Pittman rocks the jukebox

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman speaks to his players following a 21-14 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Starkville, Miss.

— A week after Georgia opened the season by beating the University of Arkansas, Bulldogs Coach Kirby Smart was glad to congratulate his buddy, Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman, on a victory at Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks broke their SEC losing streak at 20 games in Pittman’s second game as their head coach. He was Georgia’s offensive line coach the previous four seasons.

“I was extremely happy for Sam,” said Smart, who called Pittman. “He does a tremendous job. I watched his locker room piece after the game. That was vintage Sam. Charismatic. Just genuine.”

In a video posted on Twitter of Arkansas’ locker room celebration after beating Mississippi State 21-14, Pittman is heard telling his players, “Turn that damn jukebox on!”

Of course, Mississippi State’s visiting locker room doesn’t have a jukebox, but Pittman has one at home.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Smart said with a laugh of Pittman’s word choice. “He’s known for his jukebox comments. He had an old jukebox in his basement here that he would play every now and then. So he probably thinks of a jukebox when it comes to music.”

Pittman said he has a Rock-Ola 75 model jukebox that was in the basement of his home in Athens, Ga., but that he doesn’t have it set up in his Fayetteville house yet.

“It’s out in the garage now,” Pittman said. “I don’t have a basement.”

Pittman said the jukebox has “some really nice songs on it” and plays old 45 records.

“I’ve got enough room in [the house] to roll her in there eventually,” Pittman said. “Probably some time after the season.”

Pittman has gotten some good-natured ribbing about his jukebox comment.

“I know there wasn’t no jukebox over there at Mississippi State,” he said. “I was just excited.”

Georgia beat Arkansas 37-10, but the Razorbacks led 10-5 in the third quarter.

“I’m happy for Sam. I think he’s put a tremendous staff together that does a great job,” Smart said. “They’ve got those kids believing in what they’re doing.

“I think they probably gained a lot confidence from our game, because they played really well, especially in the first half.”