Sam Pittman calls for NCAA review after Ole Miss 'injuries' slowed Arkansas

Although Arkansas lost 52-51 on a failed two-point conversion, Saturday’s offensive shootout captivated its audience with fast-paced back-and-forth action from start to finish. The only time either team’s pace slowed was when the defense suffered an injury or called a timeout. According to Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, there is reason to investigate injury stoppages after a series of late cramps by Ole Miss defenders.

When asked about the number of Ole Miss injuries throughout the fourth quarter during his Monday press conference, Sam Pittman could not help interjecting some important context.

“They came back though,” he said midway through the reporter’s sentence. “They were healthy enough to get back in there.”

After hearing the rest of the question, which focused on Arkansas’ ability to challenge the injury stoppages with the NCAA’s rule committee, Pittman shut down that notion in favor of permanent action.

“No, you can’t,” Pittman responded. “The rule has to change, right now there’s no penalty. And I’m not saying the guys weren’t hurt, they may have been hurt. I’m not a medical doctor, but a lot of them cramped up or whatever happened to them. I think the rules committee has got to look at that, they wait every two years to do it. I think – I’m on the board of trustees too – I think we’ll really have to look at that.”

Sam Pittman on the 2-point conversion try

When his team scored six points as time expired on Saturday, second-year Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman was forced to make a decision.

Pittman could kick an extra point, potentially tying what was an electric shootout game against Ole Miss at 52 points each, or he could go for the 2-point conversion and the win. Pittman chose the latter, and his team failed to convert, suffering their second straight loss after a 4-0 start.

During his media availability following the game, Pittman explained his decision making and the play the Razorbacks drew up.

“You have a pitch, and then you have a route, and then you have the option of the quarterback to keep the ball,” Pittman said in his postgame media availability. “I like the play, I liked it all week. Our offense was ready for it, and basically we felt like the pitch was there. I don’t know if it was or not. I have to go back and look at the tape.”

The Razorbacks snapped the ball to quarterback KJ Jefferson, and within seconds, he had two defenders in his face. Jefferson threw the ball out of the back of the end zone, and the Rebels escaped with the 1-point win.