This was originally published by HawgSports.com on Nov. 12, 2019. It was sent to HawgSports.com by a well-known former Razorback football player who said he represents a group of former players who want this message to be seen. This is their message to the Razorback nation and decision-makers on the Hill regarding not only the type of person they would like to see hired but also the person they would like to see considered. HawgSports.com is just the vessel they chose. Here is their message:

An Open Letter to Mr. Yurachek, Chancellor Steinmetz, and the Arkansas Board of Trustees

As a proud former student athlete, I bleed Razorback Red. I want to start with saying y’all have an incredible responsibility and opportunity to do right by our current student athletes, state and all of Razorback nation. I personally don’t envy the decision you have to make, but respect the tough choices you have made and will continue to make in the future to bring Razorback Football back to the national standing it belongs.

I have been on good teams, bad teams, and teams everywhere in between. The one thing that separates those teams is a person that can look a room in the eyes and band them under a common thread to achieve a higher goal than they thought possible. A person that I had the privilege of playing for that I believe can do that is Coach Sam Pittman.

Growing up in Grove, Oklahoma he knows what Razorback football is all about. The toughness, grit, and loyalty that are benchmarks of our program are just a few of the qualities he has as a coach. Bottom line at the end of the day when he is coaching, he cares about his players first. He and his wife Jamie treated us like his own kids in good times and bad.

Coach Pittman has the personality to go into living rooms across all corners of the nation to recruit players and bring out the best in them. During my time at the U of A we had offensive lineman from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. For a room of around fifteen guys to have that type of national representation is something to be noted. Although he didn’t recruit each individual, he was respected by all of them. Coaches are often assigned regions that they understand and can effectively recruit, but the running joke was that Pitt went after whoever wherever because he could get them. Winning recruiting battles on the national stage is just another day in the office for Coach.

I have played with guys from Coach Pittman’s previous twelve years coaching and they all say the same thing, summed up- HE IS THE MAN. He knows what it takes to win. That means hitting a run for twelve yards into the teeth of a blitz that changed the game against Tennessee in 2015. Getting his groups to lead the SEC in sacks allowed what seems like every year. Going into Death Valley at night and rushing for 298 yards, keeping the Boot where it belongs. As of late he has taken Georgia to the CFP, had a slew of draft picks and is a benchmark for offensive line play nationally.

I challenge you to find someone that mothers love the way ours loved Coach Pittman. I challenge you to find a coach that will give everything he has because our program deserves it. I challenge you to find someone who will get every bit out of players no matter the circumstance. Lastly, I challenge you to give the current athletes the opportunity to play for a coach that will show them how to be men. Give Sam Pittman an interview and he will win you over just like he always does.

#WPS!