Bobby Petrino finds a school willing to sell its soul
Here's a screengrab from Western Kentucky's website: WKUsports.com. I think they forgot a few things.
(UPDATED: 6:15 p.m.)
According to Western Kentucky’s mission statement — which I suddenly found reason to Google — the university “prepares students to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizen leaders of a global society.”
So we’re left to wonder: Will Western Kentucky ask Bobby Petrino be teach a course in social responsibility, or will he be too busy being productively engaged with an athletic department underling?
Petrino is back in coaching. That was inevitable. On one hand, the man has so much personal and professional baggage that he needs a storage unit. But because he can coach college football, it figured to be a short time before one school’s administration declared, “To hell with morals and scruples! This is college football!”
Western Kentucky stepped up to the soul-selling window. This came after even three schools in the SEC — the conference that invented soul-selling — passed on him. Western Kentucky went where Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky wouldn’t.
For some reason, WKU officials chose not use this photo.
Somewhere in Bowling Green, WKU president Gary A. Ransdell and athletic director Todd Stewart are refining and rehearsing their, “Everybody deserves a second chance” soundbites in a mirror.
It is one thing for a professional sports team to compromise their principles for the sake of victories, ticket sales and increased revenue streams. But is there any semblance of a value system left in college athletics? Shouldn’t there be some weight given to the concept of molding and leading young man on a college campus, or did that go out with the last Knute Rockne speech?
Think of how Petrino’s last two coaching jobs with the Falcons and Arkansas ended. In grease fires. How can Western Kentucky or any university justify hiring somebody who has proven at every level to be so morally bankrupt?
Stewart must have been struggling for material, because he actually said at Monday’s news conference: “What it comes down to is he made a big mistake. But this is the the United States of America, and we’re a country of second chances.” (Uh, second?)
I’m thinking of “Otter” from the scene in Animal House when the Delta House fraternity has to appear before Faber College administrators: “We’re not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America!”
Petrino, of course, hasn’t made one mistake. He has made several lifetimes’ worth. He is deeply flawed and, frankly, a bad person.
Forget cheating on his wife. That’s between him, his wife and his God. The fact he hired his mistress (a former Arkansas volleyball player) at Arkansas, gave her $20,000 and put her on the university payroll exposed a public university to potential sexual harassment lawsuits.
He was considered so “hot” (in a bad way) that no major program would hire him. So he took a job in the Sun Belt. Welcome to humility.
In committing his egregious violation of employment law (and common sense), he also lied to his superiors about circumstances surrounding the motorcycle accident that led to his firing, admitting to his “inappropriate relationship” with Jessica Dorrell only after she was referenced in the police report (two days later).
He quit on the Falcons in the middle of the season, as cowardly an act as a coach can commit. He didn’t tell players. He left a note in their locker. The day after telling owner Arthur Blank he was committed to the team — prompting Blank to give two national TV interviews on the topic and look foolish — Petrino was in Fayetteville at a midnight news conference doing Pig Sooey chants.
While at Louisville, Petrino secretly met with Auburn representatives in late 2003, even with the season still going and Auburn having a coach (Tommy Tuberville — who, by the way, gave Petrino a job in 2002. There’s your loyalty.). He also interviewed with LSU in 2004 just five days after signing a contract extension, and bolted for the Falcons five months after signing a new 10-year deal
Petrino said he has spent the last eight months trying to repair the damage he’s done to his marriage and family. He also said, “One thing I’ve learned from this is I can be even more of an influence on a young man’s life than just on the football field.”
And that’s the problem.
By Jeff Schultz
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355 comments Add your comment
JB
December 10th, 2012
3:51 pm
Hold Washington D C to the same standards and we would have no politicians…….Hey, wait a minute………….Novel idea.
markie mark
December 10th, 2012
3:52 pm
justify? we dont need no stinkin justifications…..
or…
as a public institution pledged to enlighten our students, we need to lead the way in how to survive in an ethicless world….
take your pick
Max Sizemore
December 10th, 2012
3:55 pm
In 1971 Western Ky. won the Mideast Regional in Athens, Ga. and finished third in the NCAA Div. 1 basketball tournament. Beat Kentucky 107-83 in the ME semis and Ohio State 81-78 in the ME final. Lost to
Villanova 92-89 in the national semis and beat Kansas in the consolation.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 10th, 2012
3:57 pm
And here I thought Petrino was going to coach at Auburn. At least that’s what DWAG fans said.
Chuck Oliver
December 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Em…I love me some Bobby Petrino. I wish my Auburn Tigers would’ve hired him.
Gene Chizik
December 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Wow, Western Kentucky huh? Oh well another vacancy I can cross off my list. Bobby, hope you lose every game you ever coach again and shame on Western Kentucky for becoming the team America will love to hate.
SooooEEEEEE……(your famous words one day after walking out on the Falcons you loser)
sheepdawg
December 10th, 2012
3:59 pm
the ncaa needs to be dissolved, they serve no purpose whatsoever. the domination of athletics over education in our nation is a perplexing mystery to the rest of the world, especially the 16 nations ranked higher than ours. our priorities are driven by capitalism (money), and not enough folks see that as a problem…….yet
95Jacket
December 10th, 2012
4:01 pm
Dang. I was hoping my Yellow Jackets would have fired Paul Johnson and brought in Petrino. Can you imagine Petrino coaching up guys on the flats?
Is that the same...
December 10th, 2012
4:04 pm
…Tommy Tuberville just “blindsided” his employers by up a taking a new job a Cincinnati while still under contract at TT – must be hard to cast stones in a glass house, jeff….
rogeriter
December 10th, 2012
4:05 pm
Unfortunately, it’s not just football. It’s young college students who look up to their mentors and are influenced by what they say and do. If he was coaching in the Pro’s I’d say hire him at your own risk. But in college they need coaches with at least some integrity. Yes, forgiveness is good but don’t put a wolf in the hen house.
Joey (original)
December 10th, 2012
4:06 pm
Ok, sheepdawg (3:59), go fight your windmills.
But after that statement, you are banned from all NCAA football and basketball games. Don’t forget to cancel your DirecTV subscription.
TheCedartownConvention
December 10th, 2012
4:06 pm
Great article… We made a website to support Dale’s case for the HOF please check it out and share it, there’s a link at the bottom for a petition created by Dale’s son Taylor… please go there and sign the petition to get Dale into the HOF. http://www.thecedartownconvention.com/murphhof.html
Bruce
December 10th, 2012
4:08 pm
America is full of divorces, why worry about his family life?
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:08 pm
Just posted the screengrab from WKU’s website as the photo on top. Missed a few things.
Gus
December 10th, 2012
4:09 pm
Nick Saban lied too – about leaving Michigan State, LSU, and Miami Dolphins. But he wins national championships and doesn’t diddle the co-eds, so he gets a pass. Sad,
Bills fan
December 10th, 2012
4:09 pm
@WDE 3:01: Me too! If Petrino was at UGA we MIGHT have a national championship, but would the young men and women who admire their head football coach who see him as a role model be worse or better off?
I am so grateful that Mark Richt is the coach. There’s only one coach a year whose team wins the national chamipionship and fewer who put God first in the decision-making process. Who knows how the players lives who were suspended or left school because of Richt’s tough love has effected them for the better
Give me Mark Richt and top ten finish any day over a win-at-any-cost head coach. Do your very best and that’s all one can ask.
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:09 pm
Joey — Never said he did.
Al
December 10th, 2012
4:10 pm
Clemson Brad, using you logic who cares what Charles Manson has done.
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:10 pm
Joey(original) — “So what did Petrino do to warrent not being able to make a living? Lie and cheat on his wife.”
<<< Nope, that’s not it. You need to read more carefully.
markie mark
December 10th, 2012
4:11 pm
hey sheepdawg….talk to some politicians who have to figure out how to fund higher education in this or any other state. Propose loosing the revenue created by college sports to them and watch the crying begin. No GA, GT, Alabama, etc can fulfull their mission anymore without the bucks created by big time college sports. It might not be GOOD, but it is necessary in this day and age. College presidents dont spend the money they do on sports to LOSE money.
Al
December 10th, 2012
4:11 pm
@ 95Jacket, no but I can imagine him screwing Tech over.
GTBob
December 10th, 2012
4:11 pm
I wouldn’t want him as the coach of my team but lets be honest. College Football has pretty much sold its soul to the checkbooks of ESPN executives. It is a fairly corrupt sport with coaches and teams who will do whatever it takes to win. Morality left the sport a long time ago so I see no reason why Petrino can’t come back.
Bills fan
December 10th, 2012
4:12 pm
@ Gus 4:09: I was going to mention Saban too, but couldn’t remember the slimy stuff he did as well as Petirinos.
Give me Mark Richt anyday. I’ll bet he’s produced more champions in life than national championships and that IS what truly matters.
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:13 pm
Really? — Sure, I’ve got warts. Not the size of his though.
Joey (original)
December 10th, 2012
4:15 pm
You didn’t, JS – I was being a little light about the topic.
Just don’t get how Petrino gets hammered for displaying poor morals, and Ray Lewis is treated as a god by the sports media, after he had his hands all over a murder of a real, live, human.
Weird, huh?
Jeffrey
December 10th, 2012
4:17 pm
Typical BS story from Schultz and the AJC.Who cares and really the vigor opening statement.
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:17 pm
Gus — Aside from the fact that Saban never quit in the middle of a season or had an affair with an underling that he put on his payroll, he didn’t get a pass for lying at Miami before taking the Alabama job. As I recall, he got torn to shreds.
Jeff Schultz
December 10th, 2012
4:18 pm
GTBob — “I wouldn’t want him as the coach of my team but lets be honest. College Football has pretty much sold its soul to the checkbooks of ESPN executives.” … Got that right, but not just ESPN, all TV networks.
Vel Crow
December 10th, 2012
4:19 pm
How long before Petrino goes mining into some coal miner”s daughter?
PMC
December 10th, 2012
4:23 pm
Well, Western Kentucky has admitted completely that they wish to be productive in Football and care absolutely nothing about education or ethics.
You could not hire a worse human on the planet to represent your school. Offensive Coordinator fine, he’s a mercenary. Head Coach…..your school’s name is now Mud.
bubba
December 10th, 2012
4:24 pm
Post pics of the female WKU assistants. Thanks
Joey (original)
December 10th, 2012
4:24 pm
And if we’re gonna get on coaches for looking for greener pastures while lying through their teeth to their current bosses, Petrino has lots of company, huh? Snd some of them are favorites of mine: Saban, Mora, Kiffin, Rich Rod, Parcells, Parcells, Parcells, Parcells, etc.
PMC
December 10th, 2012
4:25 pm
Bobby Petrino has lied to EVERY SINGLE PERSON he has ever done business with. He has left EVERY SINGLE JOB worse off than he found it.
He’s lied to his bosses, his children, his wife and his family (in addition to everyone else). He’s a sociopath. This, is why you don’t hire Bobby Petrino.
PMC
December 10th, 2012
4:26 pm
That said, the Hilltoppers can’t really go anywhere but up.
ernisTbass
December 10th, 2012
4:28 pm
Lou Holtz left many jobs, even Arkansas, it’s not that you leave, it’s how you leave. Louisville gave him a second chance after he was going behind their back The Falcons gave him his third, Arkansas gave him his fourth, and I don’t know how many his wife has given him,that’s their problem. it’s not about second chances here, this is at least five that we know of. Glass houses and throwing stones don’t apply, it’s not a mistake it’s a way of life.
I'm glad none of you ever did wrong.
December 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
I’m sure all of you are angels……….and never were given or asked for another chance………..
Paddy
December 10th, 2012
4:34 pm
I said it would be Wyoming but WKU is just about the same. As long he does not come to Georgia to recruit. That would not be a good idea.
Peter
December 10th, 2012
4:40 pm
Well he is paid to win football games…………….. teaching young men integrity is NOT part of the plan I assume !
Elliot Garcia
December 10th, 2012
4:42 pm
Clemson Brad, you are what’s wrong with America today….If being deceitful and a liar doesn’t bother you, than what kind of morals do you have? Petrino not only lied to his wife and family, he lied to his employer and made them look like idiots….and he broke university policy, but that’s all kosher in your book…
UGAgrad in Bowling Green, KY
December 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
Those who live in glass houses…..
BP may not be the best hire, but everyone really does deserve that rehearsed 2nd chance. WKU knows he will probably only last 2-3 years, but WKU needs a proven coach during that time. Everyone knows that SBC, WAC, MAC, C-USA coaches never stay more than 2-5 years in F-Ball or B-Ball. Why throw stones at WKU for hiring a proven winner to help coach and improve the program? The President and AD here are very well mannered, yet very tough. Don’t underestimate these fellows up here.
Agree with JB – If we held DC to the same standards, would would have NO politicians. Same with the NFL …. same standards would kick out all of the other players and leave us with kickers and punters…maybe.
By the way… Big Red is a heck of a mascot. He is constantly rated as one of the highest mascots in the country. Have you ever seen him on a sideline? He is never standing around. He is always moving and interacting with the crowd, players and other mascots.
Go Tops!
GO DAWGS!!
Jack Burch
December 10th, 2012
4:49 pm
“Even Warrick Dunn called him “classless.” ” This implies that Dunn is somehow at some low level that “even” he thought Petrino was classless. I’ve always thought Dunn to be a pretty classy guy who would be very capable of recognizing “class,” or lack thereof. In this case, Petrino is scum, and there is no question about that. Just make it clear that Dunn is coming with a view from a much higher “class” of human being.
Douglas
December 10th, 2012
4:50 pm
Just win baby!
Buckeye
December 10th, 2012
4:50 pm
Another proud alum of the SEC! SEC!
Buckeye
December 10th, 2012
4:51 pm
That said, he’s a total jerkwad.
Buckeye
December 10th, 2012
4:52 pm
Give me Tressel anyday.
RGB
December 10th, 2012
4:53 pm
“I have promises not to keep–and “hills” to top (get it?) before I sleep.”
Buckeye
December 10th, 2012
4:53 pm
Hey Schulzie, there’s a pick for Lilly!
Tressel v Petrino
Douglas
December 10th, 2012
4:53 pm
Western Kentucky’s revised mission statement:
Just Win baby!
PMC
December 10th, 2012
4:54 pm
Bama in Augusta, BOBBY PETRINO preaches integrity, honesty and loyalty.
Seriously,It’s not about “giving someone a second chance” or having a heart or letting a guy earn back trust.
He has proven over the last decade that he cannot under any circumstance be trusted by anyone.
It’s not a matter of feeling, it’s a matter of fact. I’m not a moralist, I’m going on track record. Trusting Bobby Petrino will lead to him screwing you over. It’s who he is as a human being.
Buckeye
December 10th, 2012
4:54 pm
rgb,
You’re hilarious.