Arkansas fans may have recently found themselves back on the Sam Pittman hype train, which was rapidly gaining momentum heading into Saturday’s homecoming matchup against LSU. However, after an uninspiring 24-point loss to the Tigers, Pittman will need to get it straightened out on the road against Mississippi State this weekend, just as he got things kicked off back in 2020.
The Pittman era in Fayetteville has been a roller-coaster since the Mississippi State and Ole Miss wins more than four years ago, to say the least. Expectations weren’t particularly high for the former Georgia O-line coach heading into his first, pandemic-altered season in 2020. After a surprisingly optimistic 3-7 (4-6 depending on who you ask) debut campaign, the Hogs put together 9-4 and 7-6 seasons in Pittman’s second and third years, respectively.
Last season, though, it seemed to all come crashing down. The Razorbacks managed just four wins, with only one in the SEC, and saw the departure of stars KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders. The current vibe surrounding the program after a disappointing loss to LSU starkly contrasts the vibe of the program after Pittman’s first ‘signature’ wins.
Remember How Arkansas Got Here?
The Pittman era kicked off with a boom. In just his second game as head coach he led his team into Starkville, where Arkansas knocked off the No. 16 Bulldogs 24-21. It was then that “turn that damn jukebox on” was born, and Arkansas football formed a new identity of physicality and intensity under Pittman & Co…