Sam Pittman jokes Eli Drinkwitz 'stirs up a lot of stuff' ahead of rivalry game

Sam Pittman loves Eli Drinkwitz, at least when Arkansas and Missouri don’t play each other. Since they’re rivals and play again this weekend, Pittman’s ready for Drinkwitz to stir it up.

Trash talking, poking fun, etc. If you name it, chances are Drinkwitz has likely gotten it going with opposing coaches and fan bases. Pittman would expect nothing less ahead of this latest matchup.

That doesn’t mean Pittman isn’t out to beat down the Tigers and win the Battle Line Rivalry.

“I have respect for (him),” Pittman said. “He stirred up a lot of stuff, not just with Arkansas. So I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a hell of a coach now, and you don’t want him to have the ball on the last drive. And, I mean, you don’t, because he’s outstanding and has won a lot of games that way. 

“You know as a rivalry, he told me he’s going to try to start up too when we first came here, I respect the guy. He’s obviously done a really nice job there. So, you know, we’re rivals, and they’ve got the trophy. They’ve had it for the last two years. We’d like to get it back.”

Heck, Drinkwitz told Mississippi State’s sideline to shut up or he would score again to end last week’s game. That’s what happens when players jaw at each other.

Expect more of that against Arkansas, we think.

Arkansas comes in at 6-5 and Missouri is 8-3, perhaps having an outside chance at the College Football Playoff if the SEC manages to sneak in three-loss teams.

But Pittman and Arkansas are ready to improve their bowl standing and beat their rival. Coming into the season, amid struggles, there were whispers about Pittman’s job security.

But he was never worried.

“I’m not going to do the message to fans, but y’all have been making a lot of money off of, you know, ‘Is a guy doing this, is a guy doing that,’ or whatever. It’s your opinion, whatever. I’ve never, one time, worried about my job. I promise you, not one time,” Pittman relayed, via his postgame press conference. “You know, I wish we’d kind of move on, because it kills us in recruiting. You know, I was on six staffs, and it’s a legit question, I’m not disappointed at all, but I was on six staffs, going into the season, and everyone has you fired. Three of them were fired during the season, three of them fired the day after the season, and one of them was fired before the season.

“Now, I control this. So, am I happy that we’re bowl-eligible? Yes, for everyone in the building, and my staff, besides me. I’ve never worried about that. Still don’t. I’m going to be fine one way or the other, but I’m going to fight like hell for the University of Arkansas the entire time that I’m the head coach.”