That didn't last long: Petrino to leave Falcons for Ar-Kansas

When the going gets tough, Petrino gets going.

Sounds like football's version of Rick Pitino. At least Rick got his teams winning.

Total douche move by Petrino, he knew he wasn't respected by his players and that the team was a sinking ship so he wanted to get the hell out of dodge. He knew he it would be bad idea to finish the season once he made the anouncement because now the team would totally quit on him just like he quit on them in their eyes.

Hopefully this will blackball him from ever getting an NFL job again.

 

And all this negative press cannot be good for those recruits that watch SportCenter over and over again. This hire may end up actually hurting Arkansas.

 

I think you're right:

http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/210402

 

I was talking about ones that have not already committed.

 

You mean like Joe Adams, the #8 CB in the nation that has committed to USC, but now wants to take an official visit to the University of Arkansas?

 

OK, so what? Does an official visit mean he is going to commit? No and personally I don't see why he would other than to be close to home. Petrino is known for his offense not defense. He would get much more exposure too if he went to USC.

Look, I get it you like the Petrino hire and he is a good coach. I just don't like the way he has done his business in the past. Sorry.

 

I was merely responding to your inquiry on how this would impact potential recruits. It may hurt recruiting, but at least I provided some information from recruits that would back up the assertion the hire might actually help recruiting. The post I responded to said nothing about Petrino's morals and/or character.

 

OK, you gave me one recruit who was not committed to Arkansas who said they will VISIT the school. The other two were already committed to Arkansas. The reason I brought up the morals and character is because what kid is going to want to come play for a coach who might not be there next season? I don't think many would. These players reactions were also probably their initial reactions, after all the facts came out about Petrino's past they may have sung a different tune. Unless he has some major success during this rebuilding year, I don't see why a top high school player would want to come and play for him. I may be wrong but we will have to wait and see.

 

there's no possible way to spin it for this guy in a good way. leaving the NFL to get a jump recruiting schoolboys, please.

guy's a douche, to his OWN COACHES no less.

i'd be SEVERLY pissed if I was on the Falcons team. Its basically a wasted year of a guy not even concentrating on his team.

 

Exactly. If this douchebag ever became the head coach of a team that I like whether it is in college (Georgia or Miami) or the NFL (the Broncos), I would quit rooting for that team until his ass is gone.

 

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/kscarbinsky.ssf?/base/sports/119762425954590.xml&coll=2

Bobby Petrino's agent fires back at Atlanta Falcons
Friday, December 14, 2007
Russ Campbell has watched Bobby Petrino take shot after shot since leaving the Atlanta Falcons for Arkansas.

On Thursday, Campbell, who represents Petrino, fired back.

"Bobby Petrino was blindsided," Campbell told me in a 30-minute phone conversation. "I was blindsided. Arkansas was blindsided."

How so? Campbell said from the time they hired Petrino last January and signed him to a contract without a buyout, the Falcons assured the coach of something. They would not stand in his way should he decide to return to the college game.

Campbell said Falcons owner Arthur Blank reiterated that pledge to Petrino "two or three weeks ago."

Atlanta's attitude changed Monday, Campbell said, "and it wasn't a subtle change. They said, if you leave, we've got to fight you."

Last week, Campbell said, Arkansas called him to express serious interest in Petrino and he told Falcons General Manager Rich McKay that Petrino wanted to talk to Arkansas.

On Sunday, Campbell said, he told McKay that some of Petrino's issues with the Falcons were "irreparable."

"I told him," Campbell said, "you can't fix the fact that he's miserable in the NFL and his family's miserable in Atlanta."

Petrino had other issues.

"One of the main issues," Campbell said, "was the owner's involvement in the football program."

Blank assured Petrino a year ago that he would stay out of the way if that's what the coach wanted, Campbell said, but "he's in it up to his elbows."

One meddlesome example: After a pregame team prayer, Blank pulled Petrino aside and strongly objected to the prayer's wording.

"Think about this," Campbell said. "How bad do the issues have to be to make a man walk away from $10 million and subject himself to the criticism he knew would follow?"

That number's the difference between Petrino's Atlanta contract and his five-year, $14.25-million Arkansas deal. It includes a $2.85 million buyout and a clause prohibiting him from leaving for another SEC West school.

Campbell said Petrino - after a root canal - went into Monday's meeting with Blank and McKay thinking they would let him talk to Arkansas.

"His absolute desire on Monday was to finish the season in Atlanta," Campbell said, "and, if offered, take the Arkansas job. He wanted to meet (with the Falcons) on Monday to strategize on how to make it happen."

Campbell said Blank and McKay told Petrino, "There's no way you can talk to Arkansas. If you do, we'll make it ugly and embarrassing."

So, Petrino felt he had no choice but to stay. Campbell called Arkansas AD Jeff Long and said, "It's over."

But after Monday night's loss to New Orleans, during an emotional late night at the Petrino house - "his wife was very, very upset," Campbell said - Petrino called his agent. The coach told him, if the Arkansas job was still available, he was willing to take the heat to take it.

On Tuesday, he did. Petrino's been under fire since.

"Criticize Bobby Petrino," Campbell said. "Fair game. But the Atlanta Falcons bear a lot of responsibility in this. The NFL isn't a virgin league. Arthur Blank fired Dan Reeves, a Hall of Fame coach, with three games left in the (2003) season. These people in these shiny glass houses need to think before they throw stones." Kevin Scarbinsky's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Write him at kscarbinsky@bhamnews.com

 

Bobby Petrino could help it, DeAngelo. Why are you running your mouth on TV non stop for two weeks if you say you will do anything within your power to stay off of a losing time? Isn't that what you've been blasting a man for doing?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...F82bYF?slug=ap-falcons-hall&prov=ap&type=lgns