All Hogs

Sam Pittman, Lane Kiffin Taking Very Different Approaches Last Few Days

Social media shows line of demarcation between two coaches in neighboring SEC states

Kent Smith

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Throughout Arkansas and a good chunk of Mississippi, the overwhelming feeling after the last second rolled off the clock for the 2022 regular season was one of disappointment and worry of impending doom to come over the next few weeks.

Things have since settled down. Both schools have found some positives to cling to as December has taken hold. 

However, the response from two coaches with very similar fan bases has been drastically different. 

Despite the large number of players leaving in the transfer portal, Pittman managed to avoid losing players who were significant contributors going into next season for the most part. Wide receiver Ketron Jackson was starting to come into his own and Myles Slusher had an impact when he was actually on the field, but considering how unstable things felt at season's end, this is a dream for Pittman.

He even convinced KJ Jefferson to stick around and managed to benefit from Tulsa bungling its search for a head coach when it came to defensive coordinator Barry Odom.

Meanwhile, over in Oxford, it's a much different vibe. Ole Miss fans are celebrating holding onto a coach whose team fell flat on its face by going 1-4 after the middle of October while Lane Kiffin figured out whether his family would like things over in Auburn. 

Since the regular season ended, a Rebels team heavily rebuilt last year out of the portal has seen a small trickle of 4-star talent leave, but no one who has made a significant impact. 

As a result, things have felt very status quo in Oxford, despite the late season collapse. If social media is a sign of where coaches are from a mental standpoint, Kiffin is having the time of his life.

He's trolling people left and right and no person or subject is too taboo to touch.

Despite Ole Miss fans looking like a puppy that has been scolded and beaten way too much as they recover from nearly losing their beloved coach, Kiffin continues to take jabs at the fan base about leaving. Even if it's just in jest, it might be a little too soon for some Rebels fans.

And when he's not trolling his own fans, Kiffin is taking time to gain a bit of retribution on the local media.

While there is a photo here or there of a mysterious small town airport sign from a few days ago, it's been relatively quiet from Kiffin on the recruiting front as far as social media goes. 

That's not to say Kiffin isn't out there shoring up his recruiting class. He just isn't quite as demonstrative about his efforts as he is in other areas.

In contrast, Pittman has been a public relations coordinator's dream in how he has handled the week. The Arkansas coach has built on a bit of good recent press by conducting a nose to the grindstone campaign that has him riding in cars all across the country making sure his commits hold. 

It almost feels like there's hardly a Christmas tree in the country Pittman isn't looking to stand in front of and a plate of Momma's home cooking he isn't willing to eat. 

There's plenty more posts where that came from and it's exactly what Arkansas fans want to see from their coach. While there would have been no patience for fluff, people around the state are always quick to recognize and acknowledge hard work.

Between the early portal success, restaurants in Northwest Arkansas filling with recruits and the barnstorming tour, Pittman has turned around a dreadful situation. 

Should he put together a display during the bowl game against Kansas that shows current talent is just a few portal recruits from bouncing back into form, Pittman will be back to sitting comfortably on his throne minus all the trophies.

As for Kiffin, he might want to back off pretending he has interest in other jobs on social media. Ole Miss fans are happy they kept him for now, but if his Rebels get blown out by Texas Tech with the same spiritless performance at the Texas Bowl that they showed against Arkansas, the honeymoon from renewing his vows won't last long.

Finishing 1-5 over the last three months of the season isn't something even the most desperate fan base is going to handle well. 

Arkansas divider

HOGS FEED:

TRANSFER PORTAL: WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT IN THE SEC?

HOGS LAND IN TOP 25 AFTER STARTING SEASON 10-0 WITH TWO BLOWOUTS

SAMARA SPENCER, SAYLOR POFFENBARGER LEAD HOGS PAST ORAL ROBERTS

HOW KANSAS FOOTBALL SET THINGS IN MOTION FOR HOGS' EXPLODING IN FOOTBALL

FORMER HOGS, OLE MISS COACH TALKS HONESTLY ABOUT HUGH FREEZE

RAZORBACK FANS GET TO SEE WHAT MUSSELMAN ENVISION LAST SPRING

CRAZINESS IN TULSA JOB SEARCH OPENING DOOR FOR HOGS' DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

NEXT 47 DAYS WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT HOW HOGS STACK UP IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD

TEXAS WIDE RECEIVER INDICATES HE MIGHT BE HOGS' CHRISTMAS PRESENT NEXT YEAR

RAZORBACK FANS CAN FINALLY BREATHE AFTER KEY PLAYER ANNOUNCES RETURN

IF ODOM TAKES TULSA JOB, WHO IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST TO REPLACE HIM?

HOW TO WATCH-LISTEN TO RAZORBACKS' FINALLY GETTING TO PLAY SATURDAY AT BUD WALTON ARENA.

SAMARA SPENCER LEADS SCORING PARADE IN WIN OVER TROY ON THURSDAY NIGHT

HOUSTON NUTT KINDA MIFFED ABOUT COACHES ON LOSING STREAKS GETTING BIG RAISES

WHAT DOES NEW PLAYOFF SYSTEM MEAN FOR FUTURE, OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS SEC STATUS?

WHAT WOULD PAST 24 YEARS HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THE HOGS IF WE GOT 12-TEAM PLAYOFF INSTEAD OF BCS?

Arkansas divider

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Published
Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments.