2024 SEC Media Days: All Eyes on Arkansas, Pittman

Sam Pittman told reporters at his Southeastern Conference Media Days press event that he knows 2024 will be a crucial season for the Arkansas football program, and it seems the fifth-year head coach is ready to embrace the challenge of turning his team around.

Pittman's Media Days remarks commenced with a promising note to the Arkansas faithful: "If we can take 4-20 to 9-4, we can deal with 4-8, too, and that's what we're going to do."

Referring to the harrowing, disastrous tenure of his predecessor, Chad Morris, Pittman seems to have faith that this year's Arkansas squad can pick up the pieces after an extremely disappointing 2023 season. With fresh faces both on the field and on the sidelines, there's reason for optimism in Fayetteville, Ark.

The War In The Trenches

The most embarrassing part of Arkansas' 2023 season was its extreme ineptitude when trying to protect the quarterback. The offensive line struggles that plagued the Razorbacks from the start of the year stuck out even more considering that Pittman himself is an offensive line coach at heart, serving as OL coach for Arkansas from 2013 to 2015. Former Oregon offensive line coach Eric Mateos was brought over in the offseason to mend the group that helped plunge Arkansas into a losing season in 2023.

Knowing that Arkansas' status in the trenches would be of utmost importance to fans, Pittman addressed the position group right off the bat: "I think the most improved part of our football team this spring was our offensive line," Pittman said. "I'm excited about that group."

Words during a corporate-esque press conference won't be the end-all, be-all for results on the field, but if Pittman, a tenured offensive line coach, feels as if the group has improved, who are we to doubt him?

Close Games Must Go The Other Way

The other elephant in the room regarding Pittman's regime at Arkansas? His inability to close out tightly contested games was a problem that plagued Arkansas in 2022. In the 20 one-score games that Pittman has coached, Arkansas has only won six. In 2023 alone, the Razorbacks were losers in five one-possession games, including three straight losses by seven points or less to the likes of Ole Miss, Alabama and Mississippi State.

"We have to figure out how to finish, win the close games," Pittman said. "We lost five games by a touchdown or less. We have got to figure that out."

If the Razorbacks are to return to a bowl game in 2024, they'll likely have to win some tight games against some of the best teams in the country. Playing in the SEC comes with the obligation of putting forth the team's best effort every week, something Pittman isn't shying away from.

"We play seven preseason top 25 teams. That's how it is in the SEC. They also have to play the Arkansas Razorbacks," he said. "We're excited about our non-conference opponents this year. We go to Oklahoma State (in) week two. I really like that game."

Pittman at Media Days: Turning Over a New Leaf

The week two matchup against Oklahoma State could prove to be the litmus test in what might be a do-or-die season for Pittman in Fayetteville. Despite the litany of issues Pittman faces, the Head Hog doesn't seem to be backing down, but rather, treating 2024 as a new beginning for a program desperate for consistent results.

"2024 is a fresh start," Pittman said. "We know our fans deserve a team that competes at the highest level. "I believe in our players and staff and state and the direction we're heading.... We're going to rise to the challenge for a great 2024 season."

Time will tell if Pittman can cool off his hot seat this season, but it sounds like the man who says coaching at Arkansas is his "dream job" isn't deterred by past misfortune.