As a burly and athletic sophomore on an injury-depleted Texas defensive line last fall, Pittman filled a void the Longhorns sorely lacked. He started at defensive end in the Horns' first three games and gave his buddies much-needed breathers the rest of the season. The substitutions were seamless. He was quiet but effective, to the extent that you really needed to pay attention to see if Pittman or Cory Redding was making the tackle on that last play. Of course, Pittman's unassuming role is the exact reason why he was never invited to the interview rooms.
Sports is entertainment, and entertainment is driven by celebrities.
Newspapers want quotes from the stars who made a perceptible difference in the game, the fellas who pulled off the big plays everyone in the stadium greeted with raucous cheers and applause. You know, the SportsCenter plays. And in the Longhorns' camp, Texas was rife in the celebrity department. Particularly on the defensive line, further precluding Pittman's chances of ever getting asked to the interview rooms. With All-Americans Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers the undisputed leaders of the Texas defense and two of the best linemen in the country crouching next to Pittman each snap, there was little doubt which players the press would select.