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Sam Pittman celebrates Arkansas becoming bowl-eligible: ‘We didn’t win the Super Bowl but it sure feels like it’
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Arkansas is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016 thanks to a late 31-28 win at Mississippi State.
The Razorbacks entered the season with 7 wins in their last 3 seasons, winning twice in each of Chad Morris’ years at the helm in 2018 and 2019 (but 0 times in the SEC) and thrice in 2020 during the COVID-abbreviated season as Sam Pittman took the reins. They’re now sitting at 6-3 with 3 games to go, with their next victory matching their 7-win season of 2016. They also have a strong chance to pick up an 8-win season for the first time since 2015.
This one wasn’t without drama as the 2 teams combined for 29 points during a wild 4th quarter. After Dominique Johnson ran one in for a touchdown and tacked on a 2-point conversion with 21 seconds left, Will Rogers and the Bulldogs quickly found themselves in field goal range. But true freshman Nolan McCord missed a potential game-tying 40-yard field goal, Mississippi State’s 3rd miss of the day, to seal the win for the Razorbacks.
Here’s what Sam Pittman had to say after the game:
“We didn’t win the super bowl but it sure feels like it.” – Sam Pittman
— Tera Talmadge (@TeraTalmadge) November 6, 2021
“We beat a really good football team… I’m very proud of our teams, coaches and administration. We’re bowl eligible and excited to know we will play in December or January.”
– Coach Sam Pittman
— ESPN Arkansas & HitThatLine.com (@HitThatLineAR) November 6, 2021
Sam Pittman on KJ Jefferson: He really has gotten better. He’s poised. He’s a heck of a quarterback. Going 19 for 23 with no interceptions, he played a heck of a football game.
— Scottie Bordelon (@ScottieBordelon) November 7, 2021
“I knew he was going to miss it. (Laughs) Oh, shoot. I hate if for the kid.”
– Sam Pittman on Nolan McCord’s missed kick as time expired
— Mason Choate (@ChoateMason) November 7, 2021
“Dominque Johnson has done that all year. We just haven’t been giving him the carries. He’s better when he wears you down… The line got better as the game went on as well.”
– Coach Sam Pittman
— ESPN Arkansas & HitThatLine.com (@HitThatLineAR) November 7, 2021
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
