ARKANSAS
What Sam Pittman said after Arkansas' last-second loss in shootout at Missouri
Arkansas lost a tough one at Missouri, as the Razorbacks allowed a last-second field goal and fell 50-48.
The high-scoring affair came after Arkansas made major changes in its offensive backfield. Starting QB Feleipe Franks was out with a rib injury and didn’t play. Backup QB KJ Jefferson got the start. Starting RB Rakeem Boyd had opted out earlier in the week, too, so backup RB Trelon Smith got the start in his place.
Here is a sampling of what coach Sam Pittman shared with the media after the game.
- “We’re not good enough to help somebody down the field.” Pittman said in reference to Arkansas’ defensive penalties.
- “I was really proud of K.J. Jefferson, I thought he stepped in there and played one heck of a football game.”
Pittman on the many Mizzou injury stoppages: “I’m not a medical doctor, but there were a lot of kids that got hurt and came back today.” - Pittman on whether or not he planned to go for two on the final Arkansas drive: “No doubt…I told Kendal (Briles) ‘we’re going for two, I want to end this thing.’”
- Pittman on the last drive: “Do I think Barry (Odom) called a bad 42 seconds? No.”
- “We knew early in the week that Feleipe (Franks) was beat up and we didn’t know whether he’d be able to play or not.”
- “We just didn’t play good team defense.”
- “I don’t know if the (Missouri) kids were hurt or not, but there was a lot of (injuries). There’s no penalty for that. I’m not a medical doctor, but there’s a lot of kids that got hurt and they came back today. That’s not the integrity of the game, in my opinion.”
Imagine if KJ had been playing all year. Maybe we try to develop the scholarship players we have instead of bringing in someone else’s trash and hoping they learned enough at their last stop to be mediocre here. Also stop awarding scholarships to walk on’s and develop the the 4 star Scholarship athletes. Walk on’s are tackling dummies nothing more.
Yeah after today I’m not sure Arky should mind if Franks ribs heal or not by next week. I mean they probably would prefer a more experienced QB like Franks go against Bama, but again it’s Bama and not a game Arky is expected or even needs to win, so why not let Jefferson get more experience ahead of schedule?
I’ve never been a fan of (I don’t think anyone is) a player faking an injury as a tactic to slow down the other team. Not sure why though, that apparently reporters are asking Pittman about it judging from his comments in this article. I didn’t see anything from the game that seemed like a player faked any injuries whatsoever. I think the Arky reporters are just looking for excuses and Pittman took the bait.
Arkansas had guys on defense go down and get treated on the field of play too, so either everyone does it or yeah, someone is just throwing out bait after a close loss to see if he’ll bite.
Here’s one for you: https://twitter.com/MattShepherd16/status/1335310939516760064
I saw a heart attack once that went just like that. Kid could have died. Would that have been better? Spitting up bloody loogies? What? What? Oh the inhumanity.
Is it to much to ask that Arkansas have a coach that’s not learning on the job.
Well one thing is obvious with Arky. Your defense is regressing at an increasing rate. Where is that defense you showed against Ole Miss or Auburn or even the one against LSU. Today looked just like 2019…just so many chances to rise up and couldnt. I thought it would be somewhat competitive when we played but there is no way. I dont think you guys have to worry much about Odom getting a bunch of calls. That backup QB was great though, Burks did his thing and you look like you got a RB. Defense really let em down.
I think coming back to play Mizzou probably effected both Odom and their team preparation wise more than they led on. I mean they have to play coy publicly and that’s understandable, but apparently the story line everyone was talking about all week was on their minds more than they were leading on. No one fan, pundit or otherwise anticipated either defenses getting lit up like they both did in CoMo today.
Jefferson and the Arky offense played well enough to win but Odom’s d really let the hogs down today. Mizzou moved right down the field with 43 seconds left to win the game.
Worst was that it was unexpected to move to the 15 using only 34 seconds. That is a telling stat right there.
I meant “expected”. It just looked like the only difference between the Hog defense on the field or on the sideline was a matter of a few seconds. You cant use the same plan when you are getting dinked time after time for 8-10-12 yard passes underneath. Just bad coaching.
I know I’ll get shot down for this, and I said this on another article, it wouldnt be a bad thing for their game with Bama to just get cancelled. That defense is so porous and the risk of an injury in this Covid weird year is just not worth what you know is going to happen, unless Saban pulls starters in the first half. No, I dont see any surprises from Arky and I dont see an upside to them playing.
SEC fans wanting the SEC to cancel games just to protect their “contenders”. I literally laughed out loud, oh the irony!
Its not protecting contenders at all..you completely missed the point. What good would it do Arkansas. They need to evaluate, make a big push in recruiting. We are ready to play…I just dont see the point for Arky. If Missouri can score 50 on em…what do you think Bama will do. Pointless in a virus environment.
Well if that’s your logic then what was the point of having LSU play Bama last night? The Tide scored more on LSU than they did Mizzou. What good did it do LSU playing anyone? Your logic makes darn near everyone playing Bama right now Pointless in a virus environment I guess. I mean picking and choosing which teams play in a virus environment is so SEC fan it’s not even funny. Good lord.
Or better yet, how about just play the dam schedule and get over yourself.
I don’t know what’s going on Booches but I’m agreeing with you a lot lately.
You just got a bad attitude about anyone who disagrees with your ten year old brain. Get over yourself..
Listen to yourself man, you’re calling for the game to be cancelled (ok not to protect an SEC contender, cough cough) but because you’re just looking out for the opponents interest and it just wouldn’t be fair and there’s nothing to gain for Arky? Lmao like I said, get over yourself.
You even said “I know I’ll get shot down for this” Yeah, even a 10 year old brain could shoot that down so don’t act mistreated.
No..his post game comment was “I am a big fan of shortening the game to 59 minutes and 17 seconds.”.