FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' season opener on Saturday has been moved up to noon from 3 p.m., but regardless of kickoff time Sam Pittman is ready to get it started.
He paid respect to Western Carolina, coming off a 6-5 season in 2022, on Monday.
"It's game week obviously, and we're excited to have an opportunity to get over to Little Rock and play Western Carolina," Pittman said. "Kerwin and Kade Bell do a wonderful job with that team offensively. I think they set records last year in touchdown passes and records for total offense. A lot of bubbles. A lot of things that are concerning to us that we've been practicing on now going into today will be Day 4 for Western.
"Defensively they have some really good pass rushers and defensive ends and guys in the back that can run. Offensively I forgot to mention their wideouts and their running back. Very explosive guys. We're going to have our work cut out for us. First games are always scary because of the unknown. Unknown about the opponent. Unknown this year about our own team. But we're really excited to get over there and play a fine Western Carolina team."
The game will be played in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium and one of the favorite things there for fans is tailgating. Pittman was asked on Monday if he's concerned the earlier start will hamper tailgating at the stadium?
"No, I'm not worried about tailgating," Pittman said. "I can tell you that. I know that's going to make people mad, but I don't care. We're trying to do what is best for our team and what's best for the fans. We're trying to. I imagine tailgating three hours before when it's nine o'clock and it's 88 degrees versus 96 or 95 or whatever it will be if you started at noon, I would think it would be better for the fans. We play five of our first eight games on the road. So, when the heat came out there was a decision to make are we going to move it forward or are we going to move it backwards. Moving it backwards, if it starts at six or seven, you're going to get the team home at 1:30 or 2:30 in the morning versus 7:30.
"We don't have a break until after Week 8, and obviously you guys know we have a four-game spread there on the road. It just made no sense to me to move it back and get our kids back here at 1:30, 2, 2:30 in the morning for a game where we could move it up. Tailgating should be cooler. The game should be cooler. As you well know, if the game starts at six you are out there at four o'clock and it's 96 degrees out there for tailgaters, pregame, Hog Walk, all those things. I just thought it was the smartest thing for us once the heat became a factor to move it up for the safety of our kids and for our fans."
The Hogs announced six captains on Friday night. They are quarterback KJ Jefferson, running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, offensive guard Brady Latham, kicker Cam Little and defensive ends Landon Jackson and Trajan Jeffcoat.
"The team selected them," Pittman said. "We don't have any influence on them. We're not in the locker room with them. We're not with them every day outside of football. The weight room, how they work, the accountability... So, there was a few that was certainly high in votes, and then the rest of the guys were all about the same. So, we decided to go with six this year. I think we've gone maybe five one year, I think.
"But it was so close that I didn't want to be the guy that made the decision on one vote here or there on whether you could become a captain or not. We decided to go with six. I thought it was really good. We have good leadership on our team. Basically because of the voting is why we decided, because of the closeness of the vote is why we decided to go with six."
The depth chart included several ors including left tackle on offense. Redshirt sophomore Devon Manuel has missed some time with an injury and redshirt freshman Andrew Chamblee stepped in for him.
"Dev had that spot," Pittman said. "He’s been beat up just a little bit. We haven’t gotten him quite back yet full speed. It just depends on how long it goes before he can go full speed. If he gets to mid-week, I don’t think there is a decision. I think Chamblee has earned that right. If it’s today and things [that Manuel is back], we’ll see who plays better over the next few days."
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Sategna is likely to be very busy on Saturday. He is listed in an or situation at wide receiver with Jaedon Wilson and then first-team kickoff and punt returner.
"He was the most consistent back there," Pittman said. "Obviously we believe in Bryce (Stephens) and things of that nature. But he was the most consistent catching the football on the kickoff. He returned one a Saturday ago for a touchdown on kickoff. We’re going to let him have it and see what he does. But he’s very talented. The other guys are, too, but you can only have one. Kind of like a quarterback back there. You can only have one. You try to pick the best one and let it go. That’s why we decided, just his consistency in practice."
Arkansas was slated to practice later Monday.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Action Sports
