nice job, Stewart - agreed on all counts. now i wonder who my Falcons will pursue? (at what other college coach can we throw $4.5M/yr?)

BTW, i wrote a letter to Arkansas' HR department earlier, inquiring about their vacancy:

www.southernsportsdude.blogspot.com

With all the negative image being created around Bobby Petrino, one cannot dispute the fact that he is one heck of a fine football coach who's team can score points and win games. The only thing that I want to point out is, Pertino is better off going to Michigan rather than to Arkansas. Of course, I don't know where the dumb idiots at Michigan are looking for their next coach and what they have in mind. By taking up the coaching position of a big name school like Michigan , it will be easier for Petrino to get good athletes and win games rather than at Arkansas. In fact, Petrino should be worried about the rabid morons at Arkansas monitoring his phone calls and grocery bills.

Did Nebraska ever consider him? If so, I can see why after ridding themselves of the Callahan mess, they went with Pelini. He seems to be everything Petrino isn't, despite the demonstrated college success.

In the short term this is a blow to the Falcons franchise, but long term the best thing that could have happened.

This also proves that the coaching the college game is a cake walk compared to the pros.

Stewart, I wonder if you could address one issue I have with this hire at UArk: Will anyone chastise/scorn/crucify Bobby Petrino for leaving Atlanta hanging, before the season even ended, after stating that he would be staying with the Falcons, to return to college? I mean, this time last year, after Nick Saban did the same thing (though staying with his team till the season was done, his 2nd) most of the news media and Bama bashers in general were ready to proclaim him the antichrist. Now, what we have is basically the EXACT SAME situation, a year later, but perhaps more sleazy, seeing as how Petrino's walking out mid-season.

I don't blame the guy for leaving. I don't blame Saban for doing it either. The NFL is a business, and all that matters is business. With Petrino, he signed on for something that changed dramatically once Mike Vick got busted for his indiscretions.

FREE MIKE VICK!!!!

Stewart-You forgot to mention that Petrino has never been a great recruiter. He hovered at around #50 on rivals even after Louisville started winning. His personality and recruiting prowress screams Cutcliff, but there are no Manning kids to bail him out. Razorbacks, meet Shreveport...Shreveport, meet the Razorbacks.

God, has no one reporting on this story ever quit a job before a year was up? Petrino just did the same thing. If you don't fit, and you know it, why stay on any longer?

I don't put much stock in them scouting services. As a Mountaineer fan I watched Don Nehlen pull in 2 and 3 star recruits year after year but somehow the Mountaineers usually managed to win 8 plus games per year. Funny how many of those 2 and 3 star players eventually made it to the NFL. My point is that Petrino can recruit just fine. He will get the players he needs to make that offense go.

Petrino will tell you one thing, give you another. Many people do not know the Brohms father pretty much made him go to Louisville. I am not sold on his recruiting yet. He left Louisville knowing the defense would be weak. If i was an Arkansas fan I would not become to happy yet. This man flirts with jobs left and right. While winning here at Louisville was fun, it was not fun listening to the rumors that he might take a vacant position every other week. I would not be surprised if he is talking to Michigan right now. Also his brother Paul the Atlanta wide receiver coach needs to get away from his brother and create a better name for the Petrino family.

Great reporting, but I think Petrino would rather like the Notre Dame job if it is being offered next season or later this one if Charlie Weis is offered it by the Atlanta brass or another team. For the person that said that coaching the college game is easier than the NFL, it isn't, in fact it is much harder because you have to cover more ground and so on in recruting.

What about Arkansas?? They're supposed to be teaching young boys how to become young men or doesn't that matter at all any more? I guess class, honor, respect aren't part of what they teach at Arkansas. That's just great.

I seem to be in the minority, but I think Arkansas knew (and knows) exactly what they are getting.

A winning coach. As you say, a disciplinarian. As you further point out, someone who wins.

A coach and not a politicker. Nutt may be a great coach, but he got in trouble trying to do it there. I don't see Petrino doing that.

A leader. If the multimillion dollar paid athletes from the NFL don't like to take orders, then fine. Have them be coached by Oprah or Dr. Phil in order to soothe their sensibilities. Obviously, Vince Lombardi would not cut it there, either.

A pretty rational person. Who among us would not have left for Atlanta from Lousville or not have left Atlanta after the Michael Vick debacle and failure of the other players to step up? Clearly, there is something wrong with that organization . . they are not the Patriots but act like they are to coaches and the big star is now serving 2 years for (who could imagine) fighting and killing dogs. I wouldn't want to walk into that if I knew. I'd take the same pay cut Petrino did do get the hell out of there.

All that aside, it seems fair to point out the contradictions in this article. Petrino is a winning coach and disciplinarian, but not a politicker and “might walk.” Since when does politicking matter (take note, Nutt), and since when don't coaches walk? He mutters and does not ingratiate himself to players while walking through a locker room? Pray tell, why, exactly SHOULD he?

Arkansas wants to win, and I think it was a good move for Petrino and they.

I think they know EXACTLY what they got.

He may "jump ship" or not . . but I think he will win for them.

One of your worst attempts at sports journalism, Stew.

All that from an LSU fan.

Sas

"All that from an LSU fan.

Sas"

A scared LSU fan. Hahaha.

Not really. Petrino is a great coach, but, being a Razorback fan, we dont have the horses to compete for any titles just yet. But, it'll come.

And, also, since I am a Razorback fan, I can safely tell everyone, when Petrino was standing at that podium calling the Hogs, nobody in Arkansas cares about his past. We care about his future. And, right now, his future is at Arkansas. Yeah, he may bail on us after a while, but before he does, he'll have taken this program up to a level that Houston Nutt could never reach. Petrino gives Arkansas legitimate credibility that we will be a team to be reckoned with. If he jumps ship after 3 years, so be it. But, in 3 years, we'll be sittin in a pretty good spot to replace him with another high quality coach, and our program will be better when/if he leaves than when he got here.

Arkansas does know what they are getting, and we are frickin excited as can be about it.

All the Petrino haters are coming out of the woodwork these days. Stew. Forde. What did he do to you? Did this guy deflower your daughters or what? Get over it. Act like a journalist and not like every other fan who can rant about how much they hate this coach or that coach. I can write pretty much this same article about Les Miles, Phil Fullmer, or Urban Myer. I can hate on those guys just as easy as Stew and Forde do on Petrino.

Stew, you sound eerily similar to many of the Nutt haters that were calling into the sports radio shows. Maybe that's where you belong. As a caller on some radio show bashing a good coach because he isn't squeaky clean like Phil Fullmer.. oh wait. I mean Nick Saban.. oh wait. I meant to say George O'Leary... dang it. Houston Nutt? Ed Orgeron, maybe???? Every coach has something to hate on em for. Steve Spurrier is a douche. Les Miles is a massive douche. Urban Myer is an arrogant douche. Phil Fullmer has a team full of criminals.... every year.

BTW, get used to hearing about Arkansas, cause we're gonna start runnin the show under Petrino, maybe even for as long as 4 years ???

Being in Atlanta, I'm not sure why Petrino is praised as being a good coach. He has done nothing in the NFL, which is understandable ie Spurrier, Carroll, Saban. But what did he do in college? He coached a Louisville team that illegally recruited players that were light-years ahead of C-USA talent. All of his "offensive genius" numbers were put up on porous defenses. The SEC defenses are much like the NFL's with their speed, so I don't see how he can have any immediate effect.

I am also not sure why he is being touted as a great hire. He is not as good a coach as Houston Nutt, his predecessor. I would rank as about the 9-11th best coach in the SEC; behind Miles, Spurrier, Meyer, Fulmer, Richt, Nutt, Tuberville, Brooks, Croom, Saban. I don't think he will have any impact at Arkansas.

In response to a previous comment, "This proves that coaching the college game is a cake walk compared to the pros." What about Charlie Weis, he was touted as a great coach before Notre Dame. I think it shows that pros and college are very different games. In college players get pumped up to play and emotion plays a huge role in games. In the pros the players just want stats and paychecks, of course they want to win, but they do not put forth the same amount of effort as college athletes. College requires a motivator, pros require a schemer.

"I am also not sure why he is being touted as a great hire. He is not as good a coach as Houston Nutt, his predecessor. I would rank as about the 9-11th best coach in the SEC; behind Miles, Spurrier, Meyer, Fulmer, Richt, Nutt, Tuberville, Brooks, Croom, Saban. I don't think he will have any impact at Arkansas."

Jon, you must not know frickin crap about SEC football if you just said that Houston Nutt is a better coach than Bobby Petrino. That is pure ignorant. I laugh in your general direction. Petrino is a brilliant coach. The great Steve Spurrier has even praised Petrinos offensive genius, as stated in the article here.

I got absolutely nothing against ATL. Joe Johnson is an Arkansas boy, so I can guarantee you that many, many Arkansans are Hawks fans. We all know DMac is goin pro, and I, personally, have said from day 1 that I would like to see him go to the Falcons. He would look bad action in the black and red. Best of luck to the Falcons, but.... thanks for the coach.

Go Hogs!

"In college players get pumped up to play and emotion plays a huge role in games. In the pros the players just want stats and paychecks, of course they want to win, but they do not put forth the same amount of effort as college athletes."

I dont mean to keep callin you out or anything, but, this is one truly ridiculous generalization.

It could be argued that college players only play to make it to the pros so they can make money.

You think Peyton Manning only plays for the money? You dont think that guy plays with a passion to win?

You cant generalize players like that. Pro and college athletes all have something that motivates them. Some are self-centered, some aren't.

to WooPigSooie, I know everyone at Arkansas hates Nutt for personal reasons, but look at his resume. He is the only winning coach at Arkansas over the past 15 years. He took a team from nothing to the SEC championship twice. His main recruiting rivals are LSU and Texas, not to mention other SEC/Texas teams. He did a great job turning a mediocre program into a very good program. He might have done some things to piss off Hog-nation, but that doesn't take away from what he accomplished on the field.

"The SEC now has at least 10 of the top 15 coaches in the nation. Mark Richt, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Phillip Fulmer, Steve Spurrier, Les Miles, Tommy Tuberville, Houston Nutt, Rick Petrino, Rich Brooks, and Sly Croom. Not to mention the job Johnson has done at Vandy."

I feel bad. I really do. Rick Pitino coaches basketball, at Lousiville. Sylvester Croom is not one of the top 15 coaches in the nation. Sylvester Croom is not one of the top 10 coaches in the SEC. Houston Nutt is not top 15 material either. Trust me. I have seen that man coach for the past 10 years. 2007 - Alabama, Kentucky, and Auburn. All losses. All because we had the lead late in the 4th and Nutt goes conservative mode as he always does. We dont pick up the 1st down that could and would win the game. He puts the game on the shoulders of a bad defense, and we lose. All 3 games. That's not good coaching. And that is why he got run.

Hey, I agree. His resume here at UA was fairly decent. Had a lot of big wins. And a lot of bad losses. Houston Nutt cant get over the hump. He makes in-game decisions that cost his teams the ballgame. I have nothing against Houston Nutt and wish him well at Ole Miss (kinda). But, he couldn't get the job done. That's what the bottom line was. Did he leave the program better when he left than when he got it. Yes. But most people dont know the history Arkansas football has. We used to be a major power in the SWC. We were stout under Hatfield and Holtz. The Danny Ford era screwed us. Houston Nutt made us respectable again. Petrino will make us feared again.

To WooPigSooie,
Good luck. I hope ya'll beat LSU, Bama, and Auburn every year. I would love to see Saban, Tuberville, and Miles not being able to reach the SEC championship ever again. I really would. Arkansas is my favorite team in the West, mainly because the fans at the aforementioned schools are unbearable. No matter what, we can all safely say, "don't be a Florida fan, they have no class."

Hahaha. I agree completely. As I stated before. Both Miles and Meyer are douchebags. Cant stand them. Phil Fullmer is a chump. I hate Tennessee. I hate LSU. And I hate Florida. Auburn and Bama, eh, I just want em to lose. But, LSU fans are the worst. Those kids dress up in their purple and yellow pimp outfits thinking they're cool or something. Their arrogance is unreal. I loved stickin it to LSU. Wish I could've seen the look on some of those fools faces when we took em down. Should've cost them a national title shot. They got bailed out, which is crap.

*The SEC has some great fans. And, on the flip side, the SEC has some terrible fans (some Arkansas fans included - ala the Nutt debacle that should not have taken place).

Actually, LSU fans are probably the most gracious and best to party with in the world.

LSU does deserve to be in the title game despite losing in 3 OT to ArKansas.

Beyond that, and my responses to the point of the blog, good luck to your teams.

i still dont understand why everyone thinks that nutt is a great coach!!! yes he built the program up from the pathetic ranks they were in, but anyone with half a football brain could, the way it was left in shambles. im glad we got a proven coach at the college level. when the ole miss,arkansas game comes around, we will watch nutt run it up the middle over and over, maybe a 5 and out here and there, and petrino rip apart the ole miss defence in fayetteville next year.

Of course we have no class, WooPigSooie15. That is why Arkansas was able to join the SEC after being kicked out in the cold from the defunct-class of no classes SWC!!!

for Jason - I think his name was Don Nelson at WV. How did they manage to win 8+ games a year and only recruit 2 - 3 hot prospects a year? The WV schedule was so soft that they could win all their games and not get voted the NC. That is how. Nelson used to whine a lot, but it didn't help and didn't get any respect for WV.

I wonder how many fathers would allow their talented high school football player to even talk with coach Petrino about playing at Arkansas now? Recruiting could become an issue with a guy like Petrino who has shown himself to be always looking for that next opportunity, rather than giving 100% of his concentration to the job at hand. I feel sure that he is probably a better man than his actions demonstrate, but I don't think I'd want my son to think this is how a grown man is supposed to act in this world. Committment is going to be a hard thing for coach Petrino to teach his players anything about!

I wonder how many fathers would allow their talented high school football player to even talk with coach Petrino about playing at Arkansas now? Recruiting could become an issue with a guy like Petrino who has shown himself to be always looking for that next opportunity, rather than giving 100% of his concentration to the job at hand. I feel sure that he is probably a better man than his actions demonstrate, but I don't think I'd want my son to think this is how a grown man is supposed to act in this world. Committment is going to be a hard thing for coach Petrino to teach his players anything about!

I also doubt that Petrino will have that much of an impact on Arkansas, given the elite competition he faces. But Arkansas at least was trying to find the best coach available. Michigan appears to want the best with Michigan bloodlines. Big difference.

"and his franchise quarterback in Atlanta just got sentenced to 23 months in jail."

Oh, that's right, Vick didn't start dog fighting and killing dogs until Petrino came along and told him to do it.

What are the odds Petrino is accpeting the LSU job on January 8?

I say 3-1

Why do people only look at the winning records and not... CHARACTER..

I understand people make mistakes. But jumping ships continuously for another gig even though you keep stating that "you are here for the long run" shows no class and character.

To be honest, Petrino would not gotten hired by Michigan because he is all about himself. Only him and his rules.. His success and not the team... So to answer some of the Hogs fans who stated this is a great thing.

I would say yes short term but long term, no.... Parents do not want a characterless coach to entrust their kids. Of course, they just see the NFL as the only thing. He is notoriously for not getting all things done and just bailing for a pay raise and "improvements"

He is not a disciplinary coach. Did you see all the problem with Louisville this year? Speaking in terms of simplicity, he got the job because schools are always going to be desperate to win. That is the bottomline..

So a good move for short term for Arkansas? Yes... Will this bite them back later? Definitely YES!

I do not see him staying no more than 4 years (I see him leaving in 2-3 years if he succeeds). Wish Arkansas the best. I think Houston Nutt was a great coach and characterwise, Petrino do not even compare....

just following up on ralph's comment...if I'm recruiting against Petrino, I just bring in his record...yeah, he'll get those Arkansas boys that have ALWAYS dreamed of wearing the Razorback, but he is gonna struggle to pull in talent otherwise. You Hog fans better hope he's the 2nd coming of Jesus as a coach, 'cause your talent base is going WAY down...

Charles,
WVU's former coach was named Don Nehlen. Don Nelson currently coaches the Golden State Warriors. They play with a round orange ball.

VICK is nothing more than a Thug and Petrino is nothing more than a baby who cant get his way and takes his toys and go home nuff said!!!

for osuneer - You are probably right about Nehlen being the former WV coach. But he was a whiner. At least I got that right.

I have no idea if Petrino turns out to be the guy who takes Razorbacks football to the next level. We will have to wait and see on that.

But I find it funny seeing people defend Nutt's character as being superior to Petrino's. Nutt didn't bother to prevent his own wife from being a part of the hatchet campaign that Theresa Prewett conducted against Mitch Mustain. If he couldn't prevent it, he should have at least owned up to it and apologized for it.

Nutt's other "character" issue was his inability to accept responsibility for his own part in losses. It was always one of the player's fault in his postgame comments.

Don't know what Petrino will bring, but good riddance to the gutless Nutt!

If college is so easy to coach, how come pro coaches fail so miserably in college.

Congratulations for the Falcons. Terrible choice for an NFL head coach - pro athletes who are making more money than their immediate boss just won't respond to the same kind of autocratic nonsense that you can foist on college kids.

Whether they were right or wrong, or somewhere in between - whatever ones personal opinion - I think its fair to see that Saban and Petrino have done some serious damage to the aspirations of college coaches actually hoping to make it into the NFL for years to come.

Let's get one thing straight...you don't win in the SEC with smoke and mirrors, you win with talent. Spurrier and Saban are both national championship coaches and better than Petrino but neither had the talent to be anything but average this year. Petrino was never a good recruiter and it will catch up with him at Arkansas. It's a bad hire by a desparate program that had already been used by other coaches. You are only hearing the tip of the iceberg in regards to the crap he pulled in Louisville and Atlanta. Arkansas and the SEC derserve better than this bum.

I went to high school with Petrino. I've known him for many, many years.

He's definitely looking out for himself at all times. I think he got a bit lucky at Louisville and he was at a school with very low academic standards. He would look the other way if a guy is a thug or a gang-banger, as long as he can play football.

So, Arkansas is going to get a lot of the kids out of Texas who don't have the character to make it at Baylor, Texas or A&M. Troubled kids who have marginal test scores.

And Petrino will never get enough of a personality to help those kids. Just like he didn't relate to the black dudes on the Atlanta Falcons.

He is just a guy who is very good at Xs and Os.

for Mark - All you say about Petrino's past may be true. But he had some success at Louisville even if it was limited in many ways. If you give him credit for having some intelligence I suspect that he will polish up his act a bit more and that he will find some good recruiters to work for him. Even Bobby Knight was capable of doing some polishing when he saw it necessary.
Atlanta faced adversity and instead of the players showing character and pulling with Petrino they bailed out on him, or at least enough of the ones who counted.
I see nothing to suggest that Arkansas and Petrino have what it takes to gain elite status in the SEC. I think they will remain a good team occasionally capable of producing very good results.

I don't know, man. The players didn't like him from the beginning and just because of this action it seems like they were right and he probably bailed on them waaaaaayyy before they bailed on him. I love these college coaches who when they jump ship to the pros (remember he also bailed on Louisville AFTER signing an extension) and then find they can't yell and scream at these players and they'll just say "yes sir, no sir", you have to treat them as fellow professionals, then go scampering back to the college ranks. Petrino's pathetic and Arkansas is a joke. They're supposed to be turning youth into adults. What is this lesson?

Hey Coach,

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IgK7K-NzWRQ

Yeah, free Mike Vick.

With all the troubles in Atlanta and their 3-10 record - just how bad is Miami at 0-13?

The problem with Petrino, Saban and others -- they are job hoppers. We wouldn't hire them in the business world. The problem will be recruiting -- will this coach be here for 4 years? You reap what you sow. Something to be said for commitment.

Arkansas, enjoy Petrino for 2, 3 years tops, then he will leave for greener (as in money) pastures.

To me it is one thing to leave one job for another and yet to perennially interview for jobs when you are a football coach is a different story. If Petrino had never talked with Auburn (while they had a head coach!) and had never talked with the Raiders and then had taken the Falcons job,okay. But he was interviewing regularly.

Of course I have to remember that fans love their teams more than the coaches and players do (even in college I suspect).

This move also makes me wonder:

When will owners stop hiring college coaches to be pro coaches at least as head coaches?

Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer made the move successfully, but Switzer was not able to sustain it.

Can someone name the college head coaches who came to the NFL and were successful as college head football coaches?

Cam Cameron has had some success but he also bounced back and forth and went from college HC to OC in the NFL before becoming a head coach. (I do not hold the Miami record completely against him.)

Saban? Petrino? Flops or at least did not stick it out.

Erickson? Bust

Coughlin? Some success

Bobby Ross? One good year.

Who else?

The same holds true for the pro to college move as that does not seem to work all that well either except for Pete Carroll. (Too early to tell on Charlie Weis).

Chan Gailey is a bizarre case since he was a highly successful Div II coach who went to the NFL as an assistant, then a pro head coach to return to college. He was not a bad coach in college (his record was about the same as his predecessor).

I think there are "college guys" and "pro guys" and rarely movement between at least head coach to head coach.

This is absolutely hilarious!! What a bunch of total haters!! I just love people casting judgement on Petrino's decision to leave that disaster in Atlanta, as if pro sports was some refuge for high ethical behavior. You people are just upset because you CANNOT BELIEVE Arkansas landed such a coach. Arkansas!! Arkansas?? Yes, Arkansas. So what if he left those thugs in the ATL? Boy, DeAndre Hall sure has a right to be upset - after all, he was such a "good guy" to Petrino during his brief tenure. Give me a break. So what - he left the Falcons after 13 games. Would you have rather him leave after the season and THEN leave?? Oh, that makes a bunch of sense. Let's just go through the motions in ATL all the while knowing you're out the door the instant the clock hits 00:00 in week 17. Sweet. Oh and sorry Arkansas - i knew the whole time I was coming, but couldn't break away w/o upsetting the Atlanta "faithful." Sorry we missed the last 2 months of recruiting, but I'll make it up to you next year.

Also, I don't recall EVER hearing of Petrino's lax ethical or disciplinary abilities while was at Louisville. Which even further exposes this "moral majority" who were so quick to call him sleezy. Wake up people.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. In a world of free-agency and jerks like DeAndre' Hall - why blame Petrino? It sure is nice to this auidence has such high moral/ethical character! I am sure you'd stay on your current job, as oppposed to doing something your heart and family wanted you to do. I am sure you'd stay on and finish that big project. What a bunch of frauds. Look in the mirror and judge yourself then cast stones.

This ain't nothin' but big city hatin'. Plain and simple. You still can't believe it. Arkansas!! Arkansas?? Yeah, Arkansas.

Deal with it, Stewey. And thanks for being a shepard to the Arkansas program; warning them of potenial evil doings by the classless, heartless Bobby Petrino. I'm sure they're very appreciative of your wisdom because they surely are incapable of handling their own business.

The only people who should be upset are those in the SEC West. Although after DMac and Felix Jones leave the cupboard will be without much substance, much like this article and most of these posts.

PS. I should have added June Jones to the list of Pro to College although he took a relatively low profile college job.

NZAPISEK: >>This also proves that the coaching the college game is a cake walk compared to the pros.<<

Oh, I see. So all those coaches who left the NFL and found great success in the college game (Callahan, Wannstedt, Weis, etc) prove that the college game is that much easier, right?

first off, Michigan is holding off for Miles. They'll throw gobs of money at him after he wins the National Championship and eats caramel

Well, I guess all of this goes to show you that Les Miles is one of the classiest guys in Football. Seriously, he told LSU he was staying and he is staying. I know michigan is desperate and so they spread rumors to hurt his image but he has held steadfast on his love for LSU.

GEAUX TIGERS!!

Arkansas is getting a GREAT one. I am not an Arkansas fan but have to tip my hat to them. They have dominated LSU most of the last 3-4 years in the SEC West and will probably continue into the future. Arkansas will be competing for the national title soon...you can feel it. Reports are coming out of Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas that previous 'committs' to those programs are now looking at Arkansas and trying to schedule visits with Arkansas. That is big!! Arkansas now has to be put in the 3-4 'elite' teams and the new Arkansas AD deserves applause. I hope my team (USC) does not have to meet Arkansas again in the future because the weak 'Nutt' teams that we beat in the past won't be there. McFadden and Jones may not leave for the NFL now either because with the new coach, they have a viable shot at a national championship. McFadden would be put in Arkansas 'God-like' status if he anounced that he is staying another year... something worth more than money in the long run.... besides, who would want to go to a Miami team that has the worse front office, offence, defence and special teams in NFL history and only getting worse. Congradulations to you in Arkansas...it looks like you domininate in more than retail(Wal Mart,Dillards,Tyson,...), politics (Clinton/Huckabee), nature, track/basketball, and women (I like southern women)... but now football. Your recruiting class coming in should put you in the top 3-4 teams in 3 years. wow...congrads!.

Petrino's time in Atlanta shows he is undeserving of the "offensive genius" tag. Petrino came in with a system, a system that did not fit the players. The Falcons have smaller, quicker offensive linemen better suit for cut blocking, but in Petrino's system they are trying use power and sustain there blocks longer. The Falcons have quick, change of direction running backs, but under Petrino they are asked to run through the hole with power. As a result the O-linemen are bruised and injured and the running game is non-existent. A true "offensive genius" would tailor the offense to fit the players, Petrino just tried to hammer square pegs into a round hole.

Petrino was given every opportunity, he wants a fullback they get him one, he rarely plays, not happy with Harrington, they sign Leftwich. Even with the problems with players, the losing, and the rumors Petrino is trying to get back into college, Blank goes on MNF and back Petrino.

Now Petrino finds himself at Arkansas, coaching a team with little in the way of offensive firepower, and fans that expect to win. To be do so Petrino will need to recruit in an area sandwiched between the Big 10, Big 12, and SEC. And still Petrino's biggest hurdle will be his own reputation. When it comes to negative recruiting Petrino has given his rivals ample ammunition.

Word just anounced 5 min ago...ALL of the Arkansas recruits have confirmed their committment with Arkansas and others (Joe Johnson ..USC, 2 Michigan recruits, 2 LSU recruits, 4 Mississippi recruits, 7 Texas recruits and a couple in Oklahoma have ties to Petrino and are trying to get visits to Arkansas ) This will put them in the top 5 recruiting. Wow!. My hat is off.

Good luck with your hat being off. So it simply doesn't matter that he lied to his previous employer the DAY BEFORE when asked about whether or not he was leaving? Class? Honor? Crap! Win football games. That's just great. Well, historically he hasn't been such a great recruiter and he's going to have a rough go competing with Meyer, Spurrier, Saban and Miles. One day, Arkansas -- and Alabama for that matter -- the chickens are going to come home to roost.

How upset do you think Mitch Mustain is right now? He probably won't play at USC behind Sanchez and whatever other stud QB recruits they bring in, and now Arkansas brought in a great offensive coach.

People shouldn't be upset that he left the Falcons to be the coach at Arkansas, but in the manner that he did it. To do it over the phone with the owner who has given you nothing but support? To leave notes for the players? That is weak.

Arkansas fans should expect to hire a new coach in a couple years. Petrino is the Larry Brown of football.

Hey Mark..who at Michigan spread any rumors about Les Miles?

All the rumors generated out of the media with ESPN leading the way...Bill Martin the AD at Michigan honored LSU's request not to talk to Miles until after the SEC Championship....read some artilcles and you will see Martin is getting killed for not breaching that agreement....Miles is good for honoring his word, but so was the Michigan Athletic Department

Stewart,

Please tell me how many Pulitzer Prizes you have earned with the astute observations. That's right - ZERO.

So, why don't you give Patrino a break - how many times has a coach had a QB end up in the FCI?

for easttexashog - Where are you coming from? Stew's remarks are kind next to some others I have read. It does appear that Petrino needs to polish up his act. I hope he brings some stability to the Arkansas program, but stability has been a major weakness so far. It just might be that the skepticism expressed gets through to Petrino and he makes a major effort for Arkansas. One thing does seem clear. If he ducks and runs in the near future it will be difficult to trust him.

Stewart - TheMan is incorrect in stating that "UA has dominated LSU most of the last 3-4 years". In fact, prior to their triple OT win in 2007, UA lost 4 in a row to LSU (06-05-04-03). Its ok to be excited about your new coach brother but don't let that turn into insanity. LSU owns the all-time series against UA and will continue to do so in the future. Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"People shouldn't be upset that he left the Falcons to be the coach at Arkansas, but in the manner that he did it. To do it over the phone with the owner who has given you nothing but support? To leave notes for the players? That is weak."

I agree with this given today's revelations regarding the "letter" and some of the reaction from Falcon players (including Arkansas alums.) I stand by my original post but Wolverine2000 hits the nail on the head.

Next year, Saban will face Petrino in the first annual Weasel Bowl.

Perhaps we are being too judgmental. Petrino likely gave it all he had, but a large part of him realized that the pros was not the place to be. Vick self-destructed in an unbelievable way. Instead of rallying around a leader in the face of hard times it sounds like a number of crybabies were pushing their own agendas. Vick was unique and it is safe to say any offense would face major changes.
Players generally felt 'a relief' that Petrino was gone. That tells me a lot. With spoiled children sniping at him perhaps Petrino thought all would be better off if he just vacated the place. Have you ever worked in a situation where you felt your efforts were being criticized unfairly, and you were put on notice that changes were necessary if you wanted to stay? If you found a better opportunity and it just happened to be a bad time for your current employer I suspect the reaction would be too bad for them. And you might take the easy way out to informing them that they are getting their wish in getting rid of you. I don't know, but I suspect that there is much more to the story than we are reading. Maybe the Falcons got just what they deserved.

What will we say next week if Charlie Weis takes the Atlanta job? These guys are employees looking for the next good gig, nothing more. Arkansas just shipped one of their winningest coaches out the door! Atlanta is better off without Petrino, considering the rebuild job they need and Petrino's inability to connect with NFL egos. He just saved them the trouble of firing him after another 1.2 more miserable seasons! Most of the talk around Atlanta Monday night was about that being the low point, and needing to build for the future. At least Petrino was honest with them about not wanting to be a part of it, and they can start clean. More than MV could do for them!

Let's everyone move on, OK?

Stewart, Petrino has left coaching staffs hanging in the breeze for consecutive years. How can a guy with that track record convince assistants to move their families to follow this weasel??

You know Charles, your point might have some validity if Petrino had said to Arthur Blank, a fair and kind man by all accounts, "Hey, I have to go." But he didn't. When asked directly the day before -- Monday we're talking -- he told Blank that he still had a head coach for next season. If it was as you suggest he would have offered up any of the reasons you've stated and say, "I want out." Instead, he lied to his employer's face while shaking his hand. He never told the team he was leaving. He left notes on their lockers. Besides that this is the way he operates. Atlanta was not the first time he's gone behind his employer's back courting his next job. If you're unhappy with a job and it's time for you to go you say, "I'm unhappy with my job and it's time for me to go." Everything you suggest, Charles, is undermined by the back-door way Petrino handled the situation. Perhaps the most frightening thing is people rushing to defend a liar even though it's patently apparent that is all that happened -- he lied. And "spoiled kids"? Who's being judgmental? Warrick Dunn buys old houses, has them renovated, and then gives them to impoverished single moms. Alge Crumpler is recognized as one of the best guys in the league. For all his issues as a player Joey Harrington has never spoken ill of anyone. None of these guys could stand Petrino. And I don't think it matters. I've never coached a down and I know that coaching college is different from coaching the pros. If he wasn't ready to work with grown men making large amounts of money who have large egos he shouldn't have taken the job. But leaving in the middle of the season? I don't really think the guy's defensible and he's not someone I would want teaching my kids.

You were doing good until the end there, David. He wasn't honest. He was as snaky and dishonest about it as he could be. Like looking in people's faces and saying "yes, I'm staying" and then calling on the phone the NEXT DAY and saying "no, I'm going" -- his contract had already been negotiated and everything! Notes on the locker rooms of the players??? Using words like "sincerely"? The guy doesn't know what the word means.

Atlanta got what they had coming to them because they stole him from Louisville last year. The irony!

Atlanta got what they had coming to them because they stole him from Louisville last year. The irony!

Tell Atlanta to LOSE Jim Tressel's phone number!!!!

Just kidding of course. Tressel has something Bobby will never have: A sense of tradition and loyalty.

And see, Richard, this is my problem with Petrino and college football in general. Atlanta didn't "steal" Petrino from Louisville. Petrino had signed an extension with Louisville, no doubt promising the university and his players he would be staying and then walked out of that contract. He left Louisville high and dry. He'd been trying to do that before. Remember the secret meeting on the plane with Auburn? Did Louisville deserve this as well?

I don't get it -- where does my sense of tradition and loyalty come into play? Or Petrino's?

Atlanta Falcons fans would be a lot more upset --- if there WERE any Atlanta Falcons fans! Ba ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Ba ha ha ha ha!!

Seriously,

Maybe the owner and general manager need to show that they are a little more upset.

for bobby - perhaps you are right and Petrino is a low life when it comes to putting his own interests first. All I was suggesting was that there are often things going on we don't know about. In any case I suspect that Petrino may realize that this is his last chance to come through and may try to polish up his act.

For Charles, I hope you're right. I guess I get tired of this. I love sports and I especially love big time American sports. When Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino pull crap like this it undermines the glory of amazing athletes pushing their bodies and will to the ultimate. When baseball players use steroids it cheapens their amazing skills and accomplishments. When basketball players get involved in gunfights and riots in the stands it makes you not want to appreciate their otherworldly abilities. In college sports in particular I find it especially egregious because as fun as football is -- and as lucrative -- I still believe a university's first job is teach young people how to be adults in society. I know that makes me naive, but I mean, football is just a game, it's not real life. And not that the universities shoulder the whole burden but how often do they help their athletes know how to exist in the world? I went to the University of Texas and I can tell you the athletes there were spoiled rotten. I had a friend who used to student teach at Oklahoma State and she got into trouble for not passing athletes who didn't show up for class. The shocker is not that so many athletes go bad when they become adults but that even more of them don't. The universities put all their emphasis on winning games and forget about teaching character, ethics, respect. Sports like art, is often a microcosm of what's going on in the world around it -- is this the world we want to live in? The going got tough for Petrino and so he decided not to honor his commitment, not even finish out the season -- what is that? And the way he handled it. Is that what they're teaching at Arkansas? But your point is well taken -- judgment is bad candy. We have to look at this as a nation and I honestly don't think I'm over stating this because we're building on a shaky foundation. "As long as I win" or "as long as I get paid" is not the basis that can long sustain a nation. At least I don't think so.

from an lsu fan who lives in atlanta:
- blank and falcons were flat out lied to, but don't feel too sorry for them, when you play with matches, you are going to get burned (quick question: could blank make him honor his contract just to spite him? true he would have to pay 2 coaches at the same time, but it would be worth it just piss pertrino off...it seems contracts only benefit a coach)
- blank is not good at running large/corporate organizations, he was brillant at building HD at the start, but did not build any infrastructure and was eventually fired by the board of directors...he has not made any good 'football' decisions since he has taken over the team
- petrino is a great X/O coach who did not have the personal to execute his offensive system (the irony is that even if vick was not in jail, he would have failed since it is dependent on accuracy, and vick, while he can throw a ball 100 yards, does not)...but when you sign a five year contract, that means you are going to stay through the bad times
- neither of the 2 running backs will (or should) stay, they will take the money at the pro level like they should with how much they get hit
- petrino will have a level of success at arkansas...the question is how will he handle the adversity/scrutingy that comes with it...he got to do pretty much whatever he wanted at louisville, that will not be allowed at AR-kansas
- as an lsu fan, its sucks that yet another great coach has joined the SEC in the past 2-3 years (spurrier, meyer, saban and now petrino...thank god TN keeps signing fulmer to contract extensions even though nobody wants him)...the SEC is pretty much minor league football with the amount of talent and money in the conference
- i don't agree that petrino will leave like has before, we KNOW he is not going back to the nfl...he has always wanted to coach in the SEC and where else is there to go in the next 3-5 years? arkansas has the money to match whatever else is thrown at him and it is a prime area to get talent with no real competition in the state (and if he can get some kids from north LA and TX...)
- not sure why all the hate at mandal, he gets paid to share his opninion; unlike us losers who do it for free :)

for bobby - What you said about the university being expected to teach hits the nail on the head. And if Petrino does have an out with the Falcons it is because the NFL is purely business. But I taught at a small Texas college and a word from me about lack of attendance and athletes were called on the carpet. I attended to make the report and there were times I was embarrassed to be sitting there listening to the coach come down on the players.
I understand that at bigger places, where money is more of a factor, that it has been different and tremendous pressure has been put on faculty to knuckle under. I am hopeful that for the most part those days are over, and even the hint of that kind of scandal means jobs are at stake.
But I will say something else. I taught at six different colleges in my career and going elsewhere was the only way to get a pay raise. It was common for new people to be hired at a salary more than some of the existing faculty. The field of education is a different ball game in more ways than one.
But in all of this you have Notre Dame dumping on Willingham to get Meyer. Sometimes it is difficult to blame the coaches.

for joe - How does it suck that the SEC has hired another great coach? Do you think LSU would be in the NC if it were not for the reputation of the SEC, deserved or not? You can't have it both ways. It is only because the SEC is thought to be stronger from top to bottom that LSU made it, and only because so many SEC schools have the biggest budgets that they attract so many top coaches and players. Michigan is not willing to pay top salary. Instead they seek the best coach with Michigan bloodlines and hope the bloodlines will mean someone great will take less money. It usually doesn't work that way, but it sounds nice in theory.

charles: i mean its sucks as an LSU fan as just when we began to be one of the upper tier teams (right now they are florida, auburn, GA and lsu with SC and alabama coming on strong..i think TN will fade) everyone else just got better as well...it was more of a selfish joke
but you are right, you can't have it both ways...i would much rather root for a team that will have 6-8 great/exciting games (we usually play 4-6 great SEC teams and 2 great teams outside our conference) then at a place that you are only going to have 2 hard games a year
to be honest, i don't even really mind the losses, i just like rooting for a team that is in every game and plays hard...
this season in the SEC was a great thing to watch (and to be honest, i don't watch any collge football outside the conference) and its going to get even better in the years to come...
and for the record, i would not be mad at miles if he did leave...that's where he and his wife are from, its his alumni and all that kind of stuff..but he would be crazy if he did...go ask nick saban what its like to have to recurit agts auburn every year

for Joe - I did not realize you were joking. In the sense that you meant it you are right that the last thing we need is another big name coach in the SEC. And part of it is not a joke when Hawaii claims an overtime victory over La Tech has just the same weight as the LSU victory over Florida. A win is a win right? Most sports people would agree that the stronger the competition the harder it is to go undefeated, but not those from Boise St, Hawaii, and even Kansas.
But I do not see Petrino and Arkansas as a threat to the supremacy of LSU as long as someone like Miles is at the controls. And should he leave next month after professing that he was 100% committed to LSU there would be a smell wherever he goes.
There is one thing Joe that I must say negatively about LSU. I saw a preview of their non-conf schedule for next year and if accurate it does the SEC no credit. But maybe I did not see the right schedule.

Stewart,

Who are the nine SEC coaches to have led a team to the BCS? My count is eight: Fulmer, Meyer, Richt, Spurrier, Petrino, Tuberville, Miles and Saban.

Nutt, Johnson, Brooks, and Croom haven't done it.

Just an editorial nit-pick. Fact checking is an amazing thing, huh?

why not talk about the players drafted who refuse to play aka eli manning for the teams who drafted them or the ones who sign contracts then hold out for more money or the fact nutt quit before the last game he could have stayed at arkansas most were behind him maybe his wife wanted him away from fort smith as much as some fans did not show much class neither did he or his friend and wife with the emails concerning mustain

also espn esp shawn salsberry has no class and he will not be on my tv again.

Pertino will throw water in your face and tell you it's raining. He is a slimy snake oil salesman. Good luck Arkansas...you're going to need it (and a new coach in two years).

Mandel, (I'ts Howie, isn't it?),

You obviously are looking to jump ship, yourself, and join ESPN (Disney) as a sports analyst (You know the type - unbalanced and one-sided reporting, unintelligent conclusions, talking about teams and coaching situations of which you have little first-hand knowledge, speak first and to heck with the facts, misguide your readers, etc.) You would probably fit right in.

Well, if all else fails in your sports writing role, you can always go back to doing comedy routines, Howie.

Bobby,

You sound like an elitist pseudo-intellectia whom tries to give a "world-view" of what Petrino, Arkansas, Football, and Coaching is all about.

I think you missed on most all the points that you tried to make because you have no real-life perspective. You seem to know little about the above subject-matter.

Why don't you grow-up, be evenly balanced and not one-sided and try again?

Otherwise, go and try to be a sports analyst for ESPN (Disney).
That way you can simply repeat the script that is given to you and you don't have to even think!

I'll say this for you, razorbackintexas, you don't sound intellectual, pseudo or not. And you're right, I do see everything inside of a larger world view. I think people should. And don't you think an institution of learning should have a world view? Hey, maybe not, you ARE from Arkansas. Your comments about my "real-life perspective" and being evenly balanced (a little redundant by the way -- or am I being too elitist for you?) are that much more ironic seeing as how you apparently only see things inside your Arkansas football bubble. And what, I'm not thinking because I don't agree with you? Hm, that probably does pass for thinking for Razorbacks. But it's simple, genius: Did he lie or didn't he? Why is that okay? We get mad about athletes lying, politicians lying, religious leaders lying, etc. and we should because it's not honorable and not the way people should deal with each other. Of course, I'm just assuming that lying is not an acceptable form social intercourse (damn! There I go again!) in Arkansas. Correct me if I'm wrong. So why would we accept lying in a man who is supposed to help raise our kids? Maybe because honor and respect no longer matter. That's not the world I want to live in, how about you?

Despite of all the controversies he has done a great job.
____________________________________
Franklin
Arkansas Treatment Centers