Paul Finebaum made his regular appearance on WJOX on Monday morning on the “McElroy and Cubelic In the morning” show and shared some thoughts on Arkansas and Sam Pittman.
The Razorbacks are coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, and now enter 2023 with a pair of new coordinators.
“You can’t have a conversation about Arkansas without saying how much we all love Sam Pittman,” Finebaum said. “I don’t think there’s any question, his authenticity really makes him popular and it makes it — you’re pained to criticize him, but last year was a mess.”
Finebaum said he figured Arkansas looked like a 9-3 team last season, and others figured they’d be better.
“It’s going to be a challenge for them to, I think, get over the top,” he said. “He’s built a good program. But can he build a great program and I don’t know if I can go all in saying he can until he does. And I know that may be a confusing sentence. But I feel like he’s way ahead of the game and now I feel like he’s trying to catch up, which is a tough spot for him.”
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I think the honeymoon period with Pittman is starting to dwindle away. Everybody loves the Pittboss because of his personality and way of doing things, but the on field production/success has regressed and the off field attrition (transfers/new coordinators) has increased. He needs a successful last season with KJ or the temperament in Fayetteville will start to heat up.
Arky had a great 2021 becuase of all their Super Seniors. Last season when KJ was hurt plus other injuries they really struggled. I see more of the same this season. They should be on a par with Mizzou but they're in the SEC West which has been a tougher division.
Arkansas is no different than any other program - there exists a vocal minority of fans who demand win now or go home. Even though Pittman was tasked with rebuilding a program from the ashes of Chad Morris, no step back is allowed otherwise (as you say Standard) honeymoon over with the "fans" who howl at the moon.
Last season was a disappointment and, admittedly, a surprise but injuries (esp. to KJ) and locker room drama combined to provide regression. But the attrition you reference is exactly the type of leadership a winning program must have. Players and coaches who contributed to that drama were invited to leave and Pittman has hired exciting coaching replacements and done an excellent job of getting players we need from the portal (in addition to signing a Top 15 recruiting class).
I fully expect a rebound season in '23. How many wins does that translate to in the SEC West? I don't have an answer to that but I feel confident Pittman is building what will be a consistently good program. Will it become a great program? Can't the same question be asked about every team in the SEC West? The answer is when is Saban retiring?
Arkansas has a ceiling. It's 10 wins a year. Petrino hit that ceiling there, too.
I know Razorback fans don't want to hear it, but while they have a tremendous, engaged fanbase, they face recruiting shortfalls as a state that makes it impossible to truly contend for National Titles.
Could they win an SEC Title? I mean, in the handful of times they've made it to Atlanta, none in the last 20 years, and only because better programs have been on probation, they've been blown-out by the East team.
If Arkansas fans can accept the reality that their ceiling is the NY6 and not the Playoff, I think they can be very happy with Pittman.
Only five (5) football teams have averaged ten (10) games or more (only 2) in the past ten years, so 10 wins is a number very, very few teams ever reach.
Agreed on most. Check the facts on the SEC championship. No wins, but if it were not for a bone head Fish dropped punt vs UFL in '06, they had FL beat. I know, that's no match for the top 4 or maybe 5 schools in the conference, but they have as good a history as say, TN.
Yep, that loss to FL in the SECCG still has many Hog fans wondering “what if” had Fish not muffed that punt. Right there with the Stoerner fumble against TN in 1998 and the loss to TX in 1969.
The question of winning a National Championship is not paramount at Arkansas. You said what everyone else already knew so I guess you're just catching up. Whatever.
Pittman is a likable guy for sure but they don’t keep Saban at Bama because he’s a nice and likable guy! Pittman just isn’t a winner and He has the deck stacked against him because Arkansas doesn’t get top recruits and doesn’t have top coaches. Year 4 shouldn’t be a rebuilding year. No Surprise the U of A didn’t reach out to Kingsbury for OC. Not that he’d even consider it but what would it hurt? It is Arkansas.
"Pittman just isn't a winner"
He has won more games than he's lost(with the adjusted 2020 schedule where we would've likely won 3 of 4 non conference games) every year he's been at Arkansas. That's called a winning coach.
Also year 4 isn't a rebuilding year. Your lack of knowledge about Arkansas athletics and football in general is startling.
You're just another delusional homer wishing for a 10 win season and a Heisman candidate. Won't get that with Pittman or at Arkansas. He has a 19-17 record in 3 seasons that doesn't scream success and I've forgotten more about Arkansas football than you will ever know!
If you're that studied on Arkansas, why is every post a put down. Why would you bother to "forget more about Arkansas" than anyone else. Saying it doesn't make it true, which all of us believe that you don't have a clue.
Lol, what’s your handle on Hogville? I bet I could guess it given your DA posts.
Pittman stabilized a garbage fire and has done an admirable job. However, at this point it appears he is an overall average type of head coach at best. Can he raise the program to a higher level? Remains to be seen. I wish him all the best, except against my team :)
It shows how good of a job that Sam has done when a 7 win season is disappointing when your program is just 3 seasons removed from 2-10. Is he a national title level coach? No? Will we make the Playoff with him? No, likely not. But his kids love playing for him and there's plenty of talent for 2023 and beyond. Hogs will be fine, as will the rest of our fanbase when they drop the unrealistic expectations they have for our program.
Four losses by a total of 9 points. It can make you think it was close, or it can make a Hog fan cry. Close but no soap and the odd thing seemed to be that when the offense was holding up well, the defense was setting records for, for the other teams offense. Then the defense would put together a good game, LSU for one, and the offense couldn't roll. But losing both coordinators might not be an all together bad thing, especially on defense.
If we had a top 60 defense last year we win 10 games. I expect 9 this season with our schedule being lighter.