Sam Pittman reveals what he has learned from previous trips to Baton Rouge

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Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman 1-On-1 with Andy Staples | New Year, 2 New Coordinators for the Hogs

If you survey people around the SEC about the best environment in the conference, LSU is likely going to be a popular answer. Death Valley on a Saturday night is one of the most intimidating places to play a football game. The fans get loud and stay that way for all four quarters, especially with an opponent such as Arkansas coming to town.

Head coach Sam Pittman has experience playing in Tiger Stadium and is hoping to apply it for the upcoming matchup. He believes dealing with the noise is the biggest obstacle and a few factors play into the equation. If Arkansas can stay away from a sloppy football game, the environment will not be as hostile.

“There’s some things that you have to control,” Pittman said. “One of them is the noise. You have to get ready for the noise. We have to play clean. We’re going to have to cut our penalties.

“But the noise is the biggest thing out there… We’ll be ready to play, I know they will be too.”

Pittman led Arkansas into Baton Rouge during the 2021 season, escaping with a three-point victory. In fact, the past three matchups have been decided by a field goal margin. Two have gone in favor of LSU and both have occurred in Fayetteville.

Arkansas will have to “embrace” the environment they are walking to, which Pittman believes they did well two seasons ago. But with the way Brian Kelly has turned LSU around, this is going to be a different animal.

“You have to celebrate the community, the people,” Pittman said. “You have to embrace them. Which we did last time we were out there.”

LSU had their SEC opener last Saturday but it fell on the road. An impressive win against Mississippi State in Starkville has brought a bolt of energy back into the program following the Florida State loss over Labor Day weekend.

The fans are going to come ready for the first conference home game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. giving them plenty of time to tailgate and get some juice in their system.

Pittman is hoping to have his team prepared for what should be an electric crowd on Saturday night. A few lessons can be taken from the 2021 matchup. Arkansas will be hoping the result is a similar one too, bouncing back following a loss to BYU on the road.