Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman after getting 44-20 win over Florida International on Saturday night and status of his job after week of rumors swirling.
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00:00 It was nice to get a win for our crowd
00:05 coming in from the Hog Walk.
00:08 They were exceptional.
00:11 A lot of people out there and I appreciate the noise
00:15 and how our fans helped us win the game.
00:19 Felt like they were a big part of it.
00:22 And I want to thank them for coming out
00:24 and supporting their football team.
00:29 - Yeah, Coach, 300 rushing yards today.
00:31 I mean, I know it's towards the end of the season,
00:33 but how needed was that for kind of the offensive line
00:36 to have a night like this?
00:38 - Well, it's game 11, so it would be there,
00:42 but any game, whether it be one or 11 or whatever,
00:47 very happy to get 300 yards.
00:50 And I think we averaged,
00:52 looks like six yards a carry or something like that.
00:55 So I was proud of Isaiah.
00:59 I mean, he ran unbelievably.
01:04 I mean, we handed off one time
01:06 into really what should have been a dead play
01:08 and he got 12 yards on it.
01:10 So proud of the offensive line and the runners.
01:14 And obviously we've got some injuries there.
01:17 KJ's a big part of the running as well.
01:19 And it was good to see Damo come in and split that
01:23 big time hole there on fourth and two,
01:26 but go down there and split it down there for 31 yards.
01:28 It's good to see him back.
01:30 - That went out of your way to mention Isaiah
01:33 when we spoke to you on Wednesday.
01:34 I mean, what did he kind of do in recent weeks
01:36 to gain some confidence and get to this big performance?
01:40 - Well, our plan going in is that we were going to play
01:43 R-Dub and Isaiah.
01:45 You know, we felt like we was going to play them
01:48 more than what we had, let's say that.
01:50 And, you know, R-Dub got hurt
01:55 and Rocket got hurt as well.
01:57 But, you know, the great thing about it
01:59 is we had an opportunity to practice Isaiah
02:03 with the ones and things like that.
02:05 So it really worked out well for us.
02:08 - Fall behind 13 to seven.
02:12 Maybe what was the mood or thought
02:14 on the sideline at that point?
02:16 - Oh, I think everybody's going to get down six points
02:20 every now and then.
02:21 And we were just trying to figure out how to,
02:26 you know, rush the football, protect it.
02:28 We were giving up some big plays.
02:31 And so we needed to stop that.
02:35 And we had some bad penalties too, you know,
02:38 special teams was causing us position.
02:41 We had a penalty on tree, you know,
02:44 on a late hit or a low hit.
02:46 And so we were talking about how we could stop
02:50 hurting ourselves with those.
02:51 We had four penalties in the first half.
02:53 But there really wasn't anything magical
03:00 about, you know, being down six that we did, to be honest with you.
03:03 - Missouri just won on their last second field goal.
03:07 How do you see this week laying out for you guys?
03:10 - Well, they'll lift at noon tomorrow
03:14 and then come in for meetings.
03:17 We'll put this game at four o'clock
03:19 and then we'll practice tomorrow night.
03:21 Practice, obviously, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
03:26 the practice in the morning,
03:27 they'll have a chance to be out of here by noon or so.
03:31 On Wednesday, they'll come back about noon on Thursday.
03:35 Or at least we will.
03:36 I think they've got to be back around 2, 2.15, 2.30
03:39 on Thursday.
03:41 - Sam, going back to Isaiah's performance,
03:44 what was maybe keeping him off the field earlier in the year
03:47 on offense?
03:48 And then is there anything he did differently to earn reps
03:51 or is it just a matter of it being late in the year
03:53 and he's a young guy, do you want to get a look at?
03:55 - No, well, as youth, we would have kept him off the field,
03:59 you know, not understanding all the plays and calls
04:04 and all that like any, most, a lot of freshmen.
04:10 But going into this week,
04:13 I wanted to see what he could do in a live game.
04:19 And we needed a shot at running back.
04:24 I mean, we needed somebody to, you know,
04:29 make people miss, run over people, hit holes,
04:32 whatever it may be with some urgency.
04:35 And we thought it might put some urgency into
04:40 all of that group as well by seeing that he was going
04:45 to get to an opportunity to play.
04:47 And so that was our thought.
04:49 - Any update on Rocket or R-Dub, what their injuries are?
04:52 - I don't, Rocket's got a shoulder
04:54 and R-Dub's got a knee.
04:56 But other than that, I don't know how bad.
04:59 - On Dominic Johnson, it'd been two days,
05:03 shot of two years since his last rushing touchdown.
05:07 What do you think that moment kind of meant to him?
05:10 - It meant a lot to me.
05:11 And I hope it meant a lot to him.
05:13 It was for fourth and two deal,
05:15 and there was nobody in the middle of the field, you know.
05:18 But I'm sure he was really excited about it.
05:21 He looked, you know, his face was glowing
05:24 when he came off the field.
05:25 But,
05:26 that was a pretty big hole there,
05:30 and he just ran straight ahead to the goal line.
05:34 But I'm really happy for him.
05:37 - Sam K.J. set two more career records
05:39 by passing our touchdown passes.
05:43 I know it hasn't been here,
05:44 anybody hoped it would be.
05:45 Just what do you think about him
05:46 setting two more records tonight,
05:47 just kind of how he's handled the season?
05:49 - Well, I think he's handled the season well.
05:54 You know, he competed tonight for us, you know,
06:00 for the team.
06:01 And I'm really happy we recognized him after the game
06:06 about, you know, being an all-time passing yard leader
06:11 and passing touchdowns.
06:13 And I hope it, I know it meant a lot to him,
06:17 and it meant a lot to us that we've been able to have him
06:20 for, you know, four years now.
06:22 Felipe Franks was here tonight, too.
06:25 That was cool for him to come back
06:27 to witness all that kind of stuff, too.
06:30 I know it wasn't his record,
06:31 but it was really neat that he was able to come back.
06:34 And, but, you know, KJ's meant a lot to our program.
06:38 He's going to mean a lot to us next Friday, too.
06:41 And just really, really happy for him.
06:43 - On the ESPN U broadcast,
06:46 I guess they referenced that they talked to you
06:49 and you told them you had a wrong meeting with Hunter,
06:51 somebody who you're sure you wouldn't be fired.
06:54 I was wondering if you could comment on that.
06:57 - I don't remember having that conversation
07:00 with those guys.
07:01 That's not for me.
07:03 That's, Hunter, you guys need to ask him,
07:06 all that kind of stuff.
07:07 But I will say this, guys, that those,
07:11 when we start talking about firing and all this,
07:15 it kills us in recruiting.
07:18 You know, it does.
07:19 And especially when we fabricate stories and put it out,
07:24 it kills us in recruiting.
07:27 And when we give opinions about who's coming in
07:29 and all those type things,
07:32 it kills us.
07:34 And, you know, I got a wife and she's a human being.
07:38 We put out stuff that's not true.
07:42 I know it's opinion world now,
07:43 but I don't think I'm getting fired, guys.
07:47 I would, he would have told me I'm getting fired.
07:50 And so I'm not for sure why I had to answer
07:55 these questions about getting fired or not,
07:58 but I think, I don't.
08:01 But we'll kill recruiting if we keep talking about it.
08:06 And if you're an Arkansas fan, it's gonna hurt us.
08:12 So opinions, media has become opinions.
08:18 And so I wish we'd post the facts
08:22 and whatever the facts are, then we can deal with it.
08:25 - That's how it broadcasts, you know,
08:28 you can't just ignore it.
08:29 I'm not, Bob, you're a wonderful man.
08:32 You gave me an opportunity to say what I wanted to say.
08:36 - Thomas, he didn't play ice in the cup or something?
08:41 - No, he played some, I think.
08:46 Well, he may not have.
08:48 I mean, he may not have, but he was out there.
08:51 If he didn't play, he ran off some, you know.
08:54 He was out there.
08:57 No, we just thought Greer had a good week.
09:01 And unless, Bob, unless someone says that,
09:06 but Dave never came to me and told me he was hurt or anything
09:11 so Greer just played, you know,
09:15 we thought he earned his right to start,
09:17 but Jaheim is a good player for us
09:20 and hopefully he'll get back next week and help us.
09:23 - Coach, what'd you think of Walcott tonight?
09:26 He had two interceptions.
09:27 - Big.
09:28 There was three guys that we talked about.
09:31 One was Al, one was KJ,
09:32 and one obviously was Augusta.
09:35 And at the end, and we talked about a lot,
09:39 the whole line play, all that kind of stuff.
09:42 But that was a big time play.
09:46 The ball was kind of,
09:47 he kind of went around the helmet and got it
09:49 and ran it in on the first one.
09:51 And then the second one, he really,
09:56 he stole it.
09:58 I mean, the second one was one where he was in a flat
10:02 and then drifted on the guy,
10:04 guy didn't see him and threw it right to him.
10:06 So he, you know, he made some good tackles tonight too,
10:10 I thought.
10:10 I thought we tackled better in the secondary.
10:13 Obviously they had some long runs.
10:15 You know, one of them in particular,
10:16 when it was in Wildcat,
10:17 we had it bundled up from minus two
10:19 when the guy comes around and makes the first down,
10:21 which give him credit too.
10:23 But I thought Al played a good game.
10:26 We're beat up back there, you know,
10:28 we're beat up at corner,
10:29 'cause Braxton didn't play and,
10:32 and you know, a lot of positions,
10:35 but we're having that throw out there against Missouri
10:38 on the outside.
10:39 - Ray, how big is it to, you know,
10:42 have the momentum you guys have?
10:44 And I mean, it's just a chance to play spoiler,
10:46 but it's still something in a rivalry game.
10:49 - You know, it's a rivalry game.
10:52 They've got, they've got a really, really good team.
10:55 I mean, they do.
10:56 And we've got a lot of respect for their program,
11:00 but I think a rivalry, you know,
11:04 you never know what happens.
11:06 So we'll have our kids prepared.
11:08 I know they will as well,
11:09 but I'm excited about having an opportunity
11:12 to play on day after Thanksgiving.
11:15 - Going back to your corners,
11:17 I noticed you started Stewart tonight over Nudy,
11:19 just kind of what went into that decision?
11:20 - Say again?
11:21 - You went with Keyon Stewart over Nudy.
11:23 - Nudy was hurt.
11:24 Nudy got hurt on Tuesday and didn't practice.
11:27 And so that's basically why.
11:30 - And Cam, you know, he's been great for you all year.
11:32 He missed the two.
11:33 Was there something going?
11:34 - Cam Little?
11:35 - Yeah, Cam, going that way,
11:36 and then he made two,
11:37 - No. - Came back, or?
11:38 - No, it's just, I'll tell you what,
11:40 you know, you're really good when you miss a couple
11:42 and people talk about it, you know what I mean?
11:44 And he is.
11:44 And the one, the last one that he made,
11:49 I had a fake goal.
11:52 And it was fourth and two,
11:55 and then we didn't get the look that we wanted,
11:57 so they called it off out there.
11:59 Scott did, Scott.
12:00 They were five and five,
12:02 so we couldn't block them all.
12:04 So, and then he made that one.
12:06 But no, I don't think there was anything.
12:08 He had just, I think, you know, he's not Superman.
12:12 You know, he's close, he's super,
12:14 but I'm not worried about it.
12:17 But I know why you asked the question,
12:19 and I don't know.
12:21 I don't think it was a bad hold or anything.
12:24 I think they just kicked, pushed it right.
12:26 - I'll ask about Jadon Wilson,
12:29 who caught the first touchdown.
12:31 He's one of your younger receivers.
12:33 Just what have you seen from him throughout the season
12:35 that's kind of allowed him to develop?
12:37 - Yeah, well, he works hard.
12:39 And did he run a reverse too?
12:44 Did he run a reverse?
12:46 Didn't, it wasn't real good, was it?
12:48 But we're trying to get the ball in his hand a little bit
12:52 more, but he's done that all year in practice and stuff.
12:57 I'm just glad that he had opportunity to catch one tonight.
13:00 - Kind of following up on that,
13:03 I know he didn't score tonight,
13:04 but Andrew has been kind of KJ's top target.
13:08 So consistent for you guys,
13:09 another four catch 67 yards tonight.
13:11 Just how has he developed on the year
13:13 and how necessary has he kind of been
13:16 with the struggles with the offense, his consistency?
13:18 - Well, he's the one thing that is consistent.
13:22 You're a hundred percent right.
13:24 And KJ, that's kind of his go-to guy as well.
13:29 But he's a hardworking kid.
13:34 And I think if we can talk him into coming back,
13:37 I think he'll be even better next year for us.
13:40 But I'm proud of what he's done for us all year.
13:47 And you're right, he is kind of KJ's go-to guy.
13:52 - You had a play in the backfield and gave it to him.
13:56 A new play, and what'd you think of how that developed?
13:58 - Yeah, I thought it was a really good call by Kenny.
14:02 And obviously if it went from minus two,
14:04 I would have thought it was really dad call.
14:05 But really good timing on that.
14:08 We got the edge on it and had a little split flow
14:13 in the backfield on it.
14:14 And we knew, we thought we could get the edge,
14:19 'cause the tacklers were going down
14:21 and we thought we could get the edge, which we did.
14:23 And then he made a really nice run out.
14:25 It was good to get the ball in his hands
14:26 other than just, I guess it's probably the highest kickoff
14:31 since he's had return, punts he's had return.
14:34 And with the reverse, little swing and catching,
14:39 I think he caught a touchdown pass there that last one.
14:41 So good night for him.
14:44 - How was it defending their receiver Mitchell,
14:46 who seems like he's a pretty special kid?
14:49 - He's good.
14:50 I mean, we had a hard time covering him
14:54 several different times.
14:56 Talking to T. Will about,
14:58 no man to man's the way to go.
15:02 But we ended up getting some pressure on him,
15:09 on the kid.
15:12 But if you're going to bring another guy,
15:14 you got to go man.
15:15 And we knew he was really good going into the game,
15:19 but he's a really fine player.
15:21 - I think you outscored him 37 to seven after his 13 to seven.
15:27 I think I got my math right.
15:28 That's pretty dominating.
15:30 Just how good was it to really put it on somebody
15:32 like that here late in the year
15:33 when it's been a tough year?
15:35 - Yeah, well, it was good to have a game
15:39 where you thought he was going to win
15:40 with two or three minutes left in the game.
15:43 That was fine.
15:44 But our kids needed that for some confidence builder too,
15:49 especially after last week.
15:50 After coming off the high of Florida
15:54 and the low of Auburn,
15:56 and for this season,
15:58 those are the two,
16:00 the highest we've been and the lowest we've been.
16:04 And be able to come back
16:06 and we got a lot of things to work on
16:10 from the day,
16:11 but there are some things that we did
16:14 that you can teach on for some positive stuff.
16:17 And I think that'll help us for,
16:19 and I hope it does for next Friday.
16:21 - Positive or can it be a distraction a little bit?
16:29 - I think it's all positive, buddy.
16:31 I think,
16:32 anytime you can have emotions running,
16:40 and what's a little bit different is,
16:43 is that you're going to have,
16:44 I hope we're going to have four or five guys out there
16:47 that'll have two, they'll come back.
16:49 But senior day is special,
16:55 especially for the guys that know they're definitely leaving.
17:00 I think it's special for the parents.
17:02 You know what I mean?
17:04 I think there's a lot of emotion going on
17:05 and I think that's what the game is all about as well.
17:09 Most of the guys are going to have their degree,
17:11 you know, so pretty cool day.