Sam Pittman is one of the more likable coaches around the SEC, especially in Athens where he served offensive line coach for several years under Georgia coach Kirby Smart. So when Arkansas upset Mississippi State last week to snap its 20-game SEC losing streak, Smart was understandably happy.

“I was extremely happy for Sam, spoke with him, talked to him, he does a tremendous job,” Smart said on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “I saw his locker room piece after the game and that was vintage Sam, very charismatic. Happy for him. He put together a great staff that does a great job. They got to the players to believe in what they’re doing in, probably got a lot of confidence from our game. They played really well especially the first half and I didn’t see the other game, obviously.”

Georgia plays host to Tennessee this week and Smart was asked about the growth of the Vols program.

“Line of scrimmage is where it sticks out the most, the offensive line is big and physical,” he said. “They have experience, recruited well at the defensive line. That’s where you get beat in the SEC if you don’t have enough guys there… they do a good job of line of scrimmage play

Smart added that RB James Cook will be a gameday decision on playing this week.