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Media reacts to Sam Pittman being hired as new Arkansas head coach
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Arkansas made it official on Sunday night as it named Sam Pittman its new head football coach in place of Chad Morris.
For the first time in a while, the Razorbacks will hedge their bets on a first-time head coach and hope that Pittman can use his reputation as a hard-working recruiter and as a position coach of one of the top offensive lines in the country at Georgia to restore the Arkansas program.
And it’s a return to Fayetteville for the 58-year-old, who was the associate head coach and offensive line coach from 2013-2015 under Bret Bielema before being hired to Kirby Smart’s initial staff at Georgia before the 2016 season. The Razorbacks are in the midst of a three-year bowl drought, its longest since 1992-1994.
While Arkansas fans and even former players made their thoughts known about the hire on Twitter, plenty of media members chimed in on what they thought of the move.
I actually think this is a sneaky good hire. Arkansas will have an identity. Will recruit well. And I’d guess pittman could hire a good staff. https://t.co/cvAH7k5FN6
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) December 8, 2019
Sam Pittman is elite at three things : training offensive lineman, relationships with former players and recruiting . Can’t wait to see the staff he assembles.
— Steve Sullivan (@sully7777) December 9, 2019
Ooohhhh #SamPittman about to turn them @RazorbackFB back into bullies at the Line of scrimmage!
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) December 9, 2019
This is great news for Sam Pittman's financial future. That's about the only certainty, other than Georgia has a hole in the coaching staff. https://t.co/zA78IL689D
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) December 9, 2019
Fitting that Sam Pittman gets hired during Broyles Award week. Since 1994, he’s made 11 stops as an assistant coach. He’s earned his shot. Looking forward to watching good line play .
— Steve Sullivan (@sully7777) December 9, 2019
I like Arkansas hiring Sam Pittman. We need more OL coaches as head coaches.
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) December 9, 2019
There’s something to being wanted. Arkansas wasn’t wanted by some candidates. I can say without a doubt Sam Pittman WANTS to be the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
— Wess Moore (@Wess_Moore) December 8, 2019
If it is Sam Pittman to Arkansas, and I know people obviously have concerns over his lack of HC experience, but I do know he'd have the players behind him ready to fight for him within about 5 minutes of meeting them. #wps
— Trey Biddy (@TreyBiddy) December 8, 2019
Pittman builds great relationships with his players. I learned that a year ago when he came to support Frank Ragnow at his NFL Draft party. pic.twitter.com/dVtMpKvhOB
— Tera Talmadge (@TeraTalmadge) December 9, 2019
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
