He wasn’t there in person, but the shadow of Bobby Petrino hung over Arkansas football’s time in the spotlight Thursday at the 2024 SEC Media Days.

Sam Pittman fielded questions about Petrino’s impact during every interview. Pittman brought the former Razorbacks head coach back to Fayetteville this offseason to reignite the offense, but there are other, less obvious reasons Petrino could be a huge boost for the program as the offensive coordinator.

“When I got on the phone with him, his passion about coming back to Arkansas and leaving it a better way than what he did before was very important to him,” Pittman said. “I wanted his expertise in calling plays. I knew that he knew alumni. I knew that could help us in NIL. I knew that he knew our state with our (high school) coaches. I knew that he knew Texas and California. There were so many benefits.”

Pittman also mentioned how he will lean on Petrino’s head coaching experience, just as he did with Barry Odom when he was the Hogs’ defensive coordinator from 2020-22. Odom is now the head coach at UNLV.

The Arkansas players in Dallas were also asked about Petrino’s impact on the program. Here’s what they had to say, with plenty of excitement about the combination of Petrino and Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green.

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Quarterback Taylen Green

“He doesn’t even have to say anything. You just have to look at his résumé and turn on the film of the different quarterbacks he had throughout his coaching career and just the development that he has and just the six, seven months that I’ve been, like, coaching – being coached by him, it’s crazy just how much knowledge and how much understanding that I got just from talking to him and just taking everything in.”

Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong

“It’s been great. He’s been helping us with the plays. We playing, we’re trying to be explosive this year. With Taylen Greene coming in, the leader he is – he is (6-foot-7). Looking at him, you can already think he is a leader. He’s been great. Talking with the players, talking with the team has been exciting.”

Defensive end Landon Jackson

“Coach Petrino as a coach just pushes those guys. They’re working. I’m really glad we got him. I feel like Taylen fits great in the offense. He’s the type of quarterback that I feel like every team Coach Petrino has had that’s been very successful, he’s had a quarterback that plays the way Taylen plays. I think that’s one thing I’m really excited to see this season.”