Petrino Hired As Razorbacks Football Coach

41 Responses to “Petrino Hired As Razorbacks Football Coach”

1. Ward_Hog on December 11th, 2007 11:12 pm

   Wooo Pig Sooooie!!! Can’t wait until next year!!! Wonder what influence he’ll have on the bowl game? Go Hogs Go… Beat Mizzou!!! Finally, the soap opera ends. Welcome to your new home coach Petrino!!! And to the best fans in the world… enough with the past! Our future will even better. I am excited for us all….
2. Howdy on December 11th, 2007 11:56 pm

   I think that this hire was great on behalf of the Arkansas staff. But, he has a long road ahead of him. Until all you boo birds out there can repect the university and its staff, there will still be problems. You dont know how lucky you are to have landed such a coach after all the things that you have done this year. Your lucky any coach would want to come there. Even more lucky recruits would want to come there. You need to grow up and if your a razorback fan, be a razorback fan. Stand up beside your team, not off behind them talking behind their backs. Once you learn how to do this and realize your not the ones that run the university. What a team you will have. I can see a national championship with THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS name written all over it. Give the man a chance and you’ll see what kind of coach you have now. Good luck in the Cotton Bowl and we will see you next year in Starkville. GO MSU BULLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAROON AND WHITE. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. It’s Official: Petrino New Head Hog « Hawg Blawg on December 11th, 2007 11:58 pm

   [...] Here’s a list of stories from around the web… Hogwired.com SI’s Mandel AS 360 Razorbloggers ESPN CBS’s [...]
4. tulanehog on December 12th, 2007 12:55 am

   I’ve been really surprised by the amount of trepidation about ‘ol Bobby.

   This seems to flow from two sources.

   First, the claim that he is a “vagabond” or “mercenary journeyman” (this seems to be the national press spin, at least coming out of ESPN).

   Where is the evidence of that?

   Is it the fact that he left Louisville for ATL, not really. He was the OC for John L. Smith and then stayed on as HC for 4 years after Smith left, during that time he took Louisiville from a chicken*$&% Conf-USA powderpuff to a big time college program. Say from Tulane’s stature to West Virginia’s.

   During that time it is true that he entertained offers from other programs, but who wouldn’t?. I mean hell, John Smith left UL for Michigan Freakin State. I don’t think anyone would look down at the Southern Miss coach if he entertained offers from Alabama or Notre Dame, especially if he ended up staying.

   Only in Petrino’s final year did Louisville move into the Big East where bolting the job could reasonably be criticized. Despite all this he stayed at Louisville until the ATL Falcons offered him a MOUNTAIN of money (2-3 million more than what Louisville could pay) and the chance to bring his spread power offense to the only player in the NFL that might be able to make it work… a certain #7 that shall not be named.

   12 months later the lynchpin to the deal is in jail, and he’s coaching a team that has to be totally rebuilt as it was designed, from the O-line [small guys to deal with a shifting pocket} to the WR's [big bodies to deal with a sometimes erratic and always improvising QB] to the RB’s [fast guys to take advantage of the DL schemes set up to counter #7 running ability, namely DE spying/squeezing down on the QB and leaving open seams for stretch runs] specifically for #7.

   Add that to the fact that his kids were forgetting what he looked like, and that the players were in mental meltdown acting like 12 year olds. Who can blame the guy for wanting to get the heck out of there?

   Now might he have been holding out for LSU or Auburn, who knows, but again, can you blame him. If I’m thinking of going back college I’m going to want to check out as many options as I can before I make a decision, and I’m probably going to take the “best” job I can get. I think AR is pretty close to AU after the last two years, but LSU is where we’re trying to get as far a prestige. There is a lot of emotion that goes into this because the Razorbacks are “our” team, but Petrino didn’t and shouldn’t have cared one bit about “us” until about 2 hours ago. His job was, and is for that matter, to look out for his family first, and himself second, thats why he left, first for ATL, and then for AR.

   At least thats what I think you’d find out if you sat down and had a beer with him.

   Second, and this goes to the deluded MS State fan’s comments above, people are channeling their doubt about the current state of the program into doubt about Petrino’s prospects. Whether you liked Nutt or not, he bares responsibility for the current state of the program. Perhaps he didn’t provide all the kindling for the fire, but as the head coach he was responsible for clearing the brush before the fire got out of control.

   MS state bulldog fan seems to intimate that if the fans would just get out of the University’s way everything would just work out. Well, excuse me for not taking advice on program building from MS State, but we love our Razorbacks, and we want the best for them. If we don’t think they are getting the best, then you are d!#$ right we’re going to be arguing over why the heck it isn’t going the way it should. Stifling criticism, whether that criticism is legitimate or not (no need to retread the Nutt arguments here), never leads to better results, it leads to mediocrity, along the lines of say Mississippi State.

   I think Nutt was a good coach, but if you can’t win an SEC championship with Darren Mcfadden, when are you going to win one?

   Predicting how all this will turn out is probably akin to betting first half parlays in college basketball, but on paper, AR football just put themselves in a position to become an Elite program again, and that is something we can all celebrate that.

   …. Except maybe MS State fan.
5. The Petrino Era Begins | Razorback Expats on December 12th, 2007 1:54 am

   [...] Bobby Petrino is your new Arkansas Razorbacks football coach. It’s not just “sources” saying it anymore…they had a press conference and [...]
6. Dallas Hog on December 12th, 2007 3:02 am

   It is now time to forget all the disagreements we’ve had, come together as one, (someone mentioned Kumbya in a different post which I think would be appropriate now) and go kick the living crap out of Mizzou!!!

   Coach Patrino, welcome to land of the Razorbacks. Take us to Hog Heaven!!!! Woo Pig Sooie baby!!!!
7. Dallas Hog on December 12th, 2007 3:44 am

   Again with the wine and late night…..Coach Petrino / not Coach Patrino. Sorry for the incorrect spelling in the above post. When will I learn wine and late nights are not a good thing. Apparently never.

   My wonderful wife told me (just after the press conference) that she got me Cotton Bowl tickets for Christmas so I’m a bit fired up. God Bless my wife and Coach Petrino!!!! Woo Pig Sooie baby!!!!!!!

   Unfortunately I now need to get my wife something that is great as what she got me (as she reminded me). I might be kinda screwed. Any ideas?
8. win is a win on December 12th, 2007 7:42 am

   Dallas Hog, get her a hog hat and a razorback nightie…can’t imagine it gets better than that….
9. DieingHog on December 12th, 2007 8:46 am

   HOME RUN!! This was difinitly a home run for our program. There are just a few things that scare me about this hire but I want discuss them now. I will just say Go Hogs and Petrino. Did anyone hear Hall try to talk bad about our program after the falcons just went 3-40 he has no room to talk about us being on the bottom half in our conference when there on the bottom half of the league.
10. HogFanofNWA on December 12th, 2007 9:32 am

    This is great!!! I feel like the Razorbacks have just gotten the shot in the arm with new blood in the vial that has been needed for a long time: a new coach AND a new AD. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this very capable and talented program.
11. TheAmericanPsycho on December 12th, 2007 9:55 am

    Great Hire! Go hogs! I take back everything I said!
12. BlindHog on December 12th, 2007 10:11 am

    It is morning in America. Or, at least a new day in the land of the Hog.

    It is time to Thank Houston Dale Nutt for all that he did to build the foundation over the last 10 years. He did a good job and was well paid for his efforts.

    Having said that, I was VERY impressed with Petrino. I agree with Tulanehog about the negative stuff. It is easy to fear and smear a guy who was an assistant and then had one opportunity to prove himself at a basketball school. Neither of those are lifetime opportunities. College coaching is a transient profession until you establish yourself. Ask Reggie Herring or David Lee. It is what it is. He has a reputation as a bit of a tough guy, but that was supposed to a good thing when Reggie came in. Everyone said that he would be Houston’s Wilson Mathews.

    The guy has proven himself to be nothing but a great coach. Long and White’s timing was impeccable. I fear we were only a day or two away from having Reggie Herring, no offense (Reggie has looked like a head coach for the last two weeks. Give him credit.) Arkansas’ tiiming could be equally perfect to get a guy like Petrino at this point in his career. Time will tell.

    Congratulations John White and Jeff Long. Good Luck Reggie. You have shown us your best stuff.

    I can’t wait to see the turn out for Spring Practice. This is the coaching philosophy that the fans have wanted since the glory days of Frank Broyles (watch your back there Bobby, you’re messing with the legacy.) We are actually going to see real, big time college football.

    UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13. BACONBITS on December 12th, 2007 10:21 am

    Feels like we went from a Chevy (Houston Nutt) to a Cadillac (Bobby Petrino)………………Both good cars……………..one looks a little better…………………….GO HOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14. Jim Daly Sr. on December 12th, 2007 11:39 am

    tulanehog:

    Excellent post. A lot of posters complaining that Petrino is a mercenary must live in a another universe. Wake up. this is the era where people go where they have the best opportunities. My and my wife’s parents left Europe for a better life and greater opportunities. So were they mercenaries?

    I think that Petrino was the guy they were after in the beginning. He fits the mode of a coach that will open up the offense and develope a passing game. I was puzzled by Grobe (and even Tuberville) since it would have been, coaching style-wise, trading a Nutt for a Nutt.
    My interest is now on Herring’s situation. I mentioned before that if Herring won the bowl game and he went with Nutt to Ole Miss that there would be psychological and managerial problems for Nutt. Well, all of you Nutt fans who were so loudly proclaiming Nutt’s loyalty, he hired another defensive coordinator (supposedly he need such for immediate recruiting. Yeah, right!). This will either hang Herring out to dry, or an agreement was reached between Reggie and the UA. It could be that Reggie will stay and that may have been a sticking point with negotiaions with the other candidates. Or UA will give Herring a nice going away present for sticking around to coach the bowl game. Remember, Nutt made a symbolic, but useless gesture trying to get reciever coach Woods a two year extension when the results on the field didn’t warrant it. (Note that Woods is not going to Ole Miss).

    Regarding Petrino’s performance at Atlanta. He was without the services of his Star QB who is in the pokey. Rebuilding without Vick was going to be a daunting task. Rebuilding at Arkansas (or at Alabama) should be less daunting than the NFL draft. Petrino has pulled a Saban. Go to the Pros, get the money, get the resume to show recruits, and then wait for the good college job to come along, and in this case it was Arkansas. Hopefully Petrino can bring along the excitement he brought to Lousiville to Hog Land.
15. Defense Wins Championships on December 12th, 2007 12:06 pm

    Bacon Bits: I hope he is not a Cadillac. Using Cadillac is a bad thing to compare him to since Cadillacs have a loooog history of breaking down. They break, break, break!

    There is nothing wrong with a person leaving a job for upward mobility (or sanity as one lady told me). Anyone wanting to progress on the money scale would do likewise. Wonder how much, if any, money they tabbed him with when he leaves for another job. Sports Director out of Louisville stated he is a good coach, but that he will not stay long. We shall see…can’t conrol that.

    People are saying his record during the first two years will be bad. I do not agree. I expect at least 7-5. Just because D-Mac or Felix may be gone does not mean the nucleus is not there, especially with a good recruiting class coming. Smith and Barnett looked good in relief this year. With 85 scholarships and injuries or lack thereof during the season that has changed the equation in college ball. Of course this all depends upon what kind of defensive coach he hires.
16. HogZombie on December 12th, 2007 12:37 pm

    On that note, who will our position coaches be? I wonder if coach Malzahn would come over? He seems like the kind of guy that could learn a thing or two from Petrino. I’d like to see coach Herring stay on for the players, but that might be asking allot. Anybody else have any thoughts on this?
17. darrell(Hog in LA) on December 12th, 2007 12:46 pm

    HogZombie that is also my concern, not sure who he would hire. I think it would be cool to bring Gus back now and let him have free reign with the offense. This way he could be groomed to be a head coach. Coach Herring, not sure if he sticks around or not. Ole Dale already got Nix from South Carolina to run his defense, so he will not go to Ole Miss. My question is he going to let Herring run the Cotton Bowl and watch from the press box or what? That is what makes this situation strange. Oops Borgess just resign from Auburn, I hopeGus doesn’t end up there.
18. Hawgfan100 on December 12th, 2007 1:00 pm

    Doubt Gus comes over here fellas: we just hired another HC who likes to call his own plays so no need for an OC. If TT is smart, he’ll use the opportunity of Borges leaving to get Gus at Auburn.

    Don’t know who we’ll get for line coaches. Houston really made out there. You have to think Petrino knows who he’d like to have coaching his o-line and d-line. Speaking of defense, I’d like to see Reggie stay on. Petrino says he likes ‘aggressive’ defense and that describes Herring’s D pretty well. Also, in preparation for the apparently inevitable day when Petrino leaves, Herring could pick up some pointers to pad his resume for the HC job.
19. DieingHog on December 12th, 2007 1:42 pm

    I would not be for Gus coming over. The reason being is that just a recipe for more negatives. I mean if he comes over and does well we will have the people who have been calling for him to be the HC swearing he should have gotten the job and he is the reason behind the success. I think we need to continue on the path we are on with cleaning house. I do secretly hope RH can still stay.
20. Momahog on December 12th, 2007 2:19 pm

    Welcome Coach Petrino to the greatest school of higher learning in the South. Now that you are officially a member of Hog Nation it is incumbent upon you to become acquainted with the great traditions and history of THE UNIVERSITY. You can also learn a lot by visiting the “territory” of the hog fan. Of course we have lots to do in the cities, but if you really want to get into the mind of the Hog fan you might take the family on day or even weekend trips to Lake Quachita and do some bass fishing., or maybe drive up to Queen Wilhelmena Lodge and state park near Mena and have a Sunday dinner. The ride down the mountain will take your breath away. Spend a weekend in Eureka Springs and walk the winding streets unique in all of Arkasnsas. You can drive through any of the many forests in the state and sit by a clear blue stream and relax. Iif your very brave, you can float on an innertube or swing from the grape vines and land in a cool pure river stream. This and a million other wonderful experiences await you. Take the time to see this beautiful state. You will love it here and you will love the people too. We have been labled as hyper critical, mean spirited and other adjectives and maybe some are true, mostly we want honor restored to our football program and respect given to the young men and women who pursue athletics at the University. Good luck and thank you for your committment to the Razorbacks.
21. Carolina Hog on December 12th, 2007 2:37 pm

    From a football standpoint this is exciting, but it feels like we’re in bed with the town whore. It’s nice right now but lets see how we feel about him in 5 years. People on this board have preached to me about integrety issues with our previous coach and yet they are just fine with this.
    He left his previous team without having the stones to tell them face to face.
    I’m not here to focus on the negative. I’m always a Razorback for better or worse, but something doesn’t feel right with this.

    With Pelphrey providing the gold standard for introduction press conferences I thought things were a bit shakey last night, starting wit Petrino’s nod to “Coach Broyle”. I think we should consider not calling the hogs at press conferences. It plays a little silly on national TV.

    Go Hogs!
22. BlindHog on December 12th, 2007 2:59 pm

    I am tired of the national media already. This act that Bobby was not supposed to take a better job because he had 3 games left at Atlanta is silly. No sportswriter or columnist would follow the restrictions they are trying to lay down for coaches. None of us would. If he was not contractually obligated he was free to go.

    As soon as someone’s name is mentioned about a job (Les Miles) they ask him three times a week if he wants the job no matter how many games he has remaining. No matter what his circumstance he can’t say anything that they will accept. They are only looking for him to make a mistake so that they will have a quote to get a new headline but, then they call the coaches unethical when they finally do have enough information to pull the trigger.

    It’s a stupid game. Maybe after we get past this last phase we can go back to just having a football team.

    Great Hire.
23. Defense Wins Championships on December 12th, 2007 3:43 pm

    You make a very good point about integrity. It has never seemed to matter to many bloggers on this post other than “feigning a little show of concern for integrity for things they know nothing about”. Personally, I hesitate to accuse a new coach of integrity issues without having more first-hand information about each issue. Granted there is lots to give one concern from what I am reading. There are lots of questions out there regarding his past and we shall no doubt hear more than we want to hear about each issue before he moves on. Until we see how he handles fans (Louisville TV says he is no PR guy which may not bode well in Arkansas), his players, and his concern for selecting good student-athletes and ensuring that they excell in college, it probably would be best to withhold judgment until we have more definitive information. He deserves being given the benefit of the doubt and people can change for the better through life experiences. Some of his past is disturbing and I personally would not not have hired him. The posts out there are really bad regarding his past…some of that may be true and some may be sour grapes. Just have to wait and see regarding the way he handles things at Arkansas. Players of Atlanta Falcons sure do not seem to like him from reports that I have seen out of Georgia…that for me is troubling but some folks will not care as long as he wins. Probably one of the worst things that we know about him is that he may not have any loyalty and players reportedly do not like him. I hope the loyalty and integrity issues are not true. I reference the situation whereas Auburn AD was in Louisville interviewing him to replace Tuberville but Tubby knew nothing about their planning to fire him. Although he had worked for Tubby, he appears to have not showed loyalty to his former head coach in this situation. However, we really do not know the details of the situations at Auburn or Louisville at that time. Having second and third hand information about situations that I know nothing about is a very risky way of understanding what really happened. On the outside looking in can be deceiving and can be a poor way to discern situations such as this. I am not ready to level criticism, but I am cautious and I do miss HDN. It appears Ark. commitments are pleased with the hire, but I am not sure whether they really know what they are getting. And neither am I, but I am guardedly optimistic that things will turn our well for him, the players, and fans. Time will of course tell us a lot. If the gossip sports column in LR wants to attack him, there sure appears to be lots of potential issues that they can grind on. Personally, I am tired of reading their garbage and quit reading them back in eary fall. I just wish the sports folks would just give us the facts and interesting facts about sports rather than about the bad going on in sports. Sports TV in Louisville was interviewed by Channel 11 in LR and that sports director stated that
    Arkansas is getting a good coach, who has bad PR skills, and who likely will move again soon. Time will tell what is real and what is not. He had an excellent record in a sub-par conference with some good wins included, but I have not seen anything spectatular. We shall see how he is able to build at Arkansas in the rugged SEC. We brag that this is the best college football league in the nation, and that is unmistakenly true. It is also true that it when you have an LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia that are good year in and year out, it can be a challenge to get the talent one needs to win the West and the SEC Championship. And South Carolina is up and coming under Spurrier, and Ole Miss is going to be on the rise; therefore, it can be a daunting task to win year in and year out. I may just have to do more fishing and hunting in the future.
24. Defense Wins Championships on December 12th, 2007 3:56 pm

    Oops! Did not mean to leave the Tenn. Volunteers out of the top teams year in and year out.
25. BlindHog on December 12th, 2007 4:18 pm

    Now you can add the hogs, too.
26. Tulane Hog on December 12th, 2007 4:38 pm

    I just got done taking a Physics II exam and returned to see the entire national media bashing my new coach.

    And I couldn’t be happier.

    Because we hired a great coach, and the more he gets blasted, the more incentive he has to stay at Arkansas. The national media is unwittingly doing reconstructive surgery on the biggest flaw our new coach has, the propensity to look for other jobs.

    As for the theory that this is going to hurt recruiting, umm, took a quick look at Alabama’s recruiting class, doesn’t seem to be hurting Nick Saban.

    Additionally, nothing brings a fanbase together like bashing a member of the community, so there is another problem solved.

    All this being said, I am sorry that what should be a great day for the University is being over-shadowed, but again, I see no way Arkansas could have come out of this any better.
27. BlindHog on December 12th, 2007 4:49 pm

    No Way!
28. Guinness Snout on December 12th, 2007 5:22 pm

    ESPN = Arkansas Haters
    A) Nutt to Nebraska
    B) Tebow campain
    C) Nutt “resignation”
    D) Mark May
    E) Bobby Petrino

    Notice how with all the negative comments are statements like “he is a good football coach”

    Finally, X’s & O’s

    Go Hogs!
29. T-towner on December 12th, 2007 6:18 pm

    Our house is very pleased. This guy can coach, just like Pelphrey can, and we will now find out if we can compete with the perennials at the top of the SEC!
30. GonzoHog on December 12th, 2007 10:25 pm

    Did anyone notice this morning, how ESPN managed to pick the biggest cry-baby on the Falcon’s team to do the interview on Petrino? ESPN used to be great, but in recent years they’ve become much like the National Inquirer. They like controversy, and will stir it up every chance they get. DeAngelo Hall was quoted as saying “Yea, we seen how he and his family were all smilin and everything, and callin the Hogs and everything, or whatever it is they do in Arkansas”. Petrino has been known to put his foot down sternly on players, to get them to do things his way. I wonder just how well this went over with a bunch of spoiled-brat millionairs like DeAngelo? I’m going to reserve judgement on the Atlanta senerio for now. Coaches who come straight from the college ranks to coach a pro team are at a really bad disadvantage. I bet you’ll see less and less of this in the future, from owners looking for a new coach. This is the same thing we could have exspected at Arkansas if we had hired Gus Malzahn for our HC. Gus has a great football mind, but the exsperience level just isn’t there. Other assistants, with even more exsperience than him, probably wouldn’t want to work for him. There is a level of respect when it comes to “been there, done that”. I think Petrino could do a great job at Arkansas, if he stay’s long enough. Recruiting is crucial right now. I’m hopeful our best in-state talent will stay here at the UofA. Casey Dick could show us something next year we haven’t seen yet, especially with a coach that is capable of developing a QB. Felix Jones is still a possibility to come back next year, depending on weather or not he goes in the early 2nd round of the draft, or the later part of it. This will also depend on team needs. I believe with a balanced offense, Felix and Micheal Smith could be deadly with thier speed and quikness. With the return of Tuck and Cleveland next year, there are possibilities. Peyton Hillis will be the one hardest to replace next year. He is a rare comodity of power and speed, who can catch, run, and block. Did I mention that recruiting is crucial?
31. Razorhorn on December 12th, 2007 10:42 pm

    I’m glad you all are happy.

    As for me, I think I’ll retire my HogHat for a while. I just don’t want to be associated with this guy. I grew up being told if you sleep with the dogs, don’t be surprised when you wake up with fleas.

    That’s not for me.
32. OwassoHog on December 12th, 2007 10:46 pm

    I don’t know the guy… got to know him better some over the last 5 years but I don’t know him yet. I’m willing to wait and see how things go first. That’s the least we can do since we were willing to give Houston 10 years!
33. Dallas Hog on December 13th, 2007 4:17 am

    wini is a win - We’ve already got multiple hog hats but no razorback nighty. I think I will go with the razorback nighty. Hmm…although….I think I’m getting the best part of the deal…Cotton Bowl tickets and the wife in a Razorback nighty…..yep…I win. Not sure how she will take it if I start calling the Hogs in the bedroom. I guess we’ll just have to find out!

    So…It seems that everyone and their Mom is critizing our new Coach. All I can say is screw them all. Time to unite Razorback Nation and kick the crap out of Mizzou……Woo Pig Sooie!!!!!
34. Dallas Hog on December 13th, 2007 4:23 am

    Defense Wins Championships - Dude….I did not read as much as was in your post in all my years in high School and at UA combined. Maybe next time you can go for the Cliff Notes version..

    Not trying to complain but Good Lord man…….I drink a lot of wine and it is a bit much to divulge all that after a bottle of cabernet.
35. BlindHog on December 13th, 2007 9:00 am

    The guy is taking a bashing to be sure. It is way over the top to pick on this guy for what is a standard part of the profession. Maybe now they will just start saying in October the first time someone asks, “Yes, I have to do what is best for my family and myself whenever that time comes. I wish you had not asked me because my team has several games to play and this is now a big distraction to my team.”

    Look at Dennis Franchione/Alabama, Lou Saban/Alabama, Lou Saban/LSU, Les Miles/LSU, Houston Nutt/Arkansas (anybody think he didn’t have the deal with Ole Miss already done before the rah rah news conference?) Tommy Tuberville/Ole Miss, and on and on and on. It is part of coaching.

    This guy looks like a coach to me and a pretty straight forward guy. Let’s give him a chance for goodness sake.
36. Jim Daly Sr. on December 13th, 2007 9:01 am

    Blindhog:

    I would like to add something to your post regarding the negatives in the national media. Arthur Blank, big time millionaire and CEO of the Falcons is upset and that’s his right. But did Arthur get to where he is and his big bucks by being Mr. integrity? It has been reported that Bl;ank has not ruled out Vick’s return to the Falcons, which shows just how much prinicple Mr. Blank really has. In this day and age “loyalty” is defined by what’s in the contract. Followed by what you can do for me now. If it’s not illegal then it’s not unprincipled. It was reported that Lou Holtz said he regretted leaving the Jets after a 3-9 season. Right! He knows better than to say that, After all, he did well enough later to eventually end up as a commentator for ESPN.

    One thing about coachng in the pros. You either make it, and make it within a certain period of time, or its assistant-coachville for the rest of your career. Not being successful in the pros also means that your attractiveness for a college head job diminishes greatly. I think that Saban, Petrino, and Holtz all left the pros because they assessed the potential for winning and it looked impossible for the short haul. The Dolphins are a basket case, the Falcons, Vick-less and the Jets were, well, were Namath-less. .Looks to me like good carrer moves for all three coaches.. Going from pros to college or vice versa carries with it risks (ask Bill Callahan) but employer loyalty only goes as far as you can win. AS for ESPN being critical, don’t worry. they’ll have another carcass to tear apart later. Someone once said that politics is hypocrisy with style, but one can add that sports commentary is hypocrisy without style
37. DieingHog on December 13th, 2007 9:01 am

    LOL amen Dallas Hog
38. T-towner on December 13th, 2007 4:31 pm

    ESPN and all these talking heads are ______s!!!

    IMHO, Petrino had the option of taking this job, or letting Muschamp get it. What was he supposed to coach three more games and let this opportunity pass if he really wants to be a Hog? That’s ridiculous! HDN didn’t wait and not a one of us said he should have. Those same talking heads will switch networks for a better time slot.
39. GonzoHog on December 13th, 2007 5:01 pm

    Case in point; Les Miles shoudn’t be ruled out for the Michigan job either. He resurrected himself afer the Arkansas loss, with a win over the Vols in the SEC Championship. The National Championship would be the icing on the cake to seal the deal with Michigan. If he loses, his resume may not quite have the sparkle Michigan desires. I still think he has a chance to change his mind.
40. Defense Wins Championships on December 13th, 2007 9:48 pm

    Petrino will soon be writing his Arkansas script. Then, all will know for sure what he is about. Folks nationally tell us that it will not take long…we shall see. We know the local media is corrupt as we witnessed in the Houston Nutt era. But just in case all of the garbage is true of him, my Hog hats have been retired, as well as magnetic stickers. I certainly feel no enthusiasm for the program. That is probably a good thing since there are far more important things going on in the world to put my attention toward. Fall is such a wonderful time of the year to travel and enjoy the great outdoors, outside of football. That is also a wonderful time for our family to get actively involved in other outdoor sports.. It will be interesting to watch whatever unfolds. We can hope for the best and hope that he is not the snake portrayed by the media..

    Dallas Hog: You are drinking way too much red wine.
41. GonzoHog on December 14th, 2007 4:48 pm

    That’s good Defense, real good. You want fans to endure more of Nutt, after years of mediocrety, and now you are ready to jump ship before Petrino has a chance to prove anything. Since your retired from the Hog program, go root for Ole Miss. I here they hired your kind of coach. Good luck! You most certainly won’t be missed!