Hogs third baseman Brady Slavens talked with the media after a 2-for-4 day at the plate with 4 RBI and a homer for Red team.
Pittman has beaten two of fans’ choice back in December for Hogs’ job
When Sam Pittman managed to talk his way into the Arkansas job in December, a lot of fans were despondent because Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach turned it down.
Let’s be just totally straightforward about it. The only guys pushing Pittman for the job were his former players.
It didn’t get much national attention beyond a shrug.
“Solid guy, decent hire,” was what one text message I got from a national media guy. “But he’s not Kiffin or Leach.”
Now he’s beaten both of them after knocking off Kiffin’s Ole Miss team Saturday, 33-21. He’d already beaten Leach’s Mississippi State team two weeks ago.
Now every Razorback fan is completely giddy over the hiring of Pittman. Fayetteville was one giant party Saturday night after the game and it extended from the west side of town all the way through Dickson St. and to the east side.
But the feeling is Pittman is getting kinda tired of hearing all the talk about how he’s supposed to be surprised over sitting at 2-2 (which should be 3-1 if not for the mess at the end of the Auburn game).
“Hell, I thought we were going to win ’em all,” Pittman said after the win over the Rebels. “Look, there’s not really any pressure on us. Expectations weren’t high outside the building but in our athletic department and our locker room, (expectations) are as high as they can be.
“I’m not surprised we beat Ole Miss today. I wasn’t surprised we beat Mississippi State. I wasn’t surprised we were in the ballgame at Auburn.”
He has to be at least a little surprised, though, at how the Hogs’ defense is playing. Senior Grant Morgan is playing at a fanatical pace.
Against Ole Miss he had 19 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown, playing with basically one arm.
The Hogs didn’t exactly shut down Mississippi State or the Rebels’ offense as much as they just allowed them to make the mistake that would cost them a drive.
In two games against coaches who are known for prolific offenses, defensive coordinator Barry Odom has figured out a way to get turnovers, put points on the board and get a couple of stops.
That’s the goal these days in college football. Rules and trends mean offenses are going to get yards and score points.
Yet Odom has figured out how to grab nine interceptions combined in those two games and turn three of them into touchdowns. Let that number sink in for a minute. A third of the interceptions against highly-regarded offenses the defense turned into touchdowns.
“Barry Odom is the real deal,” Pittman said Saturday.
He’s done it because he inherited some players who were hungry for success, bought into his approach and had talent a lot better than what just about everybody thought.
“We’ve got a talented group,” Pittman said. “We’ve got a resilient group. We have a group that can catch passes on defense and return them for touchdowns.”
Nobody wanted to believe that in August. You couldn’t find anybody that would have dreamed of getting six interceptions in one game … three by walk-on cornerback Hudson Clark.
“I was planning on getting seven when the game started, but we’ll take six,” Pittman said with a chuckle.
As for Clark, it’s probably a safe bet he’ll have a scholarship sooner rather than later. For those who didn’t know about him, it’s a good bet they will. His three interceptions Saturday were overshadowed a little in the headlines by Morgan, who is a senior playing with an elbow injury.
“They’ve heard of (Clark) now,” Pittman said. “Three times at least.”
Redshirt freshman Jalen Catalon also brought an interception back when he jumped a route in the first half, caught the ball and nobody could get him before he got to the end zone.
“That’s coaching, that’s playing, that’s being in position, that’s reading eyes,” Pittman said. “That kid Corral had one interception going into today. We picked him six times so that’s coaching and that’s players learning and obviously being able to get it done as well.”
Which is something often over-looked. Odom has this defense playing like it is because he’s simplified things, the players know each and every week what they are supposed to do and where they are supposed to be.
Defense in football is stupid simple. The important thing is to see who has the football and get the guy with it on the ground as fast as possible or catch the ball if it’s in the air.
Odom and his staff figure out on Sunday what the other team can do successfully, show it to the players. They know what to expect, where to be and can play full speed. That hasn’t been seen from the Hogs in years.
In case you’re wondering, the direction for that comes from the top.
Which is why Pittman has now beaten two of the more popular on the wish list of fans back in December.
It’s a good bet Hog fans wouldn’t trade for either of those guys now.
Morgan’s arm ‘about as well as it can be’ after 19-tackle game against Rebels
Grant Morgan, playing with one arm, recorded 19 tackles and had an interception return for a score in win over Ole Miss.
Clark has had three interceptions in game before … when he was in junior high
Arkansas cornerback Hudson Clark talked with the media after picking off three Matt Corral passes in win over Ole Miss on Saturday.
Pittman on Razorbacks’ defensive effort in getting win over Ole Miss
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman with the media after getting his first win in Fayetteville and the opportunistic defensive effort.
Burks on leaping one-handed catch against Ole Miss, playing injured in win
Razorbacks wide receiver Treylon Burks talked after the 33-21 win over the Rebels on Saturday and couldn’t rank his diving catch for TD.
Franks on defensive momentum, development of Burks, recapping win over Rebels
Hogs quarterback Feleipe Franks talked with the media about how the defense gave the team momentum, how Treylon Burks has progressed.
Hogs close out second SEC win, downing Ole Miss in fourth quarter
Arkansas’ defense and senior linebacker had a fourth-quarter push Saturday to down Ole Miss in Fayetteville, 33-21, for the first SEC win in Fayetteville since 2016.
4Q 3:07: When Arkansas’ defense needed a big play Grant Morgan provided it returning Matt Corral’s fifth interception of the day 23 yards into the end zone and maybe sealing a win.
Hogs 33, Rebels 21
4Q 5:30: Ole Miss appeared to be stopped on a three-and-out but MoMo Sanogo went 47 yards on a fake punt, then Snoop Conner scored three plays later to make this one close going down the stretch.
Hogs 26, Rebels 21
4Q 7:36: Arkansas answered Ole Miss’ touchdown with a 7-yard scoring pass from Feleipe Franks to Treylon Burks, who made a leaping one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone and got a toe down for the score. The Hogs’ went for 2, but that failed.
Hogs 26, Rebels 14
4Q 12:06: Ole Miss makes it an interesting fourth quarter, scoring on an eight-play, 66-yard drive with Matt Corral finding Jonathan Mingo for a 21-yard score on a secondary breakdown by the Hogs.
Hogs 20, Rebels 14
3Q 4:35: Ole Miss’ offense finally got untracked, but it wasn’t with big plays as Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Conner did most of the hard work in a 10-play, 56-yard drive after a huge goal-line stand by the Hogs.
Hogs 20, Rebels 7
Arkansas’ defense is real … at least for the first half against Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks’ defense scored seven points and the offense added 10 for a 20-OH! lead over the Rebels’ high-flying offense that was shut down by a fanatical effort by senior linebacker Grant Morgan with 11 tackles in the half.
But it was Jalen Catalon’s 35-yard interception return for a score early in the second quarter that highlighted one of the better defensive halves the Hogs have had in awhile.
The Hogs simply out-played Ole Miss on both sides of the ball.
Arkansas had more total offense (243-145) than the Rebels, who scored 48 on Alabama last week and had over 600 yards of offense.
Feleipe Franks wasn’t spectacular (12-of-19 for 159 yards) but managed the game while the Rebels’ Matt Corral was chased and harassed by the Hogs’ defense that had two sacks and two interceptions.
2Q 1:41: Arkansas managed getting to halftime with a lead, driving 50 yards in 12 plays and eating up 3:21 near the end of the half and A.J. Reed’s 32-yarder provided a big lead.
Hogs 20, Rebels 0
2Q 10:40: On first down after Arkansas’ score Catalon picked off Corral and returned it 35 yards to the end zone and give Arkansas the biggest lead it’s had in an SEC game in a few years.
Hogs 17, Rebels 0
2Q 10:50: After cornerback Hudson Clark intercepted an Ole Miss pass, the Hogs drove 42 yards in seven plays before Franks’ pass to Blake Kern in the end zone was tipped away. Reed kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Hogs added to their lead.
Hogs 10, Rebels 0
Arkansas is driving as the first quarter comes to an end, leading Ole Miss in total yards, 140-84, as the offense seems content to be getting short chunks down the field.
A pass from Franks to Treylon Burns down the left sideline for 55 yards was the longest play of the quarter.
The Hogs will start the second period at their own 45 facing second-and-9.
Hogs 7, Rebels 0
1Q 5:47: Rakeem Boyd gets into the end zone from a yard out to cap an 11-play, 95-yard drive that ate up 4:11 after Ole Miss ran into punter Reid Bauer trying to block it. A.J. Reed added the extra point.
Hogs 7, Rebels 0
1Q 9:58: Bauer “blasts” a 28-yard punt and Ole Miss gets a short field at their own 40. The Rebels drive to the Arkansas 1 Matt Corral fumbles an exchange and Jalen Catalon recovers at the 5.
Hogs 0, Rebels 0
Arkansas’ offense struggles on an opening possession after the opening kickoff and Franks’ pass on third down was intercepted by Ole Miss’ Jaylon Jones but he didn’t make it to the ground.
Ole Miss’ offense is now moving.
PETER’S PICKS: Razorbacks will down Rebels for first SEC win in state
As a young kid I once snuck into my older brother’s truck, turned on the stereo, and listened to his Journey cassette for hours until the battery died.
Needless to say Big Brother handled my grievance with an unusual physical aggression which to this day I have not fully forgotten.
Brothers fight; it is our nature. It’s being able to forgive and forget which provides us with the special bond we carry into our adult years.
I’ve heard it said Arkansas and Ole Miss are like brothers. We don’t really get along most of the time, yet we are somehow bonded in the public eye.
Perhaps it is because neither of us have won an SEC Championship Game? Is it possibly due to the two states being so close and similar (minus the mayflies)?
Maybe it is the gratitude we extend to Mississippi for always keeping us one notch farther from last place in education rankings.
Who knows? If one even subscribes to that theory and wonders whatever it is, we seem to enjoy each other’s misery.
Speaking of forgetting, the Razorbacks are doing everything they can to forget the atrocious call (or three missed calls on one play if you will) which the football nation ultimately says cost them the game against Auburn.
“We are looking to the game at Ole Miss,” seems to be the consensus out of Fayetteville.
Yet does anyone fully believe the misdeeds given at the hands of SEC officiating has completely been erased from the minds of these young athletes?
The NCAA announcing late in the week it is making a lucidity change for “clear and immediate recovery” will not help expunge the thoughts of Auburn being the benefactor of the officiating crew’s multiple errors.
If in fact the memory does linger, our hope is to utilize it as motivation.
Some, including Vegas, have stated this contest will be an offensive showcase, and several of those have further gone on record indicating Arkansas will not be able to hang with the Rebels’ big numbers for the full four quarters. I see it differently.
What I envision is the Razorback defense stepping up and keeping Ole Miss from frequenting the endzone. Do I have doubts in my prediction? Who wouldn’t?
One thing I have learned recently as an Arkansas fan is consistency and stability are not a reoccurring weekly theme.
This game will be a good fight between brothers fueled by hate instead of compassion, and hopefully the cool Arkansas fall evening will find those donning cardinal and white in a pleased mood.
My apologies to my sibling for my lack of respect to your personal property, and also for your punishment later handed down from Mom and Dad.
To this day I do not know how they found out. Furthermore, here’s to all the brothers (and even you sisters) who square off from time-to-time in an expression of frustration and love. Just try not to do it the week before picture day, okay, fellas?
Let’s return to business.
Why Arkansas will win:
Rakeem Boyd is back. Yes, I have been singing this kid’s praises since his time at Independence CC, and the word is his ankle is 100% ready to go.
Bringing him back healthy and utilizing the “on fire” Trelon Smith from the backfield has given Kendal Briles an entirely new option of attack.
The defense is still strong. Barry Odom has no doubt made the defense even more stern this week in preparation for Ole Miss.
Matt Corral will present a problem at quarterback, yet our secondary is… I cannot believe I am about to say this… second to none. [Lame comment #1]
Special Teams. They will perform better this week. In so many ways, they have no other option, and I feel a big play brewing in the football realm.
Why Ole Miss will win:
Their defense is said to be lesser than, and this gives hope to our offense of doing something big. Unfortunately, Arkansas has historically proven it can make anything deemed to be inferior look superior.
Love him or hate him, Lane Kiffin is not a bad coach. Sure, he’s an idiot, but he learned enough from his father to be mildly successful. He will have his team ready this week.
Matt Corral and the Ole Miss offense may be a team which has just the right mix of chemistry and strategy to rip apart Arkansas’s improved defense.
Final Thoughts:
I did not know the Grove at Ole Miss can no longer hold barbecues. Please forgive me for not being 100% certain which of the many talented talk show hosts were discussing this recently.
The over/under on this game is high. Like I mentioned above, I do not see this happening.
I still hate Mississippi State’s cowbells. No offense Blue Oyster Cult.
If you’re attending the game, be certain to use sign language to remind Lame Kiffin he has only won a single game this season. [Lame comment #2]
Confidence is key for Arkansas. Judging by recent interviews with the players, they have an abundance, and Pittman really has this group focused and humble.
This will be no upset.
Arkansas 34 – 17.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. via HitThatLine.com, and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
SEC Picks for Week 7
Andy texted me last week and asked … no, he strongly suggested a weekend in the SEC where nothing goes as planned. Upsets, crazy calls, and a group of cats whipping a rabid pack of dogs in Lexington.
“Facebook” even paid homage with a feline and a canine sleeping together (à la Peter Venkman), but that’s another topic. Even though I am still up by one (due to my having an off-week and Andy not trusting the voice inside him stating Halloween in the SEC started on Week 6), I must tip my hat to the older gentleman; he said the SEC would go haywire, and it certainly did.
(15) Auburn at South Carolina: Auburn was handed a gift last week. This week they travel to South Carolina hopeful a new clarification to a judgment enforcement does not impact their chances at a victory. It won’t. Tigers by 11.
Kentucky at (18) Tennessee: The two SEC Teams for which, respectively, I was not sold on early and think they are currently overrated. The jury is still out on the latter, and no verdict is given this week. Vols by 24.
Ole Miss at Arkansas: Homecoming. No one loses on homecoming, but, of course, as my friend from Johnson County Westside once told me, “Everywhere we went for a game it was homecoming”. Maybe Ole Miss will take it as an insult. Hogs by 17.
LSU at (10) Florida: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I genuinely thought LSU would play better last week, and they did; however, give credit to Missouri for showing up and giving new life to their program’s faithful. Florida let me down by faltering late and losing to the Aggies in a close contest. The Gators are better this week. Florida by 18.
(11) Texas A&M at Mississippi State: What can be said? Arkansas’s victory over the Bulldogs does not look as impressive now, yet their all but beating Auburn still shows… Wait, this is about A&M and MSU. Aggies by 24.
Vanderbilt at Missouri: I honestly had minor thoughts Vandy might be a bit more competitive this season than they’ve shown. Meanwhile, Mizzou has been Drinkwitzing the Kool-Aid and is looking solid. [Yes, you guessed it, lame comment #3. Quota met.] Tigers by 30.
(3) Georgia at (2) Alabama [GAME OF THE WEEK]: Saban is out due to COVID. No, wait, he’s back in the building. No, he’s coaching from home. “Wait,” says those in power, “he cannot coach from home. Outside communications will be cut off.” HOLD IT! Now he has a negative COVID test, so he’ll be gracing the sidelines at Tuscaloosa. Weird week, huh, Andy? Saban will not be yelling at the scrubs this week though as there will be no mop-up duty. In fact, if Saban has a sense of smell, he is probably catching the unsettling aroma of an upset. Bulldogs by 9.
Hey, social media. Feel free to let me know how I did AFTER the game. Kidding.
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
Hogs have shot against Ole Miss, which could be another crazy one
Considering the Arkansas-Ole Miss series is full of drama, craziness and a disagreement over trivia, it probably isn’t too silly to think Saturday could be wild.
The Hogs and Rebels usually bring out a big effort in each other, but no series has created the collection of zaniness this one does.
The trivia argument is one that would just cause a massive rolling of the eyes these days, but in 1914, the Razorbacks claimed Ole Miss used an ineligible player and recorded a win, despite being on the short end on the scoreboard.
Here’s some others:
• 1954: No. 1-ranked Ole Miss was stopped early on the goal-line by the Hogs, then backup Buddy Bob Benson sailed a 66-yard pass to Preston Carpenter for the game’s only score and a 6-0 win in Little Rock. That game was the first to really put Arkansas in the national spotlight and the first overflow sellout at War Memorial Stadium.
• 1960: It looked like the teams would play a 7-7 tie after a short field goal was called good after referee Tommy Bell had called a timeout on a first attempt for “excessive crowd noise.” He signaled the second one good as soon as it was kicked and was wide and fistfights broke out all over the stadium.
• 2001 Seventh Heaven: Arkansas won a barn-burner in Oxford, going seven overtimes to win against Eli Manning and the Rebels. It was a game that seemed to never end.
• 2008 Familiar Coach: Houston Nutt left Fayetteville after the 2007 season for Oxford, beat the Hogs two out of four times and got fired.
• 2015 Henry Heave: In yet another game that appeared headed to lasting half the night, Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25, tight end Hunter Henry caught a pass and wasn’t going to get the first down and threw the ball backwards. Alex Collins got the first down, the Razorbacks scored and Austin Allen converted a 2-point conversion for a 53-52 win.
Those are just the highlights. Twice as many have had all sorts of drama and surprising finishes and everything is there for a crazy game this year.
Ole Miss is a slight (-1.5) favorite but the Hogs have a 57.4% chance of winning, according to the ESPN Power Index.
Maybe the best-looking bet is an over-under of only 76.5. Considering Ole Miss’ offense wasn’t stopped last week against Alabama and their defense couldn’t stop the Crimson Tide, what Kendal Briles comes up with on the Hogs’ offense may be the key.
Assuming, of course, Barry Odom doesn’t have something cooked up to slow down the Rebels’ attack.
I’ll take the over and the Hogs in what may come down to who gets the ball last.
Arkansas 56, Ole Miss 45
Before last week’s games started I told Pete Morgan there would be a crazy week, but I didn’t know when. It turned out to be last week … and it may not be the only one is a wacky season. We were both 3-4.
Pete leads by a single win with a 15-6 mark.
• Auburn (-2.5) at South Carolina
Two weeks ago the Tigers would be a much bigger favorite but, apparently, the oddsmakers took notice of Auburn’s theft of a win over the Hogs last week. Now Auburn has to go on the road with a team that hasn’t looked as good as it’s rating in the polls.
It is beyond temptation to take the Gamecocks here, but I’m not convinced they can pull out a win.
Auburn 24, South Carolina 21
• Kentucky at Tennessee (-6.5)
At 43.5, take the Under in this one. Both teams have really good defenses and the Vols started fast against Georgia before the Bulldogs stomped them last week. I’m going out on a limb here, but the Wildcats’ running game will be the difference in this one.
Kentucky 21, Tennessee 20
• Texas A&M at Mississippi State
Neither team’s fans really know which one of these dual personalities for both teams will show up in this one. The Aggies shocked Florida and me last week. The Bulldogs shocked by their ineptitude against Kentucky. The Bulldogs can’t run at all and the guess is their free-fall continues.
Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 28
• Georgia at Alabama (-4.5)
With the news Nick Saban tested negative after his positive test earlier in the week, he may actually be on the sidelines for the game and the guess here is he’ll be there. It may be the difference for the Crimson Tide, who win this one big.
Alabama 31, Georgia 21
Fantasy Football Sunday — w/ Davis Mattek of SportsGrid
Tye & Evan recap the Mon/Tue games, look ahead to the weekend and take your mailbag questions!
