Sam Pittman discusses challenging nonconference slate, questions Auburn should ask coaching candidates
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Arkansas improved to 5-3 on the season with a blowout victory over Auburn last Saturday.
The Razorbacks step out of conference this weekend to take on a dangerous Liberty team that is 7-1 on the season.
Sam Pittman’s team has played a difficult nonconference slate in 2022. Arkansas already has wins over Cincinnati and BYU to its credit, and the Flames are ranked No. 23 in this week’s AP Top 25.
Pittman said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference that while the schedule has been good for his team it does pose challenges in terms of building playable depth.
“We’ve been here 31 games here right now and we’ve total subbed twice in 31 games,” Pittman said. “… A lot of it has to do with who we’re playing. If you add BYU, this is our third nonconference team that will be ranked in the top 25. … It’s about morale in practice, too. If you’re a 2 and don’t feel like you can get in the game, I understand that. … You don’t know who’s going to be really good and who’s not when you’re scheduling so many years out. … I was really glad we were able to get our 2s in (at the end of the Auburn game).”
Pittman was also asked Wednesday about the open job at Auburn and what questions he might have for potential candidates.
“Do you have a love for the university?,” Pittman said. “I’d like to know if they’ve had SEC experience. … It’s a different league. … You’d probably ask who the coordinators are, who the top recruiters are. … Luckily I don’t have to be in those interviews. … Auburn will be able to do that. They’ve got a really strong tradition.”
Lastly on Wednesday, Pittman offered an update on backup quarterback Kade Renfro, who recently underwent season-ending knee surgery.
“I think it was during the Texas A&M week,” Pittman said. “Just stepped and planted and non-contact deal. Swelled up on him a little bit. Didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I don’t think he did. Couldn’t get the swelling off it and found out he had torn his ACL again. … Yes, he had an ACL again.”
Arkansas’ matchup with the Flames is set for 4 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
