After an upset loss to Memphis, University of Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman’s seat could become too hot to handle. Pittman entered the season with a public mandate to show improvement. While the mandate was not made official, the demands of fans and alums suggest that another mediocre-to-subpar season for the Hogs could see the Razorbacks replace him, even during the middle of a season.
Life in the SEC dictates that coaches rarely get a long leash without demonstrating success and a few upset wins under their metaphorical belts.
Arkansas HC Sam Pittman’s Firing All but a Certainty, Asserts CFB Analyst
Arkansas will need to play better with as many as potentially six games against ranked teams still on its schedule. While 2-2 does not seem like the end of the world, the second loss resonated. With 1:35 in the game’s second quarter against Memphis, Mike Washington scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown, widening the lead to 28-10.
Over the next 31:35 of game time, the Tigers outscored the Hogs, 22-3, sending Pittman’s team back to Fayetteville with a loss. College football analyst Aaron Torres believes that the school will part ways with their head coach.
“At Arkansas, you don’t want to do it heading into the fifth game of the season. Everybody knows, but players can play in four games in a season and still take a redshirt. If you fire a coach the third game, or the fourth game before that, every player on the roster could just say, ‘You know what?’ I’m good.”
Torres thinks the four-game transfer rule not only saved Pittman’s job but also prevented the team from possibly seeing a mass exodus that would wipe out the remainder of the season. That would be the type of embarrassment that follows a program. With that said, Torres sets a timeline for when the administration could give Pittman his walking papers.
“There’s a very good chance that going into the bye week or going out of the bye week, however, Sam Pittman will not be the head coach and that the move will be made Sunday.”
Pittman faces Notre Dame at home on Saturday. He could see the end of his tenure on Sunday if the Razorbacks don’t pull off a major upset. Arkansas’ next game is on October 11, as they have a bye on October 4. Regardless of his 3-0 record in bowl games, Pittman’s 32-33 mark apparently does not sit right.
As a result, the bye mentioned above occurs after the Notre Dame game. According to the Southwest Times-Record (Fort Smith, Ark), if the school fires Pittman on October 1, they will pay the coach approximately $9.8 million. Will Arkansas make the move, and if they do, who takes over?
