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
AtlJack
December 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
College football creates sick individuals.
Those defending Petrino prove this. So anyone, no matter how sleazy, if they can win football games- yahoo.
You people are sick.
Jlew
December 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
What a joke!!!!!
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
December 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Word on the street is he’ll hire oj (when he’s out of jail) to be the rb’s coach.
The Fake Gimel Martinez
December 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
“To hell with morals and scruples! This is college football!” — College football fans since the beginning of time.
Georgia Hilltopper
December 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
When I attended Western Kentucky University, the head football coach was Jimmy Feix. Today the Hilltoppers hired Bobby Petrino to be their next head coach. These two men are so far apart in morals and ethics, I can’t even put their names together in the same sentence. If we don’t learn from history, we repeat history. I hope no one gets hurt when this gets ugly.
checkcall
December 10th, 2012
10:57 pm
Did you seriously write a column calling out a no name Sun-Belt school for taking advantage of the fact that a bunch of tier 1 programs couldnt figure out how to spin a Petrino hire?
Old Dawg
December 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
I honestly thought the only league that would hire Petrino is Arena, no disrespect for the AFL!
To Quote Bill Curry
December 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
“We’ll Bring the Cheaters to Their Knees”
Odd how the classics never get old. This hypocrisy is not limited to colleges any longer unfortunately. Here in good ol’ Georgia, Colquitt County tossed morality out the window for a few wins in hiring Rush Propst. Google that name and ask yourself if you would want something (er, someone) like that spending a gfew hours a day each fall teaching your son about how football teaches you life lessons you can use off the field.
AugustaReader
December 10th, 2012
11:27 pm
LOL! No, really. I did. When I read the Animal House reference. CLASSIC!!! And PERFECT!!! I could hear the underscore! Thanks, I needed that.
Mora less Petrino
December 11th, 2012
1:48 am
UCLA vs WKU; The DA Bowl!
LDawg
December 11th, 2012
2:04 am
Personally – I never get tired of that photo of his smashed up face. It truly never gets old.
Drexel Gal
December 11th, 2012
2:38 am
P.T. Barnum underestimated it.
NOLA
December 11th, 2012
5:12 am
BP will use the WKU job to rehab his rep. As soon as a better job opens, he’ll jump at it. I wonder if WKU offered BP first dibbs on a coed of his liking.
Stinger2
December 11th, 2012
5:27 am
Jeff: Please write something that most of your readers have interest in. Hint: UGA, GT, Falcons, Braves, Hawks.
Praveen
December 11th, 2012
5:44 am
I agree petrino is a piece of scum. Yet, why not take Blank to task for being one of the guys who hired him? He was scum before and he will be scum going forward.
bug
December 11th, 2012
6:12 am
With the morals in America what they are today; How many more are doing this and worse and not getting caught?
mateo
December 11th, 2012
6:40 am
Did anyone else that the female team’s nickname is Lady Toppers? Right up Bobby’s alley.
Johnny Vaught
December 11th, 2012
7:16 am
The only thing Petrino did bad was at Arkansas. Get over your sour grapes with him leaving the Cons, or interviewing for the AU job. If you want to call moving from job to job, and being being less than candid about it a moral issue, you’ve indicted three fours of the coaches in Division I football. Look at what Tuberville did at Ole Miss, now to Texas Tech. A snake doesn’t change its colors. Again, beat him up over being a liar and having zipper problems, not over changing jobs. And, you and the rest of Atlanta who support the Cons, get over it – as AU fans used to tell Ole Miss fans when Wingnut left for Auburn. And oh yeah, if you sorry media types were not always hounding coaches about where they are going next, maybe they wouldn’t have to be less than honest with your sorry asses.
Paddy
December 11th, 2012
7:19 am
A least Petrino in no longer coaching in the South.
georgiadawg70
December 11th, 2012
7:25 am
Auburn should have hired him and made Cam Newton his quarterbacks coach. Two of the biggesst sleeze bags in college sports.
ron
December 11th, 2012
7:26 am
The ATL media & local fans need to lay off Bobby Petrino, it’s understandably the reasons for leaving the Falcons in the middle of the night. The Falcons were an undisciplined bunch with it’s leader involved in illicit games that was just beginning to surface. Yes there was a mistake with the young lady at Arkansas which he and his family has paid a hefty price financially and other emotions within his family. Bobby Petrino is a winner and he knows how to produce a winner collegiately. Auburn should have looked within it’s soul and hired Mr. Petrino. I don’t think that he will be at WKU too long , within three years a major program will be calling, let’s hope it’s Georgia (Dawgs).
Jack
December 11th, 2012
7:31 am
If WKU sold their soul, per the title, what did the United States do when they approved of Bill Clinton’s affair? If we, as a nation, allow this to happen in the White House and do nothing about it, then no wonder coaches, CEO’s, and others are doing it. I do not agree with what Petrino did BUT why the double-standard?!?
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
December 11th, 2012
7:37 am
If former Pres Bill Clinton was given 2nd, 3rd, 4th chances, shouldn’t Petrino be given at least a 2nd chance? If not, does that mean you hold your football coaches in higher esteem than the Presidency? Is Petrino a Democrat, never mind, I should not go there.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
December 11th, 2012
7:41 am
Just a question, if a 30 yr old blonde hottie were to pay you attention, what would you do?
mark white
December 11th, 2012
7:47 am
Petrino and Petino … When there is no other place to go … head to Kentucky
mike
December 11th, 2012
7:50 am
Don’t you just love all the hate. I am quite sure Petrino is really concerned what you morons think about him. You folks need to get a life.
Thomas Brown
December 11th, 2012
7:58 am
Take it like I always do, and be thankful. What a silly question. Is there any other answer, sir ?
GT
December 11th, 2012
8:22 am
What is wrong with our society and economy today is we pay people that produce nothing extremely high salaries while the working stiff like police and fireman, soldiers and school teacher get peanuts. It is not just coaches, it is the players, the actors, the singers we worship people who have no character and then pretend we are surprised when this stuff happens. Jimmy Johnson couldn’t understand why Arkansas was not hiring BP, like why hire a loser when you can have this Lee Marvin character hanging around your campus. Watch Johnson’s participation in the ESPN documentary on the U and you will see a football program wagging a university. The president of the school was told, by Johnson, not to come into the athletic department by a giggling idiotic Johnson, who now doesn’t understand the doors being shut on Petrino. Americans have always loved pirates and gangsters and can’t really walk the walk they want their children to walk then wonder why they end up so screwed up like they had nothing to do with it. They confuse religion for character, money for morality, and weakness for strength.
Joey (original)
December 11th, 2012
8:29 am
Some of the apparently perfect folks on here calling Petrino “scum” and worse, probably didn’t flinch when UGA hired Hugh Durham, or Jim Harrick, both cheaters with the NCAA.
At least Petrino has never gotten a football program on NCAA Probation.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 11th, 2012
8:37 am
Petrino gets more second chances than Lindsay Lohan. The lure of instant football prowess for programs that covet it is just too good to pass up.
Like you said Schultz, as an employer answerable for hiring Petrino, how do you trust this guy? You don’t. But you make sure your boss is on board with the deal and has publicly stated same. When Bobby craps the bed, and he will, you move on – and hopefully you get to keep your job.
Petrino’s an open book – at least he’s not a phony. He is to character what Clay Aiken is to manliness and everybody knows it.
Anybody who hired him – hello Arthur Blank – knew what they were getting into.
But every time he fouls up and moves on, his next coaching destination gets less desireable.
Mike Denney
December 11th, 2012
8:38 am
Thanks, Jeff…this is already being quoted (and linked to, by me) on Bowling Green’s newspaper’s site, in comments about this hire.
Here–I’ll post that link for you. Try and realize everybody, that ‘not everybody in BG’ lacks morals, standards, principles–just far too many in charge up here.
Of course we want some winning teams, but at least 90% of us realize this is not the way–just read the comments of ‘locals’ on the story:
http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/petrino-named-wku-football-coach/article_e2846562-42f5-11e2-8feb-0019bb2963f4.html
Bobby
December 11th, 2012
8:41 am
Do you really think Georgia Tech and/or the University of Georgia would be any different when it comes to selling their souls to the football gods.
Ybor City
December 11th, 2012
8:43 am
Joey, I’m a Mercer grad, not a Tech man.
Now you’re admitting to your school’s mode of operation?
Thomas Brown
December 11th, 2012
8:50 am
You guys really have it in for the guy. I’ll give you that. He’s harmed his own reputation to where now he takes his considerable offensive skills to Western Kentucky University, currently in the Sun Belt Conference of 1-A Football Bowl Subdivision FBS. I believe it should be noted that he is expected to teach the football team how to score a ton of points with his $ 850,000 salary now when he was making $ 3 and a half million dollars a year at Arkansas, which is more than Mark Richt.
Thomas Brown
December 11th, 2012
8:52 am
You guys really have it in for him. I’ll give you that. He’s harmed his own re pu tation to where now he takes his considerable offensive skills to Western Kentucky University, currently in the Sun Belt Conference of 1-A Football Bowl Subdivision FBS. I believe it should be noted that he is expected to teach the football team how to score a ton of points with his $ 850,000 salary now when he was making $ 3 and a half million dollars a year at Arkansas, which is more than Mark Richt.
Jay
December 11th, 2012
8:52 am
What does the good book say? He who is without sin may cast the first stone? Looks like we have a lot of folks who have never sinned commenting on this thread. Really, yeah he’s guilty of meandering with an Arkansas co-ed — one that was of legal age to meander with. He broke no laws. Poor judgement, indeed, but the man has the right to be employed and WKU is taking a chance on him. Besides, we have more important fish to fry here, like the state of our economy, jobs, the crumbling infrastructure, etc. Get your priorities in order, people.
Iluvnutella
December 11th, 2012
8:53 am
“let he who is without sin”………I dont think we will ever see Petrino in a situation like he had this summer. People learn from their mistakes. The lie was as bad as the act. I think lesson his learned, unless he is some kind of sociopath.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
8:54 am
“WKU just hired a better coach than the following”
DawgInLex shoots her mouth off once again and fails miserably. Just what has Bobby done to receive such high remarks by Lex? Bobby hasn’t won any big games, hasn’t won a championship nor has he ever won the division in the SEC West.
So, what makes Bobby so good?
Anyone?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
8:56 am
“Auburn should have hired him and made Cam Newton his quarterbacks coach. Two of the biggesst sleeze bags in college sports.
Is Cam Newton in jail?
No.
Is Cam Newton under investigation for any wrong doing?
No.
Are DWAG fans still obsessed with all things Cam Newton?
YES.
Cam made the Falcons look really stupid on Sunday which isn’t hard to do because he also makes DWAG fans look stupid.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
8:58 am
“Auburn should have looked within it’s soul and hired Mr. Petrino.”
Why? There is no reason why Auburn should have done that. Just two years ago everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, said that Auburn was really coached by Gus Malzahn and that he was the best potential head coach out there and now that Auburn has him people are saying the opposite.
I’d rather see Gus Malzahn running the show than Petrino. At least Gus loves his wife.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
9:00 am
” I have to agree with you that Petrino is a better hire than who those other schools ended up getting.
How is Petrino better than Malzahn?
Come on, how?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
9:01 am
75-26 is hardly a fantastic record. Going to a BCS bowl and losing to Ohio State is hardly something to get excited about.
How is Petrino a great coach?
Mack Richt
December 11th, 2012
9:05 am
I believe in second chances too. I think I will hire Trooper Taylor as my special consulting assistant head coach so I can sign Rueben Foster.
Wise Old Dawg
December 11th, 2012
9:05 am
The man has paid and continues to pay a severe penalty for his mistakes, but he didn’t kill anyone. Let it go and let him move on. Frankly, I think WKU made the best hiring move of any of the schools that will have new coaches next year. Just my opinion.
Phil from Athens
December 11th, 2012
9:06 am
Slow news in Atlanta sports.
The Falcons are a bust. Again.
The Hawks can’t beat the big boys. No surprise.
The Braves go down before the playoffs even begin.
UGA once again proves that it can’t beat a top ranked team.
Georgia is a pathetic state for sports. No wonder the best athletes bolt for Bama, Florida, Clemson, Auburn etc…
But hey, lets trash talk a coach who has nothing to do with Georgia sports.
GFY
December 11th, 2012
9:06 am
Will the Hilltoppers change their mascot to the Easy Riders?
Thomas Brown
December 11th, 2012
9:06 am
Three and a Half Million dollars annually, now down to $ 850,000 makes him an Offensive good football coach. If you are unaware of it that Arkansas was paying him half a million dollars more than Mark Richt makes every year, that does not alter the fact he most certainly was one of the top offensive football coaches in America, and that there is every expecation that he will be for Western Kentucky, just that.
$ 3,500,000.00 annually made him a top offensive coach by itself.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 11th, 2012
9:07 am
“I believe in second chances too. I think I will hire Trooper Taylor as my special consulting assistant head coach so I can sign Rueben Foster.”
I would love for that to happen simply to see DawgInLex crap her panties.
Gilligan
December 11th, 2012
9:08 am
It seems to have worked for you, Phil. What does that say about your life?
Joey (original)
December 11th, 2012
9:09 am
Did UGA make two poor hires in the 80’s and 90’s? You bet, both had been in trouble prior, and both got UGA in hot water.
I brought it up because, while I would never want Petrino to be the UGA coach, I see lots of hypocracy with smearing WKU with the “win at any cost” mentality, when UGA and (I bet) Tech have made worse hires before.
And it’s not just Shultz’ column – there are a bunch of stories all over, sniping about the hire.
What’s strange is the threshhold of expected morality for coaches, seems to be much higher than that of elected officials. For example, we have national, career politicians, who among other things, let a girl drown, and in his auto-bio, brag about bagging 10,000 women (most while married), and another run a homosexual brothel out of his official DC residence condo, and the media, and public yawn, even re-elect, over and over.
But a coach, who is a liar, and cheated on his wife, doesn’t deserve to work ever again.