Sam Pittman shares emotions, pride in Arkansas after winning Liberty Bowl
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman was excited and relieved after his team won the Liberty Bowl over Kansas in triple overtime. The Razorbacks pulled out the win in the third overtime after a terrific comeback by the Jayhawks forced them into extra time in the first place. After the game ended on a failed two-point attempt by Kansas, Pittman was extremely relieved to leave with the victory — and he praised his team for ending their season the right way as one of the best.
Sam Pittman on winning the Liberty Bowl
After the dramatic finish Pittman was interviewed on the field by ESPN’s Taylor McGregor, who asked him what level his heart rate was at after the close finish.
“I don’t know,” laughed Pittman. We did what we had to do at the end of the game but we should’ve put it away with three minutes to go in the game… Give Kansas a lot of credit, they fought their tails off.
“I’ll say this, it ain’t about who we don’t have here, it’s who we had. This football team, they said they wanted to play, I know they did. We did too. And we’re AutoZone Liberty Bowl champs, and I’m damn proud of our football team.
Pittman was then asked about the final play of the game, where Kansas appeared to have a good chance at completing their own two-point conversion before the trick play ended in a pass thrown well out-of-bounds on accident. The Arkansas coach admitted that they got a little bit lucky that the play ended with a mistake, and claimed that they intended to have their defense apply pressure on the pass.
“We got lucky there at the end. Hey, we’re Liberty Bowl champs, I’m just as excited as I can be.
“34 people are gonna be champions, and we’re Liberty Bowl champions. It’s gonna help in the offseason. It’s gonna help tonight, I can tell you that. So proud of Arkansas Razorback nation, so proud of everybody. Just so happy. Hell of a game, and happy we won.”
This year’s bowl game was the 44th bowl appearance for Arkansas, and the finish gave them a 7-6 record on the season. It is also only the third time that the two schools have met each other on the football field — and the first time in over 100 years. The previous two matchups between the schools were in 1905 and 1906, with Arkansas losing both games.
The game was also Arkansas’ sixth time playing in the Liberty Bowl specificall, and their first appearance since defeating Kansas State in 2016. The Liberty Bowl also marks the third straight year the Razorbacks have received a bowl game invite under Pittman, reaching a bowl game every year under their relatively new head coach.