Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman Wasn't Waiting on Announcements

He was enjoying shortened Foreigner concert, then dodging weather

Ted McClenning

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For Arkansas fans wondering what Sam Pittman was doing during commitment announcements Friday night, he wasn't sitting in his office or working den at his home watching.

He was out having a good time, probably getting a little wet and having a bad hair day when the storm landed square at the end of Foreigner's rushed concert performance at the Walmart AMP in Rogers on Friday night. The storm arrived a couple of hours earlier than predicted, and the opening act, Loverboy, never really made it on stage.

Pittman was down in the crowd with photos of him appearing acknowledging fans (he can't go anywhere without being recognized) and, quite honestly, there wasn't a whole lot he could have been doing watching verbal commitments that aren't binding on anything. So, as fans wondered who was on the other end of the line during the following exchange documented by allHogs.com associate editor Kent Smith, Pittman was on his cell phone while soaking in the concert atmosphere.

Russell has taken his phone out is going to call the coach to whom he will commit. He is on the phone with the coach and is being very careful to not reveal who he has called. "Hey coach! Coach I just want to thank you for giving me a chance and extending that offer and I want to accept it. Yes sir. Thank you. Yes sir. I really appreciate it. Yes sir. Yes sir." 

Assuming they can land running back Braylen Russell and cornerback Selman Bridges when it comes time to officially sign this December, it will be a boost to the roster in 2024, at least for depth if it takes them a bit to have the experience to play in the SEC. But you can't make any plans for that roster, though, until at least December, which is the first date they can sign anything binding.

There wasn't a whole lot for Pittman to be doing. Being out in the thunderstorm that hit Rogers might not have been his preference, but he really didn't have a whole lot else to be doing. Assistant coaches are hired to keep track of the recruits. He may have answered a phone call, but quite frankly there was loud music going on and the winds were starting to pick up.

The commitment from Russell is the one that intrigues me, because my old friend Jim Gardner, who's been the Benton football on the airwaves for about a decade, told me he's the best-looking player from there he's ever seen., They didn't get to see much last year because of nagging injuries, but he broke out in the state playoffs against Greenwood rushing for some ridiculous yardage.

Remember Gardner said they didn't feel they saw everything because of the injury and rushed for 1,685 yards and 26 touchdowns with another 22 receptions for 224 yards and a score. He averaged 155.6 yards from scrimmage per game for a Benton team that went 9-3 and reached the Arkansas 6A state semifinals.

Pittman was definitely glad to land him, but he wasn't sitting waiting anxiously on the phone. He was enjoying the concert ... and probably dodging the weather.

HOG FEED:

FANS WILL NEVER GUESS WHERE PITTMAN WAS DURING SUSPENSEFUL PHONE CALL WITH 4-STAR RECRUIT BRAYLEN RUSSELL

RAZORBACK REBUILD ON ROCKET BOOSTERS WITH 2024 CLASS, BUT THERE'S ONE GLARING HOLE THAT NEEDS FIXED

LIVE BLOG: LOOK BACK AT BRAYLEN RUSSELL AND SELMAN BRIDGES DECISIONS AS THEY HAPPENED

CONFUSION WEDNESDAY OVER RUSSELL SOCIAL MEDIA POST INDICATION OF HOW EMOTIONAL HOG FANS WILL BE AFTER FRIDAY NIGHT'S DECISION

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE SHOCKING INDICATOR AS TO SUCCESS OF SEC TEAMS ON FIELD AND RECRUITING

GUNDY'S COMMENTS OPEN DOOR FOR ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA STATE TO HAVE THEIR OWN 'BEDLAM'

BOASTFUL WORDS BY BIG 12 COMMISSIONER MAKE CLEAR GIANT LEAP TEXAS, OU WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN JOINING ARKANSAS IN SEC

BASKETBALL, BASEBALL HAVE SURPASSED RAZORBACK FOOTBALL IN INTEREST FOR TIME BEING

YOUTUBE RABBIT HOLE PROVES RAZORBACKS WEREN'T BEST TEAM IN ARKANSAS IN 2019

SO MUCH SAID, HINTED AT THE DAY BROYLES, KRAMER ANNOUNCED ARKANSAS MOVE TO THE SEC

COMMON THREAD BETWEEN SUCCESS OF THREE PRO HOGS, DAVONTE DAVIS

ARKANSAS FANS VOICED IRE TOWARD WRONG FOOTBALL COACH PAST THREE SEASONS

WALSH, BLACK SHINE BRIGHT, DISPLAY ADDED SKILLS IN NBA DEBUT WITH BOSTON CELTICS, ORLANDO MAGIC

ARKANSAS TO ENTER SEASON AS HEAVY UNDERDOGS, WHICH FITS PITTMAN'S PERSONALITY PERFECTLY

'HEART OF A RAZORBACK' PHRASE USE TOO OFTEN, BUT ONLY APPLIES TO ONE MEMBER OF TEAM NOW

MAYBE BIGGEST OFFENSIVE QUESTION MARK FALLS ON CODY KENNEDY'S SHOULDERS

NFL DRAFT EVALUATIONS SHOW KJ JEFFERSON HAS ROOM TO MOVE UP BY APRIL

SLOP HOUSE: GREG THOMAS, NOLAN RICHARDSON CHANGED CULTURE ACROSS ARKANSAS IN '80'S AT HIGH COST

SLOP HOUSE: THREE 10-2 SEASONS REVEAL DAYS IN SWC WASN'T EVERYTHING SOME REMEMBER COMPARED TO TIME IN SEC

ACTS BY POLITICIANS PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE ARKANSAS WILL HAVE ROLE IN WHETHER NCAA USE NUCLEAR OPTION

RAZORBACKS NOT GETTING STUCK ON BODY TYPE WHEN RECRUITING WIDE RECEIVERS

DFW RADIO BIT SHOWS WHY TEXAS JOINING SEC MIGHT LEAD TO SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS

• Return to allHogs home page

• Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the allHOGS message board community today!

• Subscribe and follow us on YouTube.

• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.