April 06, 2012

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments

Today's huddle takes on an enhanced topical significance as there are reports that Hogs coach Bobby Petrino had a passenger with him when he crashed his motorcycle last week: a 25 year old female staffer.

Now, further reports say that he has been put on paid leave pending an investigation.

One early report on the crash said that Petrino had mentioned that the sun had gotten in his eyes for a brief moment, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle.

Since this is Holy Week, I think it would be best to maintain a semblance of decorum, to refrain from wild conjecture, and to simply say that there are several things that are known to make a man suddenly squint and lose control of a motorized vehicle, and that, yes, the sun would be one of them.

posted by beaverboard at 07:40 AM on April 06, 2012

I'm not exactly sure what kind of conjecture could be introduced into this conversation without my reaction being: Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? How would *that* work?
As for the sun getting in his eyes for a moment? I've had that happen plenty of times while riding and I've never lost control of the bike, no matter how jarring the sun the was.

posted by NoMich at 07:50 AM on April 06, 2012

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? How would *that* work?

I think it's simply a matter of the passenger closing her eyes, imagining that she's riding on a horse with a Western saddle, and as the motorcycle flashes through the turns on the back roads of Washington County, deciding that she should reach forward and keep a firm hold on the roping horn.

posted by beaverboard at 08:21 AM on April 06, 2012

"Long's investigation could lead, based on conduct clauses in Petrino's contract, to a suspension or firing."

I am confused. The woman is 25, not 15, and therefore both are adults. Is this a thing you need to live in the bible belt to understand. You can fire people for adultery in Arkansas?

Or does the quote above from the article mean they need lawyers to find out if just withholding the information is enough to fire the head coach for something that had nothing to do with his job?

posted by scully at 08:47 AM on April 06, 2012

Any "Conduct Unbecoming a Football Coach" clause is a joke.

posted by apoch at 09:15 AM on April 06, 2012

You can fire people for adultery in Arkansas?

I don't think adultery is the potential firing offense. Petrino promoted Dorrell on March 28 while having an "inappropriate relationship" with her.

There's also the clear attempt to cover things up. Petrino lied his ass off after the accident.

If you look up Dorrell in Google Images, there are a bunch of Olan Mills photos of her with another guy. He's her fiance Josh Morgan, the director of swimming and diving operations at Arkansas.

So all the pieces are in place for the media to feed at the scandal trough for a while.

Woo Pig Sooie!

posted by rcade at 09:38 AM on April 06, 2012

Any "Conduct Unbecoming a Football Coach" clause is a joke.

Those clauses are put there in case a coach spends too much time focusing on athlete grades.

posted by rcade at 09:44 AM on April 06, 2012

You can fire people for adultery in Arkansas?

No, but some folks think you can impeach them for it after they leave Arkansas.

posted by beaverboard at 10:25 AM on April 06, 2012

Arkansas can fire Petrino for any reason they choose. How much they'd have to pay him is the issue.

posted by dyams at 11:20 AM on April 06, 2012

Petrino will survive this through the season, but not any farther if he doesn't at least get to the SEC title game. With Alabama and LSU both playing in Razorback Stadium this year, he's got a shot.

posted by Etrigan at 12:46 PM on April 06, 2012

Petrino lied his ass off after the accident.

Big surprise there.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:09 PM on April 06, 2012

Well, it's a bit surprising he had any. Must not have been wearing chaps.

posted by yerfatma at 02:49 PM on April 06, 2012

I think it's simply a matter of the passenger closing her eyes, imagining that she's riding on a horse with a Western saddle, and as the motorcycle flashes through the turns on the back roads of Washington County, deciding that she should reach forward and keep a firm hold on the roping horn.

Since this is Holy Week.......

"Holy something" is what I'd say, alrighty.

posted by NerfballPro at 04:18 PM on April 06, 2012

Nice opening day win for the Rangers. They unveiled a state of Shannon Stone and his son Cooper before the game. Shannon was the fan who fell to his death last year in the outfield reaching for a ball.

posted by rcade at 04:56 PM on April 06, 2012

Rivera blows first game of the season.

posted by dyams at 06:56 PM on April 06, 2012

That was a good opening day for the Rangers. This Twins fan found it hard to watch Nathan close that game out in solid form.

posted by dviking at 12:11 AM on April 07, 2012

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