Report: Petrino Leaving Falcons For Arkansas

33 Responses to “Report: Petrino Leaving Falcons For Arkansas”

1. Dallas Hog on December 11th, 2007 5:24 pm

   Woah…….this is huge.
2. darrell(Hog in LA) on December 11th, 2007 5:30 pm

   I am going to wait until the plane lands in Fayetteville, we have been on a emotional rollercoaster the last few weeks. The SEC is going to be the “it” conference for a long time.
3. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 5:32 pm

   I hope this one turn’s out to be true. If so, I can picture bigtime WR recruits looking at the UofA with lot’s of interest. Keep your fingers crossed Hog fans!
4. HOGFAN23 on December 11th, 2007 5:35 pm

   Hopefully this time is real since stories are coming from more places than the NW Arkansas Times or whatever it is. I really this is the real deal cause if so, it’s big time! GO HOGS!!!
5. RazorbackinTexas on December 11th, 2007 5:35 pm

   First of all ESPN (Walt Disney) may not be a friend of Arkansas (early Heisman hype for Tebow and breaking 70+ years of voting history for a SOPH) and hosting all the unflattering media (TV, Internet, etc.) comments about UA. For them to be delivering such a sports story important to the Hogs, makes me wary.

   And, how long has it been since we heard “According to sources…”?

   Why don’t we wait until Petrino signs a contract with UA and returns it, Petrino shows up on UA campus and stays for a month or so, and declares “UA is the bestest job I ever had and I’m excited”?
6. RazorbackinTexas on December 11th, 2007 5:49 pm

   O-k, who knows the most? (Tom Murphy, Ark Dem-Gazette or “sources” reported by ESPN?

   If it is Tom Murphy, whom says Petrino is NOT Leaving the Falcons and coming to UA, after all, I will have a firm fix on ESPN (Disney).
7. Defense Wins Championships on December 11th, 2007 5:57 pm

   Yes, he is coming! Fans should love it with a balanced offense…for a while. Great hire! Now take back all of those nasty comments regarding White and Long. We will accept apologies on behalf of these two.

   This should solidify keeping of the recruits that are committed and should ensure getting Adams into the fold.

   Treat Petrino nice. I just hope that he graduates players. That is the most important thing that Petrino can do is graduate players..
8. RazorbackinTexas on December 11th, 2007 6:13 pm

   Petrino resigns from Falcons; Arkansas next by The Sports Network.

   This is interesting, but not definitively FINAL
9. RazorbackinTexas on December 11th, 2007 6:22 pm

   Petrino resigns as head coach of Falcons by AtlantsFalcons.com.
10. Defense Wins Championships on December 11th, 2007 6:23 pm

    Hold the phone. A guy just said on the radio that this has NOT been finalized because they have not received permission from the realtor in NW Arkansas to hire Petrino. It is believed her approval may be forthcoming.
11. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 6:30 pm

    Naturally, I’m leary of this news too RazorbackinTexas, but it does seem to be true though, considering Petrino resigned 13 games into his first NFL season, it looks as if the opportunity he was looking for, to leave the NFL and go back to college ball, came about. I don’t see him doing this unless he knew he was going somewhere else.
12. RazorbackinTexas on December 11th, 2007 6:35 pm

    Yep, a writer for SportsBetting.com says that sources say that Petrino will be on a plane for Fayetteville in the morning for a 10:45 pm announcement along with UA.
13. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 6:50 pm

    I’m ready for this to be finalized, so we can go on with securing our recruits. I know this has to be exciting for them. Hopefully, Joseph Adams will consider changing his mind about USC . Jerious Wright has been looking at Texas Tech, and De’Anthony Curtis has been visiting with OSU. The up and coming coaching hire could have a big impact on what these kids are going to do. There’s also a few WR and QB recruits that the Hogs still have down as interested prospects, according to scout.com. This will probably get interesting.
14. tim on December 11th, 2007 7:09 pm

    Big Big Big!
    This’ll heal a bunch of festering wounds
15. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 7:26 pm

    I was listening to 103.1 a while ago, and they stated an announcement would be made tonight at 10:30.
16. T-towner on December 11th, 2007 7:35 pm

    Anybody want Houston back now?
17. Defense Wins Championships on December 11th, 2007 7:58 pm

    You bet I would want Houston back at Arkansas but received a better offer! Give you guys a few years and we will be back here with the negativity if he does not do what you want him to do every year. The name of the game is graduating players. Let us see if Petro can do that.
18. tim on December 11th, 2007 8:03 pm

    Houston is where he wants to be.
    From what I know, this guy (Petrino) is “no nonsense.”
    That doesn’t guarantee anything, but is encouraging.
    At least he’ll mix up the offense a bunch, like he did at LU.
19. Hawgfan100 on December 11th, 2007 8:05 pm

    I’m curious DWC: what percentage of his players did Houston graduate? (Note: this is not an invitation for a flame-war. I’m actually curious).
20. Razorhorn on December 11th, 2007 8:07 pm

    T-towner, since you asked . . . Yes! I stood by my coach before and I still stand by him. I understand he “had” to go but that doesn’t mean I wanted him to go.

    Regarding Petrino, I don’t trust a guy who used to work for one coach (T.T.) and then would go behind his back to try and steal his job. And how’s it going to look when it’s the fourth quarter and we’re down but not out. “Yeah Coach, go ahead and tell me that part again about not quitting.”
21. tim on December 11th, 2007 8:19 pm

    I loved Coach Nutt too…and wish he could have stayed a longer time…but indeed, it was time. Now, I am really ready to get behind someone, put all the cruddy stuff behind us, unite the fan base (whatever that means to whoever that is) and press on. I want to give this guy, whatever his past is, the benefit of the doubt. He’s got to know that he wasn’t the first choice, so here’s hoping he’s going to be diligent to try and prove himself to fans who are fragmented and to some who are (justifiably) skeptical. Of course, he hasn’t signed yet……………
22. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 8:29 pm

    He’s a coach Defense. he’s paid to push players to graduate, while winning football games. If Nutt did that as a coach, then fine. He still sucked at play-calling. If Petrino graduates his players equal to him, that means you’ll be getting double the coach!
23. mike in magnolia on December 11th, 2007 8:51 pm

    I hope this is all true. If it is then this is great news for the Hog Nation. No need dwelling on the past its over and done with. Hopefully by this time tomorrow our Blog Host will have good information about Patrino and his coaching style that will cause us all to jump up and down with excitement. Who knows maybe D-Mac will come back…..HA HA HA
    The only choice better than this would have been if Kippen would have been interested.
24. Razorhorn on December 11th, 2007 9:13 pm

    Interesting comments from Len Pasquarelli

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3150989

    Disturbing quote:

    “The old adage about how coaches are hired to be fired? Hire Bobby Petrino, and you’re just adopting a vagabond, a guy with his ear always to the ground, his eye forever on the next job, his resume updated daily and the playbook already stashed in a briefcase.

    Whatever his ethnic heritage, the Petrino family tree has to include a Bedouin branch in it somewhere, because picking up stakes clearly is in his DNA. He is a coaching nomad who stays no longer than he sees fit, just long enough for a siren’s song to stir up the itch to exit and the need to try on another challenge. On the Petrino speed-dial list must be the phone number of a friend with a moving van. This hot tip to any day-traders in the Fayetteville area: Call your broker in the morning and invest now in Mayflower, because the stock is apt to skyrocket now that the coach-on-wheels is headed your way.

    None of this is designed to be mean-spirited, mind you, just truthful. Once a mercenary, it’s hard to change stripes, although not nearly as difficult to change addresses. And the history of Petrino, one not even his staunchest apologists can explain away, is that he is forever in pursuit of the next entry on his already lengthy resume.”
25. Razorhorn on December 11th, 2007 9:25 pm

    Pasquarelli not the ony one saying this:

    http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7553524

    “Weeks ago, Petrino’s name kept popping up among college athletic directors looking for new coaches. I wrote that Petrino sniffed around the Michigan job to no avail. GM Rich McKay and Petrino both denied that he was actually pursuing open positions on the college level.

    But this has been Petrino’s modus operandi.

    Even when he had success at Louisville, he was looking for the next job.”
26. Razorhorn on December 11th, 2007 9:30 pm

    Yep, looks like we’ve landed (temporarily at least) a good one!

    http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/12/11/falcons_1212.html

    “Before the Falcons’ 34-14 loss to New Orleans Monday, Blank said that he had heard rumors that Arkansas had targeted Petrino to replace Houston Nutt as head coach. So he said he asked Petrino if he was considering that job.

    Petrino, who was signed from the University of Louisville to a five-year, $24.5 million contract Jan. 8, told him Monday afternoon that he definitely would be back to coach the Falcons in 2008.

    It was the second time Blank had asked Petrino about his commitment to the team and the second time Petrino told him he would be back next season.”
27. GonzoHog on December 11th, 2007 9:42 pm

    I he only stays 2 or 3 years, fine, we’ll deal with it. It’s got to be better than watching the “Nutt” chew on his fingernails for 10 years, while he’s acting as if he’s a real “play-caller”. Welcome to Fayetteville Coach Petrino. You are a much welcome sight! GO HOGS GO!!!!!
28. Hawgfan100 on December 11th, 2007 10:12 pm

    Petrino is a mercenary, that much is evident. And that’s ok; perhaps it’s what the program needs. I’m saying this as a fan who finds the passion and emotion of the college game most compelling. Therefore it felt natural and easy to get behind such coaches as Hatfield and Nutt. However, I also want the program to go to the next level. I believe Petrino can do this. We do need to be patient and allow the man to do his job the way he feels he needs to.

    Now, just don’t do an ‘Altman’ on us…;^)
29. shawhog on December 11th, 2007 10:12 pm

    he’s definitely resigned: http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2007/12/1-10/Petrino_resigns_as_head_coach_of_Falcons.aspx
30. Hawgfan100 on December 11th, 2007 10:23 pm

    As everyone I’m sure remembers, Altman actually accepted the job. But as I recall he looked uncomfortable calling the Hogs…will Petrino call the Hogs? If he does, let’s see how enthusiastic he appears (I won’t judge him on technique as he’s probably not had much time to practice…;^)
31. BlindHog on December 11th, 2007 10:29 pm

    That whole “member of the razorback family” nonsense is what has kept Alabama from putting things together for almost 25 years now. This is the Long era as long as it lasts. The Broyles era is officially over. Thanks Frank.

    I liked the whole hometown boy aspect of Houston. I probably would have preferred a coord or an up and comer, like Pelphry but,

    This could be fun. Let the good times role. I’m in.
32. BlindHog on December 11th, 2007 10:32 pm

    Is White a jerk or not? Good job John.
33. Hawgfan100 on December 11th, 2007 10:51 pm

    “Aggressive in all phases of the game”. EXACTLY what I wanted to hear.

    Calling the Hogs: looked good considering and I was glad to see the Petrino family participate.

    “Home Run” indeed, White and Long. Congratulations!