Alabama Football: Sam Pittman will have the Hogs ready to battle

Alabama Football cannot afford to overlook the Arkansas Razorbacks. Sam Pittman has done an outstanding job in his not-yet two seasons in Fayetteville. The Hogs were 3-7 last season. Three of the seven losses were by a combined seven points.

This season Arkansas jumped out to a 4-0 record and a No. 8 ranking in the nation. Georgia slammed the undefeated season door in the face of the Hogs, beating the Razorbacks 37-0. The following week Pittman took the Hogs to Oxford and lost again – by one heartbreaking point. Next game a 15-point loss to Auburn in Fayetteville. From No. 8 to unranked in three weeks is a body blow.

To Sam Pittman’s credit, Arkansas stopped the slide. After victories over Mississippi State and LSU, the Hogs are ranked again. Arkansas is No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the Coaches Poll.

Pittman has some talent on his roster, though far from the Alabama Crimson Tide in terms of a talented and deep roster. The Razorbacks make up some of the talent deficiency by playing hard throughout games. There is no quit for the Hogs, who relish competing for their coach and for each other.

The Hogs have some extra motivation coming to Bryant-Denny on Saturday. At their place last season, Alabama Football gave them their worst loss. The 52-3 Crimson Tide win will be both a rallying point and also a benchmark. This season in Athens, Georgia put up a three-touchdown lead in the game’s first 13 minutes. The Razorbacks want another chance to prove they can compete with the SEC’s best.

Alabama Football can win SEC West

The Crimson Tide can clinch the SEC West with a win on Saturday. Every Alabama fan will want the Tide to win and win big. Handily beating a ranked team will help the Crimson Tide’s position in the quickening race to a College Football Playoff final four slot.

At the same time, among Alabama fans, there is considerable respect for what Sam Pittman has accomplished at Arkansas. He is an easy guy to root for and to like. After beating Mississippi State, Pittman reflected on what the win meant,

"We didn’t win the Super Bowl but it sure feels like it"

How can any college football fan not appreciate those words, said so sincerely?

While Pittman was an assistant at Arkansas in 2013, Nick Saban offered him a job. Pittman had only been in Fayetteville a few weeks. Seeking advice, his mother offered, “I didn’t raise a son that would commit to a place and 4 weeks later, leave.” Pittman turned Saban down.