Bobby Petrino Does Not Deserve a Second Chance
By Michael Schneid
Bobby Petrino has been fired as Arkansas football head coach, following controversy involving a motorcycle accident and an alleged affair with a 25 year old intern, whom he hired.
Petrino was hired as Arkansas's coach in 2008, following a miserably failed tenure with the Atlanta Falcons. Petrino has a history of bouncing around jobs. Petrino had 10 different jobs from 1983-2002. All assistant jobs. He coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars for a couple years as a QB coach and offensive coordinator. He left, without saying a word to anyone, to take the Auburn offensive coordinator job in 2001. Tom Coughlin, the coach of the Jaguars at this time, has always resented him since this. This was pretty much the beginning of a recurring theme that would play thoughout Petrino's coaching career.
In 2002 he was hired as head coach of Louisville. His final game coaching Louisville was in the Orange Bowl in 2007. On July 13, 2006 Petrino signed a new contract extension with Louisville - 10 years $25.6 million. On January 7, 2007, he left the Cardinals for the Atlanta Falcons.
Petrino was excited to coach Mike Vick, who wound up being arrested in August and suspended the season. So Petrino was forced to use his former Louisville player, Chris Redman at QB. Petrino "quit" the Falcons following a Monday night football disaster against the Saints. During the broadcast, the announcers were praising Petrino and preaching patience. Saying the Vick situation really screwed up the season and the team but that they will have a bright future.
The very next day, Petrino was introduced as Arkansas head coach. Not "will be named" or "rumors" he quit Monday night, and accepted Arkansas job early Tuesday and by Tuesday night had already conducted his press conference. Petrino left the Falcons by leaving a note in his office. Noone in the Atlanta organization, owner Arthur Blank included, never heard from him again.
Petrino was very successful at Arkansas. He got a huge victory early by landing prized QB transfer Ryan Mallet from Michigan. Mallet would help lead Arkansas to a Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State in 2011. In the 2011 season, Arkansas went 11-2 - their two losses were to Alabama and LSU, the national title game representatives. They won the Cotton Bowl.
Bobby Petrino has a history of success. But a history of failure. And a bigger history of controversy and poor judgment - his latest act really illustrates the poor judgment.
His latest act was getting this 25 year old woman hired as an intern at the University. She was riding with him on his motorcycle before he got into the serious accident. He has since admitted to having "inappropriate relationship" with her. The latest police report, states Petrino was deceiving and acted inappropriately to get Jessica Dorrell hired.
Petrino is another guy in a line of coaches who will be remember for why they were fired, rather than what they did in their tenures. Petrino is one of seven coaches over the last three years to be fired for non football related reasons - Mike Leach, Butch Davis, Jim Tressel, Mark Mangino, Jim Leavitt, and some guy named Joe Paterno. Davis and Tressel were fired because they cheated. The rest were fired for being morally and ethically wrong.
Time will tell if Petrino gets another job. But he does not deserve one. He burned the bridge at Louisville. He burned the bridge in the NFL. And now he burnt bridges in the SEC. Maybe Petrino can coach Louisiana-Lafayette? Or did I just insult a proud Sun Belt program that would never sully themselves with Petrino's reputation.
Arkansas has a pretty good team returning for 2012. QB Tyler Wilson may have been a first round pick but he chose to return to make run at SEC title and BCS game. RB Kniles Davis returns from knee surgery. Petrino, pegged as an offensive genius, really messed up here.
His son tweeted earlier tonight "@bPetrino:
Sooo pissed." I would love to ask his son - are you pissed because your
father was fired? Or are you pissed that your father screwed up his
marriage with your mother? It is always all about football. Some will
say college football is a business. But let's put family and our loved
ones first before football, before business. Petrino has screwed up his
career for good and quite possibly his home life.
Bobby Petrino has been fired as Arkansas football head coach, following controversy involving a motorcycle accident and an alleged affair with a 25 year old intern, whom he hired.
Petrino was hired as Arkansas's coach in 2008, following a miserably failed tenure with the Atlanta Falcons. Petrino has a history of bouncing around jobs. Petrino had 10 different jobs from 1983-2002. All assistant jobs. He coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars for a couple years as a QB coach and offensive coordinator. He left, without saying a word to anyone, to take the Auburn offensive coordinator job in 2001. Tom Coughlin, the coach of the Jaguars at this time, has always resented him since this. This was pretty much the beginning of a recurring theme that would play thoughout Petrino's coaching career.
In 2002 he was hired as head coach of Louisville. His final game coaching Louisville was in the Orange Bowl in 2007. On July 13, 2006 Petrino signed a new contract extension with Louisville - 10 years $25.6 million. On January 7, 2007, he left the Cardinals for the Atlanta Falcons.
Petrino was excited to coach Mike Vick, who wound up being arrested in August and suspended the season. So Petrino was forced to use his former Louisville player, Chris Redman at QB. Petrino "quit" the Falcons following a Monday night football disaster against the Saints. During the broadcast, the announcers were praising Petrino and preaching patience. Saying the Vick situation really screwed up the season and the team but that they will have a bright future.
The very next day, Petrino was introduced as Arkansas head coach. Not "will be named" or "rumors" he quit Monday night, and accepted Arkansas job early Tuesday and by Tuesday night had already conducted his press conference. Petrino left the Falcons by leaving a note in his office. Noone in the Atlanta organization, owner Arthur Blank included, never heard from him again.
Petrino was very successful at Arkansas. He got a huge victory early by landing prized QB transfer Ryan Mallet from Michigan. Mallet would help lead Arkansas to a Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State in 2011. In the 2011 season, Arkansas went 11-2 - their two losses were to Alabama and LSU, the national title game representatives. They won the Cotton Bowl.
Bobby Petrino has a history of success. But a history of failure. And a bigger history of controversy and poor judgment - his latest act really illustrates the poor judgment.
His latest act was getting this 25 year old woman hired as an intern at the University. She was riding with him on his motorcycle before he got into the serious accident. He has since admitted to having "inappropriate relationship" with her. The latest police report, states Petrino was deceiving and acted inappropriately to get Jessica Dorrell hired.
Petrino is another guy in a line of coaches who will be remember for why they were fired, rather than what they did in their tenures. Petrino is one of seven coaches over the last three years to be fired for non football related reasons - Mike Leach, Butch Davis, Jim Tressel, Mark Mangino, Jim Leavitt, and some guy named Joe Paterno. Davis and Tressel were fired because they cheated. The rest were fired for being morally and ethically wrong.
Time will tell if Petrino gets another job. But he does not deserve one. He burned the bridge at Louisville. He burned the bridge in the NFL. And now he burnt bridges in the SEC. Maybe Petrino can coach Louisiana-Lafayette? Or did I just insult a proud Sun Belt program that would never sully themselves with Petrino's reputation.
Arkansas has a pretty good team returning for 2012. QB Tyler Wilson may have been a first round pick but he chose to return to make run at SEC title and BCS game. RB Kniles Davis returns from knee surgery. Petrino, pegged as an offensive genius, really messed up here.
His son tweeted earlier tonight "
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