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
Jxst10
December 11th, 2012
10:48 am
Seems to me we have had a President or 2 have affairs and some even lied about it under oath depending on how you define “is”. So we are ok if the leader of the free world does it but not our football coach???BTW if I had a child talented enough to play D1 football I wouldn’t let him even talk to Petrino.
Michael
December 11th, 2012
10:48 am
Wonder how he would have done with the Falcons with an actual quarterback.
Hoosier Aaron
December 11th, 2012
10:50 am
The Kentucky Wildcat fans are the ones feeling jilted. They were hoping Petrino would show up in Lexington…instead he’s in Bowling Green.
Petrino and Coach Cal both at UK….how fitting that would be.
BTW, no more motorcyles for Petrino…he’s in Bowling Green..home of the Corvette.
She’ll look good in THAT new ride.
I am not going to be the next coach at Alabama; I am the coach of the Miami Dolphins
December 11th, 2012
10:51 am
I still wonder how you can trust a guy that lied to the people that pay his salary and to the public. Perhaps, I should not be commenting on this thread.
JustMe
December 11th, 2012
10:51 am
One thing’s for sure….Petrino would have had Murray spike the ball. And would have won the game….and UGA would be cashing a BCS check.
Under The Bleachers
December 11th, 2012
11:05 am
Enter your comments here
Under The Bleachers
December 11th, 2012
11:10 am
Jeff,
Here is a link to Scarbinsky’s article over at al.com. I rarely ever agree with Kevin, but this time I have to take his views over yours.
On Saturdays in the Fall, you sportswriters will dissect and pluck apart every game, how did they do but even bigger DID THEY WIN?
This is about WINNING, and Scarbinsky is right, this is about who wants to win and win faster than everyone else.
Under The Bleachers
December 11th, 2012
11:10 am
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/12/scarbinsky_honestly_western_ke.html#incart_river
Oh the link,,,,sorry
Ybor City
December 11th, 2012
11:10 am
If ethics really matter to you guys, then support Mercer, Furman, Wofford or Samford, etc. (My appologies to Vandy & Stanford)
Al
December 11th, 2012
11:15 am
JustMe How the f do you know Petrino would or would not have done? You didn’t even know your own wife has been running around on you.
Danny Ford
December 11th, 2012
11:15 am
A “thug” coach has a better chance of managing “thugs” than a civilized coach would. Look at his record, that’s all that means anything to the school & it’s fans.
Taudawg
December 11th, 2012
11:20 am
I love it when people bring up the “let the first one without sin cast the first stone” comments. This is a blog with comments. What you are saying is that you cannot express an opinion on anything, yet you are expressing an opinion. Do you realize how stupid you sound?
No one is denying Petrino a chance to make a living, but he has proven to be so morally bankrupt that his character, or lack thereof, no longer fits the college head coach mold. He can coach football x’s and o’s, but he has major character flaws. An employer has a right to not higher low character people. That is not denying him a chance to make a living. He can go do something where his character is not a big issue. He will be the face of the program and will remind everyone of his motorcycle, mistress and really stupid teen decision making.
I think WKU is a joke for hiring him. That is my opinion and not judging. It is my opinion. As we have morally collapsed in our society, we see more and more people ignoring moral behavior and principles as long as the person can give us what we want…….. you know, like re electing Obama.
Sabannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
December 11th, 2012
11:22 am
There’s at least 4 SEC teams who made bad hires who wish they had Petrino as coach. Cry me some tears little aubbies & vololololololololols.
GT Fan
December 11th, 2012
11:23 am
Honesty, integrity, moral values … Petrino has zero. But here he is, AGAIN, making a salary that puts him in the top 1 percent of earners, and in a position (head coach) with such authority.
Utterly amazing how a bad human being like Petrino can continue to succeed in areas that soooo many of us would die to have in our lives, i.e. big salary & great job title.
Ann
December 11th, 2012
11:24 am
I don’t understand all the comments about sin and “casting stones”. This is not about sin. It is about lying to your boss on a serious matter, violating employment law, university policy, and putting the university at risk of millions of dollars in sexual harassment lawsuits because you hired your mistress and paid her off, as well. Is this how you want your tax money to be spent at your public universities?
All of you regular folks saying “don’t cast stones” would be fired on the spot if you lied to your boss on an important matter, and put them at risk of losing millions in lawsuits because of your actions due to an illicit affair. This line of thinking means that, if an employee embezzles $500,000 from their employer and is fired, it is perfectly fine for the next company to knowingly hire that person, since they deserve a 2nd chance. For poor actions on the scale of Petrino’s, second chances are for people who have gone through proper consequences for their actions, jail time when appropriate, and make a sincere effort to change and/or prove that in time.
I have a son who is an athlete. If he plays sports in college, I would certainly want him at a school where he can respect his coach and where I can trust he will be guided as a young man, as well as an athlete.
Jed
December 11th, 2012
11:26 am
Burn!
JP
December 11th, 2012
11:28 am
Let’s face it, WKU & Petrino are using each other. WKU wants to get their football program on the map over the next year or two, knowing full well that Bobby will jilt them the first chance he gets with a better program.
Donny
December 11th, 2012
11:33 am
The coaching profession use to be one of character, integrity, etc. but those days are long gone. You can see how recruits are learning to lie because they deal with lying coaches who don’t tell them the truth about how many qb’s they are bringing in etc…..Petino, Petrino, cheating coaches, remember the AD’s from the Big East said they weren’t going anywhere….then they bolted…..lying AD’s,,,,the days of looking at coaches as the men to lead are over……America ….we have sold our souls….look at the coaches jumpin programs right now…..AD’s fire one and two year coaches….Tubberville bolts…..Petrino and the Falcons…thank you for those men and women who are still doing it the old fashioned way….the right way…
Sideline Dude
December 11th, 2012
11:34 am
You get what you pay for. Petrino is a sleeze of the first order & will be gone in a couple of years. He’ll either screw up again at WKU or move on to a bigger school. Don’t think we’ve heard the last of brother Petrino.
drew
December 11th, 2012
11:35 am
Since all football programs are about making money (and little to do with academic achievement) it would be great if the WKU students, alumni, etc…simply didn’t come to the games next year. Perhaps it takes an entire ‘village’ to stand up for what is right.
Al Beeski
December 11th, 2012
11:37 am
Schultz, the man is coaching football, not a priest. You are a sportswriter and a horrible one at that, not GOD ALMIGHTY, let someone else judge man, not you.Whatever he has done wrong let him reap what he has sown.
1776
December 11th, 2012
11:39 am
I’ve certainly messed up tons of times and am not any (what this world calls) “saint”. However, I would not want this man coaching my sons. Demonstrating good character means FAR more than teaching/coaching game. I’d rather have a mediocre coach of impeccable integrity than a sleazeball who “just wins”.
adamreyn
December 11th, 2012
11:44 am
I keep reading people stating his past moral failures have nothing to do with his ability to coach. Some use the “justification” that this wouldn’t have been an issue years ago.
These sound very much like arguments that would have been used in the board room of Penn State when they decided to “overlook” Sandusky’s behavior in light of his contributions on the field.
Some of you will immediately quip “that’s a totally different situation!”
When you do that, you begin to split moral hairs and grade morality by degrees.
Is it self-righteous for me to assert that I will not hire a child-molester to babysit my children? Is it self-righteous for me to have a lower opinion of parents who would willingly allow their children to be left alone with a known child-molester?
My problem with this has nothing to do with him as a person. I truly hope he finds deliverance from his struggles and finds Jesus. I really do.
Lord knows I had my share of them.
The deeper issue here is that we as a nation have lost our moral compass and therefore as a whole see nothing wrong with putting people like this in a leadership position. We expect very little from them in the way of honesty, integrity, or character, but we will all admit “everything rises and falls with leadership.”
The Petrino hire at WKU is just a microcosm of a larger moral tone in our country. Many of you want to just give a ‘wink and a nod’ to behavior like this, but you will then scratch your head at the complete moral decay around you.
Cause and effect.
KC
December 11th, 2012
11:59 am
Typical NARCISSIST! Just listen to his press conference when he refers that he will “MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND” when talking about recruits & parents.
All I'm Saying Is....
December 11th, 2012
12:09 pm
I’m actually surprised Tennessee didn’t hire him.
If I’m a Western Kentucky grad, I am thrilled beyond belief. This sleaze bag can flat-out coach and WKU has never had any delusions about getting someone with his coaching track record. I’m also giving all you holier-than-thou critics my middle finger because we all have sin and no coach is a saint. (I also know that as soon as he is able, Bobby Sleazebag is headed out of town as fast as possible.)
Since I’m not a WKU fan, I really don’t give a rat’s patooty but had a few spare minutes at work and thought I would weigh-in.
highfallsdude
December 11th, 2012
12:13 pm
Wow, people really hate this guy, just let him be. He is a good coach and winning is everything. After two good years at western kentucky he will be at a bigger and better school. Remember, no one remembers the losers in college football, just the winners.
The Reader
December 11th, 2012
12:21 pm
Here, in America all you haters want to look good, while not admitting your own issues, problems, and dramas. What he did should be handled really between him, and his wife. Same like DUI – people get to lose their jobs, on the top of all fines, etc. That is unfair, and they should pay the price only once. (Referrence – TVchanel #5 female anchor, her DUI, and being gone since then).
Cecil34
December 11th, 2012
12:30 pm
It is funny to me that Schultz or anyone else for that matter would write a column about Petrino’s dispicability when we have Bill Clinton circulating through society as some sort of respected, wisened elder….
He who did things in the Oval Office (literally) that probably JFK didn’t even think to do and hey, who cares?
It isn’t like Clinton is being shunned by polite society or power-brokers for marital infidelity and lack of morals. And he was the President, not some football coach!
Don’t kids look up to the President too?
On the contrary, he is held up as some sort of God’s gift to the United States and the world. His transgressions are conveniently ignored by all and swept under the rug. His contributions are percieved to outweigh personal morals and ethics.
Well, Petrino obviously is percieved to have value in the football community.
So if Clinton gets a pass, Petrino gets a pass.
If case folks don’t realize – the whole world give folks a pass now pretty much on everything, except maybe serial-killing.
Selah….
Merry christmas
December 11th, 2012
12:44 pm
Look so Bobby Petrino screwed atlanta n blank went arkansas made them better till that Motorcycle thingy…Tiger cheated on wife got chased by his wife with a 9-iron and car…and he still stinks after..So leave Western kentucky Hilltoppers alone..I know been cryin if he coach kentucky wildcat’s SEC football and in 1st season went 11-1 won east over Georgia and slick Richt oh man the crap be startin kentucky cheats auburn cheats(maybe not sure) He be loved at WKU when wins sun belt in 2nd season go 10-2 and 12-0 in next and bowl bid….then he bolt to Temple owls next and so on……He will make the team better there!
HOUDAWG
December 11th, 2012
12:51 pm
Hey WKU …… protect the women & kids ….
You got yourself one unadulterated piece of human waste …… you’ll deserve what ya get with this punka$$ jerk …..
NASCDAWG
December 11th, 2012
12:52 pm
and the reason given for bolting for Arkansas, it was the best decision for his family. Odd.
myother
December 11th, 2012
12:53 pm
Loyalty? When’s the last time you were employed in the real world? If I were not looking out for myself, which is what a corporation must do, then I would still be making minimum wage and poor. I’m only playing by the same rules as my employers. BTW college sports and the athletes is the biggest conflict of interest there is. They should just start paying the athletes what they are worth and quit playing games(no pun intended).
Bobo
December 11th, 2012
12:59 pm
Petrino does not deserve to coach again at any level. Unfortunately, in our world today, morality means nothing more than weakness to many people. We have digressed to the point that our entire society works by the moral code of prison, which is dog-eat-dog. Thankfully, God is not that kind of God and right and wrong still matter to Him.
Western Kentucky may look great now, but that’s because it may take a long time for the other shoe to drop. However, bad things tend to follow people that choose to live their lives as Petrino has. In the end, it is almost inevitable that he will end up hurting more people and an entire university. Nothing good, long-term, is likely to come of this for WKU. Too bad they drank the Kool-Aid and hired Jim Jones as their coach.
Shouldn't have done all that acid in the 70's
December 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
After reading this I felt compelled to take a shower. And an enema. As for REally?, really? Is that how you see the world? Really? Must not be a Falcons fan. I could care less what he did in Ark, but he screwed me personally in 2007 by quitting and it is my opinion the A. Blank owes me the $900 I forked out for season tx that year. And I’ll probably see that. And the democrats will cut spending.
Bobo
December 11th, 2012
1:06 pm
For those of you holding to the argument that his character has ‘nothing to do’ with his ability to coach, let me ask you this…..
What if your boss was incredibly competent at his job and had made his employees rich, but had murdered five people? Would that affect your job performance?
What if your daycare taught kids to read at 2 years old in 5 languages and had kids doing algebra by the age of 6 and it was owned by a child molester?
What if you found out that your dad was a gay cross-dresser on the side when he wasn’t teaching you how to hunt, fish, or fix a car? Would that not diminish your respect and regard for him?
Come on! Of COURSE his character matters. It IS part of coaching with how he’s going to handle situations on the team, in the game, and in all other facets of the program.
Jamie
December 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
You think Petrino is the first major college coach to have an affair? Hilarious.
Kennesaw Dawg
December 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
Those of you who are without sin, be sure and cast the first stone! True he’s a scum bag and will no doubt leave WKU holding the bag in the middle of the night in about two years when he gets his “dream job” again. But what else is the guy going to do? Take a government job writing regulations? I say he keeps his nose clean, takes the Hilltoppers to a bowl and lands a head job (not that kind) in the SEC within 1-2 years.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
Al Davis said it best: “Just win, baby.” And there you have it. That’s what American sports has come down to. Kids are no longer told, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” They are now told, “Just win, baby.” In light of this, the Petrino hiring should come as no surprise to anyone.
OLD MAN
December 11th, 2012
1:32 pm
Saban’s no better.
schultzsucks
December 11th, 2012
1:45 pm
Schultz you are such a baby. Get over it. Your obsession with the man is beyond embarrassing for you. I’ve never seen an allegedly grown man whine and moan about anything involving someone who has zero connection to them before. You are a hack and a crybaby.
Bosox9
December 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
What a shock — Petrino is coaching again, albeit in a football backwater. Hope the Hilltoppers enjoy the Petrino era while it lasts. (One season? 3/4 season?)
james johnson
December 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
Whats the big deal here–we had a sitting president engage in an affair-lied under oath about it and we let him keep his job and still listen to him and admire him. Petrinos deal seems a little small to this.
Hurst
December 11th, 2012
2:28 pm
Update: The current score is – Jonathan Vilma 10 – self-righteous hackazoid columnists 0
Jeff
December 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
And there we see it. Quotes by Clemson Brad at 2:49 p.m. (scroll up to see it, the 8th comment from the end of the column). THAT is way our nation is becoming morally bankrupt. THAT is way corruption is in every element of our lives. THAT is why college sports have devolved into a cesspool of money grabs and win-at-all-costs attitudes. THAT is why nobody thinks twice anymore about lying, cheating, stealing, deceiving, or having no class or integrity. And THAT is why our children continue to abandon tradition, morality, honorable values, and character. Because they see that to people like Clemson Brad, winning is THE ONLY THING in life that matters. That selfish gain, temporary triumphs, worldly accomplishments and winning at any costs are things to be treasured and goals to strive for. I am ashamed that there are people like Clemson Brad in our world.
As a sports fan, I would rather my favorite team’s coaches and players and owners display high character and be people of honor than to win championships. Winning is nice, but in the end, God isn’t going to ask us on judgement day what our win-loss record is, or how many titles we have, or how many bowls we went to, or how many earthly awards we garnered. He’s going to ask us if we lived up to His standards of behavior and if we did right by Him and by our fellow man. When that time comes, I shudder to think how people like Bobby Petrino will answer, and I shudder even more to think of the punishment that unrepentant people like him are going to receive in the end times.
There’s more to life than winning, folks. When character and substance and morality and integrity and honesty take a back seat to selfishness and style, our society is in seriously bad shape. Let’s hope we have enough people of integrity in our world left to make a difference and teach future generations that there’s more to life than self-centered accomplishments.
Skeezix
December 11th, 2012
2:43 pm
Just one more example of how twisted the priorities are at a lot of colleges today. When I think of Petrino I think of words like snake, snail, scum, liar…………………etc.
…….Not the kind of person I would want leading my son.
Realtycheck
December 11th, 2012
2:49 pm
50 years ago my high school football coach was watching friday night’s game films and saw a penalty our team committed and the refs missed that enabled us to win. He called up Monday morning and forfeited the game. Guess he’d be considered stupid nowadays.
againstcorruption
December 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
If I had been the AD in a major college anywhere, Petrino would have been my first choice. When colleges have all that is going on like the suit deal in t-town, Penn State, Miami, Ohio State, I still would take Petrino over any of the coaches at those schools.
Football Fan
December 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
One things for sure. He can beat a top 10 team. Unlike some UGA coach we know. He paid his price, so now leave him the “F” alone. He isn’t in the AJC market area so why does any AJC sports writer give a crap.
Here We Go
December 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
Eventhough we try to preach these coaches should be fine, up-standidng citizens, their job is to win football games. In many cases, it seems their job is to win football games at all costs. Why is anyone surprised Petrino got hired again? If successful at WKU, look for him to move into a more prominent program within a few years.
Under The Bleachers
December 11th, 2012
4:28 pm
Probably Everywhere outside of Atlanta or any fan of The Falcons Petrino is viewed as a flawed man who really knows how to coach average talent football players and win with them. He did it at Louisville and Arkansas without a cupboard full of 4 and 5 start players.
Any AD, School President or Athletic Board who see Football as an avenue to a garnering more financial means to their school and athletic programs would be a fool NOT to hire Petrino. The smart programs would have put in place an employee who directly oversaw his activities and reported directly to the AD. Restricted Petrino’s influence, sat in on coaches meetings, and monitored all calls, email, and texts.
This is about WINNING football games and Winning fast as most institutions who are on the outside looking in will sell their souls to the devil to get back into the limelight, and Petrino knows how to win with mediocre talent. His personal life may be out of whack, but one can bet that for many years to come he will be on his best behavior to land that big time job back in a major BCS Conference.
The next time a big boy school needs a head coach, one can go ahead and pencil in ‘Bobby Petrino’ at the top of their list, with the exception of the schools in Georgia.