Is Bobby Petrino the jerk ESPN says he is?

[vision63]

[quote zero][quote vision63]
The Falcons should have hired Lovie Smith. I'll bet he would have resolved the whole Vick situation.
By stopping Michael Vick from killing numerous injured, or wounded dogs???
Let's not go there. I'm still pissed about all of that.

[Bimwad]

Big time college sports may have just become another revenue generation stream for the universities, and minor leagues for the pros, but they should at least try to maintain some semblance of integrity. That includes hiring coaches with "character."

If you were a high school athlete, getting ready to make a commitment to NCAA-sanctioned indentured servitude, would you trust what Petrino had to say? The adult coaches can come and go with no penalty, but the students have far less leeway.

If you were the parent of such a student, wouldn't you think twice about sending your child off to a university that employs such people in mentoring roles?

For better and worse, these programs are going to be the best and/or only chance for some of these kids to be molded into responsible adults. Most aren't going to make it to the pros, so the lessons learned in the locker room, from the coach, do matter. It's not all about the winning.

The Falcons players will be able to handle themselves. Will the Arkansas players, when Petrino leaves them in the lurch for his next gig?

[Will Collier]

I've never met Petrino, but I know a few guys in the Auburn athletic department who were there when he was the offensive coordinator (2002). He's one of those guys who has a complete monomania about football, no real interests outside of the game and not much personality other than what you see on the sidelines (he's a screamer, or at least he was in college), very tough on the players.

He obviously couldn't handle the transition to the NFL where the power relationships are upside-down (players make more than the coaches for the most part). And very obviously, he has a roving eye.

Whomever said up the thread that Arkansas could have their pick of coaches hasn't been paying attention. Arkie was turned down by three or four big names over the last three weeks; Petrino was their last chance to swing for the fences before they'd have to swallow their pride and hire an up and coming assistant; by most accounts Auburn DC Will Muschamp was on the verge of being hired when Petrino's agent got in touch with Arkansas.

[vision63]

Arkansas was only turned down due to the sudden nature of their coaching search. Most of those that turned them down "wanted" to coach there but were caught up in their programs. Petrino "made" himself available.

It really is all about winning. You can have all the character on earth. Without the winning part, you'll never get a chance to impart any of it.

Any of these college programs won't hesitate to "fire" you in an instant (see Karl Dorrell at UCLA). Even if you win. Bounce you to the curb before you can say Mama. But now I'm supposed to "not" look out for me and my family? Get real. You win big or you die. No intelligent player or coach is going to purposefully put themselves in a position where losing is guaranteed and that was certainly the case for Petrino.