Petrino resigns as Falcons coach, takes Arkansas job

[turbotim]

HERE


ATLANTA -- Bobby Petrino resigned as Atlanta Falcons head coach Tuesday to take the same position with the University of Arkansas, the NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting.

Petrino left Louisville to become Falcons coach this season but lost star quarterback Michael Vick during the summer when he came under investigation for dogfighting. Vick was sentenced Monday to 23 months in prison for his role in the grisly dogfighting operation.

Atlanta is 3-10 under Petrino, who replaced the fired Jim Mora.

Just two weeks ago, Petrino said he wasn't interested in any of the openings at several major college programs, and that he intended to return in 2008 for his second year as coach of the Falcons.

"I haven't given it one bit of thought," Petrino said on Nov. 26. "I certainly don't want to get into any speculation and rumors and having to deal with that. I'm focused on our football team here and focused on playing the Rams this week."

Petrino went 41-19 in four seasons at Louisville before signing a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons last January.

The lure of working with Michael Vick was one of the main reasons Petrino took his first job as an NFL head coach, but the former star quarterback is now imprisoned in Virginia.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank hired Petrino after Louisville's offense ranked second in the nation in total yards and fourth in scoring. But Petrino has had to rely on Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman at quarterback.

[turbotim]

Coaches who were released or resigned during first season as NFL coach (last 50 years)
Year Coach W-L Notes
2007 Bobby Petrino, Falcons 3-10 Resigned
(to take Arkansas job)
1978 Pete McCulley, 49ers 1-8 Released
1976 Lou Holtz, Jets 3-10 Resigned
(to take Arkansas job)

I thought that it was funny how both of the guys who resigned in their first season left for Arkansas. How did Lou Holtz fare at Arkansas? I wasn't born just yet. LOL.....

[dolfan]

How stupid does Mitch Mustain feel right about now?

He bolts a team that competed for its conference championship to follow an unproven high school coach to an OC gig at a third tier program, loses a year of eligibility, and then sees in his wake a guy who made his name developing QB's. Mustain had a chance to be THE man (well, he never would with Tebow out there, I guess).

And, how many 10:30 PM press conferences have you seen introducing a new head coach?!? As grateful as we at Bama were to get Saban, we did wait until daylight to introduce him as coach. But, hey, there's a writer's strike on and Leno and Letterman are in reruns.

I'm ready, now, for all the trash talking about Petrino being a liar to commence .... but I won't hold my breath. Honestly, I hope it doesn't happen. I wish the guy good luck and think he did the right thing by getting his hide out of Atlanta and that intractably horrible situation there.

[dolfan]

From MSNBC.com on January 20, 2006:

Bobby Petrino said

"I understand my name is being mentioned in connection with job openings in the National Football League, but I want to re-iterate my commitment to the University of Louisville, our players and all of our Cardinal fans," Petrino said in a statement after finishing a recruiting trip for the school. "The University of Louisville has been great for me, and family and I'm committed to fulfilling our goal of taking the program to the next level."

In July, 2006, Petrino signed a 10 year contract with UL.

In January, 2007, he signed a 5 year deal with the Falcons.

And, tonight, he's the boss Hog. Deangelo Hall didn't have ANYTHING good to say about him in a live interview on ESPN tonight after the Arkansas press conference.

[MrDanger]

Sounds a lot like Saban's comments where he gave his word he was not going to be the next coach at Alabama, he was committed to the Dolphins. It cracks me up every time Jim Rome plays the different audio clips of him saying that.

I imagine Rome will have a field day with this one also.

For me, I don't mind that he is jumping ship. If he wasn't being able to do the job he thought he should or could do there, go where you can. It's not like any of those players would be that committed to Atlanta. They will jump at the first dollar waved their way.

[KBevangelist]

I figured he would bolt. He did not look happy at all. Oh well, the falcons just hit rock bottom again.

[Rob]

I think comparing Saban and Petrino is like comparing apples with oranges and I'll tell you why.

First, while Saban was at Kent St. he didn't go looking for a job, Michigan St. came calling for him. While at Michigan St., he didn't go looking for a job, LSU came calling for him. While at LSU you get the picture don't you?

However look at Petrino, while Tubberville is still at Auburn, he is interviewing for the job and Tubberville hasn't even been fired yet. When Saban leaves for Miami he interviews for the LSU job and is not hired. Then he signs a 10 year deal and before the ink dries he bolts for Atlanta, where he signs a 5 year deal and in 11 months he leaves for Arkansas.

My question is this, with a guy like Petrino who has shown he is not committed to no where or nothing how is he going to convince a recruit that he is committed to see this kid through 3-4 years of college ball?

If I'm a high school recruit I have a lot of questions where Petrino is concerned.

Having said all of that, I feel that like Saban, Petrino is made for the college game, I just hope he stays for the long haul at Arkansas if he does, that really makes the SEC West that much tougher. LSU, Alabama, Auburn, now Arkansas.

[MrDanger]

My question is this, with a guy like Petrino who has shown he is not committed to no where or nothing how is he going to convince a recruit that he is committed to see this kid through 3-4 years of college ball?

I agree whole heartedly. My only comparison of Sabin and Petrino is how they will look at a camera and lie about going somewhere or entertaining the idea of going somewhere up until the day they sign the contract.

[turbotim]

I agree whole heartedly. My only comparison of Sabin and Petrino is how they will look at a camera and lie about going somewhere or entertaining the idea of going somewhere up until the day they sign the contract.

I can agree with that part. I didn't realize that Petrino had done all that until I read about it. It was Petrino that Auburn was talking to way back. I didn't connect that until now.

TN may be glad to keep Fulmer with all the coaching changes that have happened. There is talk that Lane Kiffin of the Raiders wants to go back to college. Would he be good for TN? Just throwing that out there. I don't see that happening.

[TC]

I think comparing Saban and Petrino is like comparing apples with oranges and I'll tell you why.

First, while Saban was at Kent St. he didn't go looking for a job, Michigan St. came calling for him. While at Michigan St., he didn't go looking for a job, LSU came calling for him. While at LSU you get the picture don't you?

However look at Petrino, while Tubberville is still at Auburn, he is interviewing for the job and Tubberville hasn't even been fired yet. When Saban leaves for Miami he interviews for the LSU job and is not hired. Then he signs a 10 year deal and before the ink dries he bolts for Atlanta, where he signs a 5 year deal and in 11 months he leaves for Arkansas.

Rob it is exactly the same. I am not happy with BP but BP did not go calling Auburn, The AD called him and flew up here to meet with him. THe same was with LSU the AD called him and asked to meet with him. I am not sure about Atlanta but I do know that he was contacted by a few NFL and College teams every year he was at UofL.

[Rob]

I think comparing Saban and Petrino is like comparing apples with oranges and I'll tell you why.

First, while Saban was at Kent St. he didn't go looking for a job, Michigan St. came calling for him. While at Michigan St., he didn't go looking for a job, LSU came calling for him. While at LSU you get the picture don't you?

However look at Petrino, while Tubberville is still at Auburn, he is interviewing for the job and Tubberville hasn't even been fired yet. When Saban leaves for Miami he interviews for the LSU job and is not hired. Then he signs a 10 year deal and before the ink dries he bolts for Atlanta, where he signs a 5 year deal and in 11 months he leaves for Arkansas.

Rob it is exactly the same. I am not happy with BP but BP did not go calling Auburn, The AD called him and flew up here to meet with him. THe same was with LSU the AD called him and asked to meet with him. I am not sure about Atlanta but I do know that he was contacted by a few NFL and College teams every year he was at UofL.

Look who shows up after football season is over!!! Welcome Back TC, we have missed you.

It is your opinion it is the same TC, it is not my opinion that it is the same. At least when Saban did interview for jobs there was not a coach in place like Tubberville at Auburn. My understanding is that he (BP) contacted LSU to let them know he was interested in that job. It is a well known fact that BP has desired to get back in the SEC. Now he is and I think personally he will do a great job. I'll say it again, I think BP as well as Saban are better suited for the college game than the Pro game. My only hope is that both of them have learned their lessons and will stick with the college game.

[MrDanger]

TN may be glad to keep Fulmer with all the coaching changes that have happened. There is talk that Lane Kiffin of the Raiders wants to go back to college. Would he be good for TN? Just throwing that out there. I don't see that happening.

Fulmer isn't going anywhere this year. I kept saying that earlier in the season when everyone was calling for his head.

Number one, the biggest complaint was that we hadn't gone to the SEC championship game in a while. Did we deserve it? Probably not. Did we do it? Yep, and put on a pretty good game against LSU's backups.

Number two. Last year, the AD got the school to sign an extension for Fulmer and part of that deal was for his assistant coaches to get a guaranteed contract extension for this year. The buy out for the three of them would have been around 8 million.

He isn't a bad coach by any means, but his heart hasn't been in it since all the law suits and the whole fiasco over the Alabama deal. We could certainly do a lot worse than Fulmer. So he will stay.

[MrDanger]

I do agree that both Saban and Petrino are better suited for college. It definitely is looking a lot tougher in the SEC West. It may take a few years, but all of the schools seem to be on the upswing.

[Rob]

I do agree that both Saban and Petrino are better suited for college. It definitely is looking a lot tougher in the SEC West. It may take a few years, but all of the schools seem to be on the upswing.

The SEC West is looking more and more like a killer! Croom is starting to turn the corner at State, Nutt will be a huge improvement at Ole Miss, Saban at Bama, enough said, Tubberville at Auburn continues to do well, and now Petrino at Arkansas, give him a few years and look out. If Myles stays at LSU (you know he talked to Michigan this week) he will continue to do well there.

It will be who can survive the West. Or better yet, how the west will be won.

[TC]

It is your opinion it is the same TC, it is not my opinion that it is the same. At least when Saban did interview for jobs there was not a coach in place like Tubberville at Auburn. My understanding is that he (BP) contacted LSU to let them know he was interested in that job. It is a well known fact that BP has desired to get back in the SEC. Now he is and I think personally he will do a great job. I'll say it again, I think BP as well as Saban are better suited for the college game than the Pro game. My only hope is that both of them have learned their lessons and will stick with the college game.

I guess if you keep changing your reason WHY it is not the same then you might be right. First you said because he went to them, now it is because there was already a coach there.

FYI... LSU contacted BP's attorney to see if he was interested and when he said yes then they contacted Tom Jurich. TJ admitted after BP talked to them he had been asked prior to any conversations with BP and LSU. and at the time LSU said they contacted him bp not the other way around. TJ said When you have a good coach you have to expect others to want to talk to him. Believe me it was all over the news here the exact time line, even to the when and how long they talked.