FAYETTEVILLE — Coach Sam Pittman cracked up the gang at a Liberty Bowl joint press convention for Memphis media held Thursday at Kings Palace on well-known Beale Avenue downtown.

Pittman acquired his wit on speaking about Elvis Presley, quarterback KJ Jefferson and in his shared expertise with Kansas Coach Lance Leipold.

Pittman, with an help from the bowl’s affiliate government director Harold Graeter, acquired the comedy prepare rolling throughout his opening assertion.

“The Liberty Bowl has been round for an extended, very long time,” Pittman started.

After Graeter interjected, “Sam, it’s the AutoZone Liberty Bowl,” Pittman modified course.

“The AutoZone Liberty Bowl has been round for only in the near past,” he stated, inflicting these in attendance to snicker aloud.

Pittman elicited one other spherical of laughter and even applause when he was requested about seeing Beale Avenue and the wealthy historical past of Memphis.

“Nicely, I used to be an enormous Elvis Presley fan my complete life,” Pittman stated. “My spouse’s mom has acquired a shawl or no matter that he wore that he threw out [to the crowd].”

Later, a reporter requested how hyped the junior quarterback Jefferson is likely to be enjoying close to his hometown of Sardis, Miss., after he erupted for six touchdowns and accounted for 421 yards in a shootout loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., in 2021.

“Nicely, now that you simply’ve stated that I’m going to let him know,” Pittman stated, drawing one other spherical of laughter. 

“I’m going to say we’re going to the bowl in Oxford, Memphis, Mississippi to play within the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.”

Because the press convention was wrapping up, a reporter requested if Jamie Pittman had a favourite Elvis track.

“Blue Hawaii,” Pittman stated, earlier than including that his new brother-in-law sang it at their marriage ceremony.

In his last remarks of the 16-minute press convention, Pittman made a unifying comment to Leipold relating to the Mid-American Convention, generally referred to as the MAC, and the Liberty Bowl being performed on a Wednesday.

Pittman has served at Northern Illinois in two stints masking six years within the convention, whereas Leipold was head coach at Buffalo within the MAC.

“Coach and I, we’re going to have our groups prepared on Wednesday as a result of we each have had MACtion,” Pittman stated. “We’re used to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday video games. I really type of appreciated that. Did you?”

Leipold, who had a 37-33 document and two MAC East titles throughout his stint with Buffalo, replied within the affirmative.

Pittman parlayed the cease in Memphis with a recruiting journey with offensive line coach Cody Kennedy to a commit in Tennessee.

There was no definitive motion in Pittman’s seek for a defensive coordinator to exchange departed Barry Odom on Thursday however different teaching information has been percolating.

In keeping with sources acquainted with the scenario and a number of South Carolina media shops, South Carolina Coach Shane Beamer has been in discussions with Arkansas tight ends coach Dowell Loggains relating to the Gamecocks’ emptiness at offensive coordinator.

The previous Arkansas quarterback and holder, Loggains returned to campus from a place as analyst at Penn State previous to the 2021 season with the thought he could be the inheritor obvious as Arkansas offensive coordinator if Kendal Briles landed a place elsewhere.

Loggains has 13 years of NFL teaching expertise, together with seven as offensive coordinator with the Titans, Bears, Dolphins and Jets.

Odom, the brand new head coach at UNLV, prolonged a message of because of Arkansas and its followers through social media.

“It has been such an honor to the the Defensive Coordinator at The College of Arkansas and stay on this neighborhood for the previous 3 years,” Odom wrote. “My household and I are overwhelmed with gratitude. … thanks!”

Odom went on to thank Pittman, Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek and the gamers he’s coached with the Razorbacks.

“I additionally need to thank all of the great followers and help of the Razorbacks – you guys are the perfect. Continued success… WPS!!” he wrote to complete the message.

One other intriguing title in Pittman’s seek for a defensive coordinator may embody Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, who has ties to each Odom and present Arkansas linebackers coach Michael Scherer from his time on the Missouri workers as safeties coach (2015), co-defensive coordinator (2016-17), and defensive coordinator (2018-20), with 4 of these years coming whereas Odom was head coach.

Moreover, Georgia defensive position coach Tray Scott may enter the dialog. Seen as a rising star within the enterprise, Scott, 32, has ties to Pittman and the state.

The Crossett native served on Coach Kirby Sensible’s Georgia workers concurrently with Pittman from 2017-19. 

Scott performed at Arkansas Tech from 2003-07 and has each his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from the college in Russellville, the place he began his teaching profession in 2008. 

Scott additionally labored as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State and Ole Miss earlier than taking on-field positions at Tennessee-Martin (2013-14), North Carolina (2015-16) and Georgia.