Well, the resignation sure does go a long way to explaining that little Mona Lisa smile Petrino had during Monday night's beatdown. And did anyone else hear the Joe Horn interview? Oh my god, I laughed and laughed and laughed.
Admittedly, this is fairly quick for a coach to bail on a coaching position, but there is a lot of evidence of football coaches only being able to coach at the college or pro level and not crossover, so it is not a huge surprise that it may not have worked out for Petrino. Second, as someone mentioned before, with recruiting at college, it is important for schools to name coaches now rather than wait so they don't lose out on recruits. Lastly, in coaching searches, it is generally better to start the search as early as possible, so if Petrino was thinking about leaving, he may have done the Falcons a favor by leaving now rather than waiting 2 more weeks.
Petrino, Miles, Saban, Meyer, the list could go on. It could, but it shouldn't include Meyer, who told the University of Utah that he would be talking to Florida. In no way did he lead the school's administration to believe that he was staying, only to bail later. All I know about Miles giving the screw job to Oklahoma State is the stuff I've read on the interwebs; as a Dolphins fan, I feel I know a little bit about Saban's gift for duplicitous assholery, but as far as Petrino goes, he wasn't an SEC coach until yesterday, so your assertion that he somehow represents the integrity of the conference is hogwash. You've got an axe to grind with the SEC, fine, grind away. But facts would help your case.
Candy-ass move on Petrino's part.So he lost a key player in Vick.You stick around and try to get your team back to where they once were.Of course the team went through some turmoil losing Vick,but you've got to look ahead,hope that your draft picks can help with the veterans and the team you now have,and hope that next year things turn around.Bailing out on the team at this point doesn't help matters.Don't know anything about him as a coach,but maybe he is doing the Falcons a favor.Big difference coaching at the Pro level as opposed to the college ranks.13 games into a season has got to be a record as far as quitting.
I've said it many times before on different posts, but I still have no idea why a college coach in any sport who is very successful as a college coach would want to leave that environment for the NFL. Other than big money, a big college, where the head coach is still held in such high-esteem, has to beat all the crap a NFL coach has to be put through, especially when they generally get handed the reigns of a poor team. With the recent defections of Saban, Petrino, etc. I truly think you'll see less and less big-name college coaches making that jump in the future. These coaches can get money and perks jumping between various college teams rather than screwing up in the pro ranks.
Shame on Bobby Petrino!! Hey, I understand all the trials & tribulations that went on in the Falcons organization this year but com'on man, the least he could've done was finish out the season. During this year, he would tell the Falcons players to continue playing all four periods so what about coaching all 16 games? He didn't even have the balls to tell the players that he was leaving, he just left a note in their lockers. Now, Petrino will go into the Arkansas job talking to these kids about loyalty & respect when he just showed neither to the fans, players and the higher ups within the Falcons organization. If I had children or college-aged children that played football, this would not be the man I would want my kids playing for since it seems as if the moment adversity comes within his range, he'll pull a Snaggletooth and exit, stage left. I totally agree with the way rcade & terrapin put it, "I wish college coaches had to sit out a year, just like student athletes, when they changed schools." Understatement of the year.
dyams, the same question could be asked here in Silicon Valley of all the dotcom millionaires and why they don't go hang out on a beach somewhere. The answer I always hear is love of the challenge and proving the success was no fluke. Succeeding in college and the pros would also show the guy was a great coach, period, if it works out (which for Petrino it didn't).
I don't really see it working out that well for any recent college-coaching big shots. Spurrier, Saban, Petrino. I don't care what kind of spin Petrino tried to put on this situation, he looked like a beaten, humiliated, embarrassed failure that didn't have any idea what chant those Arkansas players were doing around him at the press conference. My point is they may start weighing out their desire to succeed at the NFL level versus the desire to not look like a pathetic failure at the NFL level (in a very short time, I might add).
Such a classless act by someone that is supposed to be a role model. Here is what I have heard on ESPN and believe it to be true. While at Lousiville, he flirted with the Auburn position and lied about it. He was trying to get the job there and failed. So, the Cardinals signed him to a ten-year extension. I am not sure if this was prior to or after the 12-1 season. I just know that he moved again. He signed a 5-year contract then with the Atlanta Falcons to be there coach. The night after the ass-whoppin' they took at home to the Saints he is smiling and doing the Go-Pig-Sooey chant with the "NEW" home of his. He let the fans of Atlanta down, the team-players, and the owner and General Manager. He can cry foul all he wants about the Vick issue, but that town is hurting in a bad way. They lost so much and had nothing good to show for it. To not even have the courtesy to stick the year out and play till the end teaches the players he will coach that it is ok to give up - turn tail and run. As for Arkansas, what are they thinking. They let their coach go and he had recruited the Heisman runner up and beat the number one team in all the land. I doubt that he will be able to contend with the likes of Saban, Miles, and the ol' ball coach.
My mistake The_Black_Hand I remember in 2002, Petrino replaced Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville at Auburn. True he's never been a Head Coach in the SEC . . .
What a weasel! He signed 3 contracts over the past year. Real classy Patrino!
One of the biggest things you look for as a recruiter is the past history of a potential employee. Petrino jumping ship is a huge red flag. You wouldn't hire him - character is important.
