Arkansas’ Pittman on Petrino hire: ‘I want to win’

• Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterJul 18, 2024, 04:54 PM ET

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  • College football reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

DALLAS– Arkansas coach Sam Pittman stated Thursday he knew his hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino would be questionable, however he stays persuaded that restoring Petrino was what was finest for the program.The Hogs are coming off a 4-8 record a year back, and Pittman is well aware of the hot-seat talk and the narrative that Petrino may be a popular choice to replace him if things don’t go well this season.Editor’s Picks

2 Related “I want to win. I do not care

about all the rest of it,”Pittman informed ESPN throughout an interview at SEC media days.”This has never ever, ever had to do with me. I’m grateful to be the head coach at Arkansas, and I’m attempting to make individuals of the state of Arkansas, the group and the personnel proud to be a part of the program.”Pittman, who has a home in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and prepares to retire there, stopped briefly and said with a firm smile,”Now, if they send me down to Hot Springs, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. “To be clear, he’s not intending on going anywhere, and while he stated the media might not like this group in its predictions, he likes this group and stated that bringing Petrino aboard was something he thoroughly thought about before making the decision.” He’s got immediate trustworthiness,” Pittman stated.

“I indicate, I’m not for sure there’s a great deal of coaches that would’ve hired him.”Petrino, commonly thought about among the top offensive minds

in football, was Arkansas ‘head coach from 2008 to ’11 and led the Hogs to 21 wins and top-15 finishes his last two seasons. He remains extremely popular amongst many of the fans. But prior to the 2012 season, he was fired in the wake of a scandal after misleading his employers about an affair he was having with a woman staffer whom he had employed. All of it emerged after Petrino was involved in a motorcycle accident with the woman riding on the back.Pittman stated he had several names on his list after shooting Dan Enos as his offensive planner throughout last season.

He talked with Seth Littrell before the Oklahoma task came open, among others. He stated Petrino’s agent at first called to inform Pittman that Petrino would be interested. After their first interview, Pittman understood he would have to get clearance from the Arkansas administration.” I sat on it for two or three days for numerous factors, right?”Pittman said.” You’ve got a lot going on in your head.” After his 2nd talk with Petrino, Pittman went before his administration to see if they might continue progressing with a contract. Pittman admittedly

wasn’t sure what type of answer he would get when he initially discussed Petrino as a prospect.” I asked concerns,”Pittman said. “Did I believe I would get a no? Maybe. However I didn’t.”And once he didn’t, he sat down with Petrino for a third time,

and the conversation was more about X’s and O’s. “You got his enthusiasm, that he wanted to come back,”

Pittman stated.”We were extremely comparable about how I thought we might win, and he thought we could. There was also the NIL, the

alumni, a great deal of things enter into that. We required aid at Arkansas economically, and there were things where Bobby understood some people that could assist us also. So there was a great deal of different things, and he might help me because he was a head coach at these different groups. “Arkansas All-SEC protective end Landon Jackson matured an Arkansas fan in Texarkana, Texas, and keeps in mind those powerhouse Arkansas teams under Petrino. He said he was”initially shocked”when he heard that Petrino may be returning.”I resembled, ‘Ain’t no chance,'”Jackson recounted.”However once they hired him, I resembled,’Oh yeah, excellent hire and good for our group. ‘Around the community, I understand it was a shock to hear that he was coming back. However everybody is prepared for the Hogs to win some games, and we understand Bobby can help us do it.” Arkansas generated Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green, a 6-6, 223-pound Lewisville, Texas, local who enjoyed tape with Petrino of Lamar Jackson and the late Ryan Mallett, both of whom Petrino

coached. “I had questions about what I battled with last season and the season before and what his plan was to help me, and what really impressed me is he already understood how to do it,”Green stated.”He’s never amazed over a defense.

He’s never surprised over a circumstance due to the fact that he’s been through everything.”So has Pittman, who’s entering his fifth season at Arkansas. When he took over in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic started, Arkansas had actually lost 19 straight SEC games. But by his second season, he guided the Hogs to a 9-4 record and was a finalist for nationwide coach of the year honors.But the Hogs lost six straight games at one point last season( five of those by 7 or less points)and completed 1-7 in the SEC. They ranked 116th nationally in lawns per play( 4.93)and were 128th in sacks enabled( 47). That’s where Petrino can be found in and why Pittman shrugs at what anyone on the outside says about the hire or what his future is at Arkansas. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek launched a statement in November that Pittman would return for another season. That wants Arkansas extended Pittman’s contract and provided him a raise prior to the 2022 season.”What takes place occurs, “Pittman stated.” I’m going to go that way or in this manner doing it the method I wish to do it. That’ll never ever alter.”