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Sam Pittman claims that NIL fundraising will be the main focus of Arkansas football’s May activities.

FAYETTEVILLE: The head football coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Sam Pittman, said that this month will entail fundraising for his team’s Name, Image, and Likeness funds on the same day that the team announced the 2024 “ONE Razorback Roadshow” bus tour throughout the state.

Pittman announced his participation in the trip on “The Paul Finebaum Show.” The tour will visit Texarkana, Little Rock, El Dorado, Forrest City, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Jonesboro, and Pine Bluff. Additionally, he disclosed that a private gathering will take place at his Lake Hamilton residence in Hot Springs.

The four-day roadshow ends with dinner in Fort Smith on May 16 and starts with a luncheon in Heber Springs on May 13.

“In May, I plan to go out and try to speak with the state of Arkansas with the reasons for our financial need and the ways in which it will help our children, ourselves, the state, and undoubtedly our record,” Pittman remarked. “That’s probably the biggest thing going on, and I’m assuming that every SEC coach is doing something similar when it comes to trying to raise money for the NIL program.”

“We are planning to host a gathering at my Hot Springs home for those who live nearby, followed by various sit-down meals and other events.”

Pittman noted that the significance of NIL fundraising and transfer portal recruiting has transformed May for coaches over the last four years.

“May was a little bit different before,” he remarked. “Undoubtedly, we’ll have more time to go out and meet the people of Arkansas and try to raise some money for our program now that the portal has closed and most of that recruiting has stopped.”

According to Pittman, bringing offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino on board has facilitated donor relations.

“Bobby came in here and he was very knowledgeable.”

of our major benefactors, Pittman remarked. “With that, he has assisted me. However, a really large village is needed. After practice, I’ve spoken with a number of well-known people in our state. We trained early in the spring and went to lunch with a few of them on multiple occasions.

The fifth-year Arkansas coach added that because NIL funding is still relatively new to donors, it has occasionally been difficult to ask for them.

It’s challenging because, as Pittman put it, “I think we all want something in return when we go ask for something.” And it seems reasonable to me. A name on a wall, a stadium, a building, or anything else — whether it be self-gratification or something else entirely — and a

Frequently, this is not always the case.

That, in my opinion, makes it more challenging since, in addition to needing a successful outcome on the field, raising millio ns of dollars is also a requirement. Although we bear the most of the strain ourselves, I do believe that puts a little more on coaches.

According to Pittman, requesting donations will get easier the more donors realize how NIL funding translate into tangible outcomes on the field.

He remarked, “It has been tough for me to ask, but I know it’s essential for our kids to keep up a strong football team.” Thus, I’m more than happy to comply with it. Indeed, in my opinion, if you can see the leads to the team improving on the field when we acquire a [quarterback] like Taylen Green or a [running back] like Ja’Quinden Jackson, or whoever it may be. After then, I believe it will be a little bit simpler to inquire after that.