Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on getting some stability from athletics director Hunter Yurachek's announcement he would be back next season and looks ahead to Friday's game with Missouri.
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00:00 Excited to play Missouri.
00:02 You know, obviously we're disappointed
00:04 we were not going to be bowl eligible,
00:07 but we have a lot to play for,
00:10 especially since we're playing our rival
00:12 and and a really, really good,
00:15 really good football team in Missouri.
00:18 Offensively, just outstanding at every
00:21 everywhere.
00:22 Really good offensive line quarterbacks.
00:25 Fast, mobile, can throw,
00:27 got great receivers.
00:29 Running back is.
00:31 Is a beast and then on defense you know
00:34 they're playing really well in the
00:36 secondary safeties are very, very physical.
00:39 Obviously up front.
00:41 Robinson, it's got a lot of sacks
00:43 and they've got it.
00:44 You know they outfitted physical
00:46 physical dust last year and and
00:48 certainly have physical team.
00:50 Really good team.
00:51 Eli's done a really good job there.
00:53 But we're we're excited to
00:56 obviously play our rival.
00:58 Coach Hunter obviously there is
01:00 support behind you address the team
01:02 and you did you know he was going
01:05 to do that and did not know what
01:07 was your reaction personally?
01:09 Well, I mean there's a lot of motion in the room,
01:14 you know. But I didn't know it.
01:17 But he he wanted to address the team
01:21 right before we finished with the
01:23 conversation and and.
01:26 And it was really cool because of the.
01:31 The kids.
01:31 It's just. It was.
01:36 You know, I don't ever want to get
01:38 in that situation, but it was a
01:40 special moment to be a part of.
01:41 It was really cool.
01:43 I mean, for him to come out and do
01:45 that in terms of future stability
01:47 with the program, not obviously you,
01:49 but yeah, everything else.
01:50 Well, I think it's really big because
01:52 you know we're getting a lot of negative.
01:55 Um?
01:56 From coaches, you know, in recruiting
02:01 and you know, I'll say this.
02:03 I think when you sign up for the SEC.
02:07 You have to win. I mean, and it's here.
02:13 A&M
02:14 Mississippi State wherever Alabama
02:18 wherever you gotta win and if you don't.
02:24 There's opportunities for you
02:25 to be unemployed.
02:26 You know, that's just how it is,
02:27 and that's what we sign up for.
02:30 So I look at this as as an
02:33 opportunity for us to change our team.
02:35 Keep the ones you know that are good
02:38 players for some good kids and change
02:40 our team and give us a chance to do that.
02:43 And I think financially we're going to
02:45 have the money from the NIL to do that.
02:48 And I think it when when all that happens,
02:52 I think they can feel the really,
02:54 really good football team.
02:56 And I'm excited about obviously Saturday,
02:58 but I'm really excited about the future.
03:02 Coach, I'm looking at all
03:04 coaching rights.
03:05 Excuse me, sorry you could coach
03:07 drink with said earlier,
03:08 kind of along the lines of what you just
03:11 said you said Arkansas 100 put out saying
03:13 he's bringing me back was the absolute
03:15 right decision. I'm just curious what
03:17 you think about that in your relationship
03:19 with coaching kids.
03:20 Good man and you know the thing with.
03:25 Drink as you look at it and you look at.
03:29 And then had a nice evening at
03:31 first year all SEC season.
03:33 And then last year he was close
03:36 two years ago. Close this at another.
03:38 Next year close and all that kind of
03:41 stuff and finish you know six and six and.
03:43 And.
03:46 And then this year.
03:49 They had.
03:50 You know it's good.
03:52 A team is we have an SEC and.
03:55 You know they've stayed and I'm not
03:57 saying they they're going to fire.
03:59 I'm not saying that they stayed with us and.
04:05 He's got a lot of seniors on his team and.
04:10 Well, is doing a great job over there,
04:13 so I appreciate him saying that.
04:15 If I know that,
04:16 but I appreciate him saying that
04:18 and you know that that's just a good
04:21 person saying what he feels so appreciate
04:23 that you kind of said there that you
04:26 think you'll have the NIL funding that
04:28 you need. I guess where there's something
04:30 that changed between last week and
04:32 this week and make you feel that way.
04:35 No, well, yes, but I don't want to
04:37 talk about it, you know right now, but.
04:40 Come back.
04:41 But.
04:45 I forget what the question
04:49 was. The answer was no, I think.
04:52 But what changed?
04:54 Yeah, I just I just feel good about it.
04:55 What you inherited here and
05:07 you had to build fast. So.
05:10 What did you learn from that that
05:13 you can do it again like rebuild
05:15 and what what would you say to fans
05:17 who peeled off from from you in this?
05:20 In this program? Yeah, well,
05:21 I don't you know what they
05:23 how they handle that.
05:24 You know we we want to earn
05:26 their trust and come back.
05:27 You know, I think I think that's anyway.
05:30 You have to show show what you can do,
05:33 and I think that's when we do.
05:34 I think we'll get it back.
05:37 But I understand.
05:38 The other part about it is is is it's a
05:43 different world than the first time
05:45 when I was here and I mean the
05:48 first first years I was here.
05:48 Well.
05:51 Different world.
05:57 When the first time I was here because.
06:00 You did it through the portal.
06:02 You know who transfers senior
06:04 transfer is and all that kind of stuff.
06:06 Now you're doing it through recruiting.
06:09 You know, it's a different.
06:11 It's just things have changed.
06:13 I actually think it's easier to
06:16 change the program now than when
06:18 we first came here.
06:20 You know,
06:20 Felipe French was here.
06:23 Saturday and with me he was that
06:25 key guy that we needed that first year.
06:29 Both publicly, you know,
06:31 hey, Felipe French wants to come.
06:33 And I've been obviously on the field and.
06:38 So.
06:39 I think I think.
06:41 Recruiting I think we can
06:45 recruit against anybody.
06:47 It's just.
06:49 You can't recruit against anybody financially.
06:52 And.
06:54 I really think I feel good about
06:56 where we're sitting now and that
06:58 that's the case and I think we
07:01 need to have more videos and
07:03 dead elements of things.
07:04 In 21, your team was underdog a lot in
07:07 20 and you want a lot of games and
07:09 you overperformed this year.
07:11 You've been the favorite in some
07:13 games and haven't shown up.
07:14 What's the different?
07:15 How do you get that back?
07:16 Well.
07:18 I mean.
07:21 I'm having a little rough now.
07:26 You guys are pressing different
07:30 than we haven't shown.
07:32 I did one game that was bad.
07:39 There's other ones yet.
07:41 But anyway, what was the rest of the question?
07:44 Well, I think I think we've
07:52 addressed some of that and then that.
07:54 You have to. You have to recruit
07:59 your way out, you know, and I think
08:01 I think that's that's part of it.
08:04 Obviously injuries are played
08:06 a part of it as well, but.
08:09 Everybody has injuries and everybody
08:12 has an opportunity to have filled
08:14 with best thing they have by recruiting.
08:16 This year we've lost a lot of
08:22 close games and some of them.
08:25 We played pretty good in that we.
08:28 We lost.
08:30 But we just need to go out and.
08:32 We gotta get the offensive line.
08:37 That's the number one.
08:39 We gotta go after that.
08:40 That's the number one thing.
08:42 And continue to develop
08:44 the guys we have now, but.
08:46 I don't look at it and obviously
08:51 we do that I don't look at it as.
08:53 Non competitive.
08:59 I look at it as we just got it.
09:01 We got to change the roster.
09:05 I think we have all kinds
09:07 of chances to do that so.
09:11 And the last couple of years this year,
09:13 you got five games cut down or less.
09:15 Last year has similar numbers.
09:18 You put a lot of thought into what you
09:21 can do 'cause if you turn those,
09:23 you know your share of those games around,
09:26 we're not.
09:26 Nobody's having this conversation.
09:28 Have you put thought into that?
09:30 Well, obviously we have.
09:32 I think that's gotta be our biggest study.
09:35 In the offseason.
09:38 You know, did it just happen
09:39 and we played really well and and.
09:42 The last drives and what do we do?
09:45 What was my decisions during the game
09:48 that affected the game positive or negative?
09:51 You know, I think really we gotta
09:54 sit down and figure all that that out.
09:57 We obviously do that each week per game,
10:00 but in totality we haven't.
10:02 You know, obviously this year.
10:05 But we need to do that and
10:07 figure out how we can.
10:10 And it's not just as simple as well.
10:12 Somebody's gotta make a play, you know.
10:15 There's a lot of reasons that go into that,
10:17 and really it's not the last quarter
10:19 as much as it might be.
10:22 You wasted four points in the first quarter.
10:25 You know we get a pick and
10:27 we settle for a field goal.
10:29 Whatever it may be.
10:31 How can we change that?
10:33 To.
10:34 Be as maybe it's more aggressive
10:37 with with a play calling maybe.
10:40 Maybe we've got to change our roster.
10:42 Maybe we've got it.
10:43 You know I've got to do a better job.
10:45 Whatever it is,
10:46 but be brutally honest with how to.
10:49 How to win those post games and
10:51 that's how that's that's the difference.
10:53 I mean, you look at Missouri that
10:55 they're playing they they've really
10:57 played well and blowing some things out,
10:58 but they've also won some post games
11:00 and that's shattered and.
11:04 So we gotta figure all that stuff out.
11:06 You mentioned the kids and the recruiting
11:10 and you've spoken with us about your own
11:12 confidence and your job security.
11:14 I'm just wondering emotionally for you,
11:16 Hunter, what he did Saturday night and Sunday.
11:18 Would that have any, you know,
11:20 relief for you or was you know,
11:22 I guess maybe you weren't surprised by it.
11:26 I wasn't, I mean.
11:28 We've never had a conversation
11:30 that I was ever going to get fired
11:33 or anything of that nature.
11:35 The pressure that I had had was.
11:39 One or myself more about.
11:43 My people employed in the building.
11:46 More about the state, the fans.
11:50 You know, nobody wants to disappoint
11:52 anybody that has character about it and.
11:56 So it was never and I mean this.
11:59 It was never one time about me,
12:01 met.
12:02 It was always about the approach.
12:05 The kids approaching the building
12:07 and the state of Arkansas.
12:09 I've lived a dream life and I
12:14 want to continue to do it.
12:16 But it never was about.
12:18 Now about me.
12:22 Nothing like that,
12:23 so there was the relief part of it
12:25 was more of for the kids for the
12:28 for recruiting all those type things.
12:31 And I was really happy that he did it because.
12:35 I think it needed to go out publicly
12:38 so we could move forward and and
12:40 have an opportunity to continue to
12:43 progress and change the football
12:45 team and recruiting as well.
12:46 It's been some journey for Cody
12:49 Schrader, Missouri running back.
12:51 I'm just curious, like what did you?
12:53 What do you see for him?
12:54 I don't know if you've watched
12:56 him a lot before Missouri,
12:57 but they kind of slipped through the
12:59 cracks and what makes him such a good
13:01 as well. Well, one is his
13:03 determination in his drive.
13:05 I mean, obviously he's very talented,
13:08 fast, reads holes unbelievably well
13:11 and can run over you run away from you.
13:15 But. You know he went to Truman State
13:19 and Truman State used to be old
13:21 Northeast Missouri State when I was
13:23 at Pitt State we played him in the
13:25 1990s when he got beat by the way.
13:28 But. You know he's just.
13:33 He fits in my opinion,
13:35 he fits Missouri well.
13:36 He would fit in to our place.
13:38 You know, tough physical programs,
13:39 things of that nature,
13:41 but what he's done is earned everything.
13:43 He's every accolade.
13:44 He's over 1200 yards rushing right now.
13:46 That you know,
13:47 obviously you gotta have a really
13:49 good offensive line of wideouts,
13:51 balls on the edge and stuff to get that as well.
13:55 But I'm just, you know,
13:57 I'm happy for him that he took
13:59 that chance when in there and and
14:01 there's one of the top running
14:04 backs out there in the country
14:06 and it's a really, really neat story.
14:08 Maybe any injury updates,
14:10 Rocket, R Dub and Braxton.
14:13 Rocket.
14:15 As a label tear.
14:18 And so he at some point here in the
14:21 next few days will have to get that repair.
14:24 Uh, the shod has a meniscus tear.
14:31 Which is actually.
14:33 Better news and what I thought on
14:36 Saturday and he is probably just
14:38 getting out of out of that surgery right now.
14:42 Uh.
14:43 I don't know where I was.
14:45 But we're in Braxton.
14:47 He practiced yesterday,
14:49 so I don't know if he'll be able
14:51 to play in the pregame this
14:53 year, but the entire.
14:54 That could practice yesterday as well.
14:59 As far as your coaching staff goes,
15:03 obviously you know the defensive
15:05 coaching staff and then you know
15:07 received a lot of praise and you
15:08 feel confident about being able to
15:10 keep the staff together after this year.
15:13 Well, I feel as confident as I do.
15:16 You know I have the first.
15:19 Three years, you know,
15:21 obviously if you do a fine job,
15:24 people are going to come look at you
15:26 and thank you as they did myself.
15:29 And I was in the system.
15:32 But.
15:34 Not any, not any different than
15:36 you know, nor normally normal.
15:38 You're going.
15:39 Somebody will come in and say I've
15:41 got a job opportunity somebody you
15:44 know it happens every year and then
15:46 it's up to me to figure out.
15:49 I'm a sure word to keep him up or or not.
15:52 Once again, the last East West game.
15:58 Because their divisions are going away.
16:00 You've been in the league a long time.
16:02 You've been coaching these culture.
16:03 Just wonder how you thought the
16:04 division all set up his work and
16:06 what do you think about the future
16:08 without divisions?
16:08 Yeah, obviously the West.
16:11 You know, went through its its time of
16:14 being probably very, very difficult.
16:16 And then the East went.
16:17 I mean, I'm talking about
16:19 from top to bottom and East had
16:21 its time in there as well and where
16:24 it was unbelievably strong top to bottom.
16:29 I really like how they have a setup
16:32 where he comes in his stays for years.
16:35 He's able to play in every stadium
16:37 and in the SEC and play at home and
16:40 home with with everybody in the SEC.
16:43 And so I'm really excited about.
16:47 The future of doing those things.
16:50 Keeping Missouri is our rival rivalry
16:52 game and things of that nature.
16:55 And I think most most of the rivalry
16:57 games were able to get catch.
16:59 You know some some obviously.
17:01 I won't get to play each other every year,
17:03 but most of them did and and.
17:07 So I'm really excited about how they set it up.
17:10 To be honest with you, Bob and and.
17:15 You know, I don't know that it's
17:17 gonna be any harder than what it was
17:20 normally just simply because we still
17:22 have the same number of conference games.
17:24 You know, it just depends on who you draw
17:27 and where they're at that year.
17:28 You know where they're playing well
17:31 or not that year, but obviously
17:33 it's a low dose.
17:35 Conference, you know,
17:36 it's the best in America.
17:38 Not saying that other teams
17:39 don't have great things, but.
17:42 Certainly proud to be a part of well,
17:45 well, this new era of the SEC.
17:48 Being out.
17:52 Yeah, good game.
17:56 Well, we have three left, you know, so.
18:04 You know Isaiah obviously earned.
18:06 Here's Kerry.
18:07 You know.
18:12 Dominic, you know he he looked
18:15 really good overnight I thought.
18:19 And certainly AJ.
18:20 So obviously we want to try to
18:22 rev up 23 a little bit more
18:24 after his performance and and.
18:27 I again, I really like that.
18:29 Dominic, any guy with shoulders
18:30 playing nobody really did some
18:32 good things of moving the file.
18:34 He's a big man and.
18:37 More importantly,
18:38 I think he probably got some
18:39 confidence out of it.
18:40 You know, I he really hadn't had
18:42 a lot of confidence in in that
18:44 means we just had some some guys
18:47 get it over earlier faster than others.
18:51 But I think he got some confidence
18:53 out of out of out of the few of
18:55 those really good runs that he made.
18:57 Because you face the Paramount
19:01 are really talented offenses this year,
19:03 but the combo of Burton and Cook
19:05 Schrader up there in terms of
19:07 balance on the SEC in terms of
19:09 the entire country,
19:10 what sort of challenges is that
19:12 offense bringing the on front?
19:13 Well, a lot because you know you're
19:15 going to play man to man coverage
19:18 and try to stop all the stretch
19:20 plays and naked all those things.
19:22 But you know, because cooks fast.
19:24 I mean like fast fast and and hurt
19:27 you with his legs and and his arm.
19:31 You know, we see the transfer
19:33 that came in age outstanding,
19:35 you know, so they had with Cooper
19:37 to the other right out there.
19:39 They they're talented so.
19:44 No, it's gonna be very difficult.
19:45 We want to show him a lot of different
19:48 looks and show him a lot of different
19:50 things. Obviously you know they
19:52 have a check system too,
19:53 so we're going to be ready if they
19:55 check to check to check things
19:57 of that nature that we have to
20:00 tackle well in space and we're
20:02 going to have to tackle running by.
20:04 He's going to have to keep him get
20:06 him on the ground without him breaking
20:08 the tackle is very, very tall task.
20:10 We've got a really good offense,
20:12 but you know we played a lot of
20:16 good offenses this year and and
20:18 they they are probably the most
20:21 balance of star skill.
20:23 Players is anybody in the conference.
20:25 They they have.
20:26 A lot of stars there that can
20:31 hurt you on any given play,
20:33 so we're going to play really well.
20:35 And I just wanted to ask you
20:37 about senior day.
20:38 I know there's eligibility stuff
20:40 with some people that can come back,
20:41 but the first group of guys you've
20:43 kind of seen freshman or senior
20:45 freshman for the four years of you
20:47 being here, how important is it for
20:49 you to honor those guys and up and
20:51 down season but the chance to do
20:53 it ahead of a very because.
20:56 You know they stay with us for four years.
20:58 You know that's.
20:59 Like almost that's not the norm anymore.
21:02 You know what I mean?
21:03 And I'm not saying anything
21:05 good or bad about that,
21:06 but the guys that came in here and you
21:08 know like like Brady and O and KJ and all.
21:11 You know there's several.
21:14 That are here for the last game and
21:16 then all they put into the program.
21:19 And had a lot of lot of great
21:22 moments with him and obviously had
21:25 some down moments as well, but.
21:27 No, they basically.
21:30 Chad, I feel bad for him because we're
21:33 not been able to go through a bowl
21:35 and they they that group of guys
21:37 kind of changed where we were to
21:40 respectability.
21:41 You know, at night we've been
21:43 ranked in the top 10 over the last
21:46 two years or two previous years and.
21:48 And say you could get there from,
21:51 you know, the four and 20.
21:54 These kids really work their tail off
21:57 and it'll be emotional deal when they
21:59 leave because they really been good to
22:02 me, good to our staff and I believe
22:05 that's the best thing we can do for the state.
22:08 I think 15 years walking and is there
22:10 anybody else who doesn't classify
22:11 how early you don't have to start?
22:13 No, not not all 26.
22:18 Some of them had opted out of it.
22:20 Be a lot of them out there.
22:25 Again.
22:28 I think it's 13 that might be 12.
22:31 Weather definitely not coming back.
22:33 You know where?
22:35 They're bright red on my board.
22:37 What means they don't even have a plus one,
22:39 so there's no conversations to have.
22:43 So we know those will be out there
22:46 and then guys like you know Hudson
22:48 Clark he'll be out there.
22:50 You know, like that,
22:51 but he has a plus one and.
22:53 You know, Brady and Bo and all
22:55 those guys they have a plus one.
22:57 Will try to figure all that out.
23:00 On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
23:01 Thursday and the next week.
23:03 It's obviously a dead period,
23:05 so you have time to bring them back in.
23:09 And see what they want to do with their
23:11 future, but they'll be out there as well.
23:13 KJ he'll be out there and he has a
23:16 plus one too, so you know who knows
23:18 what's going to happen with all that
23:20 stuff that we're definitely going to have.
23:22 Not to talk to him, but they'll be out there.
23:25 You got one. I think.
23:31 No, I think the only you know there
23:33 are some guys I want to talk to.
23:36 You know we get him back,
23:37 but no thanks we have anybody.
23:39 No, I don't think you'll be surprised
23:41 with like somebody out there with that.
23:44 You go man, that's a surprise.
23:47 OK.
23:51 I cannot be sold.
23:56 When you talk about in IL and feeling
24:01 better about situation, I'm wondering.
24:03 It's my mind is working.
24:05 I guess does it make a lot more
24:07 sense to throw your support behind
24:09 you and instead of buying you out
24:11 millions millions dollars and buying
24:13 out more your staff and buying out
24:15 some other coach coming here and
24:17 maybe asking our brokers and other
24:19 people throw that money behind NIL
24:22 and let's build this roster up.
24:25 Are you asking me?
24:26 Does it make more sense?
24:29 To.
24:32 Raise your NIL.
24:33 Well, you gotta yeah.
24:40 Well, I mean.
24:42 Obviously. I believe in me
24:51 and I believe in my staff so.
24:54 I would say whichever one of the
24:56 two you said first, I think if you said.
24:58 You know. Give us an opportunity.
25:01 In our airlines.
25:02 See what we can do.
25:04 I think that would be the
25:06 smartest thing to do.
25:07 Sometimes you gotta be careful
25:09 what you wish for.
25:10 Change the program might go.
25:12 It might get worse too.
25:15 But if you. So.
25:17 Yeah, I think we get.
25:23 Budget and they say no window.
25:24 They were all the cell.
25:26 We have a love for here.
25:27 We're going to go with it against anybody.
25:29 Got it's hard if you don't.
25:32 Right now for handing certain things,
25:34 70 pieces you guys can permanent.
25:38 Arkansas had more tradition,
25:39 more facilities.
25:40 How do you explain maybe the
25:42 library was over there before I went?
25:44 Oh man, what we wanted to.
25:51 I don't know. You know there was times
25:57 where Missouri's been really good too.
25:59 You know they.
26:01 Let's say they say they've had better
26:03 seasons than we have over the last well,
26:06 not necessarily.
26:08 Last year the year before,
26:09 but but you know before that
26:12 they had an issue and.
26:16 But most time it's really close game
26:18 and we just we haven't come out on top.
26:21 Obviously if it's 70 two I would know that.
26:24 Thinking about it,
26:25 it has to be not very good because
26:27 they're going to be this girl.
26:28 You talked about Brady could be fast.
26:33 What is it that's maybe got him
26:35 is playing well, right?
26:37 Confident what they do is
26:39 exactly what he does well.
26:42 And he can throw it out of the pocket.
26:44 They move in the right moving
26:46 the right play action.
26:49 But there are entire teams was playing
26:51 at the community some other.
26:53 More confidence, let's say sure.
26:55 Make them about him.
26:59 And but he's you can see him
27:02 just growing each and every week.
27:04 I mean, I never see it.
27:06 Press conference when they don't
27:07 have these problems.
27:08 But you know,
27:09 the very good and you know,
27:11 during the game and he was upset about it,
27:13 you know, and talked about it.
27:16 From that time on, he's been.
27:21 And he's probably good that game too,
27:23 but he's been he's really good play.
27:27 Lot of people like that, yeah?
27:28 I can remember when Coach Drinkwits
27:36 was an assistant at Springdale
27:37 High School and all that long ago,
27:39 and he said the success.
27:40 What is it about him?
27:42 You think it's allowed him and
27:44 them to be this successful?
27:45 Well, I think he's really good play college.
27:47 And I think he's.
27:49 Really good at organization
27:51 and you know those things and.
27:53 This year has been wonderful year for him and.
27:59 I think he's really done a good job of
28:04 getting his roster like he wants it.
28:06 So you kind of mentioned the future
28:11 a couple of times after the press conference.
28:13 Obviously, the job situation
28:15 has been resolved and you mentioned
28:16 how it's going to help you recruiting.
28:18 How do you view this game
28:19 in importance of sort of building
28:21 on making off of that?
28:22 That's a good question.
28:24 I think it's I think it's important.
28:26 You know, I don't think it's.
28:27 I don't know that it's going to hurt us
28:32 in recruiting if we happen to not win,
28:34 but I I know it could really,
28:36 really help us and get exposed
28:38 in everything and that's that's the plan.
28:41 And then we're going out.
28:42 I will see the play really well.
28:45 But I think I think that
28:47 it could certainly we know
28:49 we haven't made a right team
28:51 at the moment this year and.
28:54 We have the previous,
28:55 I guess all three of the other years, but.
28:57 That would be our opportunity to.
29:03 To do that.
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