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Tennessee football at Arkansas: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 1: View of Donald W. Reynolds Stadium, home of the Arkansas Razorbacks, and John McDonnell Field before a game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Razorback Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 1: View of Donald W. Reynolds Stadium, home of the Arkansas Razorbacks, and John McDonnell Field before a game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Razorback Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Oct 17, 2020; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman prior to the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2020; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman prior to the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Familiarity between Jim Chaney and Sam Pittman

This is an underrated part of this game, and it actually mattered when Tennessee football faced the Georgia Bulldogs last year. Jim Chaney and Sam Pittman go way back. In fact, they have worked together on staffs with both the Vols and the Arkansas Razorbacks in the past, which is very ironic as they get set to face off in this game.

Pittman and Chaney worked together with the Vols under Derek Dooley back in 2012, when Chaney was the offensive coordinator and Pittman was the offensive line coach. After Dooley was fired, both Chaney and Pittman joined Brett Bielema’s staff, as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach respectively once again, when he took over Arkansas back in 2013.

They were together at Arkansas for two years before Chaney left to join the Pittsburgh Panthers. Then, when Kirby Smart took over the Georgia Bulldogs, Chaney and Pittman joined his staff in 2016, as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach respectively once again. They were in those roles together for three years before Chaney went back to UT in 2019.

Now, Pittman is back at Arkansas. Since both worked on the offensive side of the ball and both have an expertise in coaching offensive lines, they will likely have a deep understanding of each others’ tendencies. As a result, don’t be surprised if this becomes a factor in the game. Of course, if it is, we won’t know it, but it could definitely come into play related to strategy.

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