Saturday after the loss, Pitman said he wasn’t concerned about his job saying, “It’s never been about me being the head coach. It's been about me and these kids. But, to answer your question, no, I'm not.”
Pittman is under contract through 2027. He signed a five-year contract in June of 2022. However, that was extended to six years when Arkansas beat Kansas in the Liberty Bowl last season. Per the contract, Pittman’s base salary was $5 million a year not including any bonuses. As part of the contract, if he is fired at the end of the season, he will be owed 75% of what he is owed for the remainder of his contract.
Notes from the press conference:
"Special teams, obviously we have to cover better," Pittman referring to Auburn's early touchdown off a punt return.
"We have to make people miss, have to protect better, those types of things. We have to make changes. We've got to continue to steal some yards, get what I would call easy or space yards. Other people are making us miss so we got to do something a little different to get those explosive plays."
"We've got a lot we wanna clean up and I know they will, they're a great group of kids."
Player's energy: "We have to be right because I would like to think we'd wanna play after what happened on Saturday. But we got embarrassed Saturday. I like our kids in the locker room, I'll be shocked if we don't come out ready to play."
Message to fans: "First of all we thank them for coming out and supporting us. Obviously, we're disappointed we didn't have a good showing for them on Saturday. But we believe we can get this thing turned around and that's what we're going to do."
On SEC coaches getting fired this weekend: "It's a good question. It's hard obviously to block out all noise. We have a job to do, and that's to be prepared each and every week ... We [his family] plan on staying here until we retire to Hot Springs, and that year is nowhere close to now. I'm not worried about my job security at all."
"We put ourselves in this situation and we got to find our way out of it."
Players watching a movie during halftime: "I haven't seen Polar Express so I don't know my thoughts on the movie. We don't have enough lockers in our main locker room. Some have to go into a separate locker. And so, I've already addressed it. We made a mistake. It's a team rule not to have cameras in the locker room because of showers and all that. A young man made a mistake, sent it to his friend, who sent it to his brother, and it made it online. He came in and was sorry for it and remorseful for it so we're gonna forgive him and move on."
Personal approach to blocking out the negativity: "Well, we got a lot to fix. So I'm gonna talk [to the team] today about what we did wrong and how we're gonna fix it. I'm not gonna address [firing rumors] cause I don't think it's as severe as y'all do. I don't have time to explain about my job security, we've got to beat FIU and that's an honest answer. If I was worried about me personally I think it would take away with what we're trying to get done here. I can't sit around worrying about my job security. I think it's a much bigger issue with the media and less about myself."
On speaking to Hunter Yurachek: "I talk to Hunter every week and after every game. I haven't expressed to you what our conversations are over the last four years so I won't talk to you about it now.
Question on Jacolby Criswell as quarterback: "To come in here on a Monday is hard because we haven't had any conversation with anyone on the team. Jacolby has earned a right to play some. I think he really gave us a spark. I'm excited about him and our future and I think he's earned a right to be on the field."
On whether momentum from Florida win made Auburn loss sting more: "Momentum is a wild thing. When you lose it it's hard to get back. You're always thinking 'What happens if we lose momentum?' But we never had it."
Full press conference:
Sam Pittman was named the 34th head coach for the Razorbacks in December of 2019, replacing Chad Morris. His first season as coach in 2020 the Razorbacks finished 3-7 in an all-SEC schedule.
Before being hired at Arkansas, Pittman was the associate head coach and offensive line coach for the University of Georgia.
The Razorbacks return to action on Saturday, Nov. 18 against Florida International. Coverage from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium begins at 6:30 p.m. Central on ESPNU.
Sam Pittman Coaching History
- 1987-88 Princeton (Mo.) HS (Head Coach)
- 1989-90 Trenton (Mo.) HS (Head Coach)
- 1991 Hutchinson (Kan.) CC (OL)
- 1992-93 Hutchinson (Kan.) CC (Head Coach)
- 1994-95 Northern Illinois (OL)
- 1996 Cincinnati (OT/TEs)
- 1997-98 Oklahoma (OL)
- 1999 Western Michigan (Assistant Coach)
- 2000 Missouri (OL)
- 2001 Kansas (OL)
- 2003 Northern Illinois (OL)
- 2004-06 Northern Illinois (Assistant Head Coach/OL)
- 2007-10 North Carolina (OL)
- 2011 North Carolina (Associate Head Coach/OL)
- 2012 Tennessee (OL)
- 2013-15 Arkansas (Assistant Head Coach/OL/Recruiting Coordinator)
- 2016-2018 Georgia (OL)
- 2019 Georgia (Associate Head Coach/OL)
- 2020-2023 Arkansas (Head Coach)