Travis Williams expands on Sam Pittman’s viral ‘embrace the hog’ quote

Sam Pittman delivered the quote of SEC Media Days in July, saying Arkansas needed to “Embrace the hog” heading into the 2024 season. One that will make you look up from your desk when hearing it, Pittman explained what he meant by the saying.

“Our focus is to embrace the hog, which means we need to be tough, we need to be together,” Pittman said. “We need to be consistent, accountable, and do it with pride. I think we’ve accomplished that this summer. We’ve accomplished that through spring ball.”

So, when given the chance, On3’s Andy Staples asked Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams to elaborate on the mindset. He added the unique mascot the Razorbacks have, being one of a kind around college athletics.

Treating it as such is Arkansas’ goal for what will be a critical season. Not just inside the program either but everyone in the surrounding Fayetteville area.

“We have a really good brand and it’s a unique brand,” Williams said during Friday’s episode of Andy Staples On3 . “It’s the only Razorback in the country. The only Razorback mascot in the country. We talk about being tough and being accountable, having pride. We talk about all those different things and that embodies embracing the hog. Just being committed to your teammates, all the different things that come together. That’s what ‘Embrace the hog’ means.

“It’s a great university, a unique mascot. You’ve got to be tough. That’s just what we’re about here. It’s been that way before we got here and that’s what Coach Pittman is instilling in the players, the coaches, the community — just embracing the hog.”

It may be now or never for Arkansas under Pittman. Entering his fifth campaign in charge, last year’s 4-8 record was a serious regression after two consecutive winning seasons. At the beginning of the summer, Staples named Pittman as one of the three hot seat contenders .

A tough schedule is ahead of the Razorbacks as well, playing against seven teams ranked inside the preseason AP top 25. Six are from the SEC while a trip to Stillwater against Oklahoma State is in the nonconference.

Pittman, Williams, and the entire coaching staff are attempting to instill the mindset before the season opener against in-state foe Arkansas Pine-Bluff . They believe if everyone can “Embrace the hog,” Arkansas will have a fine season and emerge from the outside noise in positive light.

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