Fired FAU coach Tom Herman was once what some Razorback fans hoped for as Arkansas’s head football coach. With Herman’s Owls falling 18-15 in overtime to Temple and moving to 2-8 on the season, he’s now fired and off the market – possibly for good after a 6-16 record in nearly two seasons in Boca Raton – and unlikely to replace Sam Pittman if he was fired in the offseason.
HawgBeat’s Jackson Collier mocked those Hogs fanatics for ever wanting Herman knowing he was leading FAU in the wrong direction.
“I remember when a portion of Razorback fans were pushing for Herman to take over for Pittman no less than three months ago,” Collier wrote.
Pittman’s future in Fayetteville appears safe barring a loss to Lousiana Tech. The University of Arkansas’s AD, Hunter Yurachek, pre-emptively defended Pittman back in September.
“We've finally gotten our footing at the University of Arkansas in the NIL world, but we're not where we need to be," Yurachek said. "I'll tell you, the upper echelon of the SEC in football is probably spending double of what we're spending on our football program right now in the NIL space. That's reality.
"You can blame that on Sam Pittman but it's not Sam Pittman's problem. It's his problem, but it's a money problem, right? Because if someone is spending double of what we're spending, they're going to have a corner on the market."
Since then, the Razorbacks’ NIL situation has improved.
“Sam Pittman's seat has cooled considerably after entering the season on the front burner of the SEC stove. The win against then-No. 4 Tennessee led to a field storming, and athletics director Hunter Yurachek loudly proclaimed his support for Pittman's job performance in an interview with CBS Sports. Then came back-to-back blowout losses to LSU and Ole Miss at home, leading to fading support among the fan base once again,” CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello wrote.
“Pittman, who has been dealing with a painful hip ailment throughout the season, is likely safe with a winning record, and at 5-4 that remains a distinct possibility with Texas, Louisiana Tech and Missouri remaining on the schedule. Wins against Tech and Missouri would push him to seven wins and give the Razorbacks momentum with a returning quarterback (Taylen Green) and several young pieces to build around as they attack the portal in December. The NIL situation at Arkansas, we're told, is also improving, which helps Pittman's cause. The Hogs are trending the right direction with Pittman as CEO and Bobby Petrino and Travis Williams as play-callers.”
It’s a good thing Arkansas didn’t listen to the vocal few who wanted Herman. Pittman is moving in the right direction. Even if he isn’t the Hogs’ long-term coach, there’s better out there than Herman.
