Who’s the bigger rat – Bobby Petrino or Lane Kiffin?
Watching Lane Kiffin’s wretched introduction at Southern Cal last night — delayed 45 minutes by traffic, it should have been canceled to spare everyone involved– the thought occurred: “This guy is the biggest rat I’ve ever seen.”
Then, a bit later, another thought: “Wait a minute, son. Didn’t we in Atlanta happen across a rodent of our own not long ago?”
Well, yeah. His name: Bobby Petrino. He fled the Falcons in same harum-scarum manner that Kiffin left K-Town. And that terrible memory got me to thinking: “Kiffin or Petrino — who’s the bigger rat?” Here’s where I attempt to answer myself.
Category: Truthfulness. Petrino reaffirmed to Arthur Blank the day before he headed over the Ozarks, “You’ve got yourself a coach.” According to Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton, Kiffin at least informed him last weekend that he’d be interested in the USC job. Bigger lying rat: Petrino.
Category: Manliness. Petrino left without facing his players. He had a type-written note left in their lockers instead. Kiffin at least addressed his players. Mayhem nearly ensued, but at least he showed his creepy face. Bigger cowardly rat: Petrino.
Category: Timeliness. Petrino was gone by sundown the day after his team lost to New Orleans on Monday night. Kiffin didn’t flee the Smokies until the next day. Bigger lamming rat: Petrino.
Loading ...Category: Shamelessness. Not 24 hours after leaving the Georgia Dome as coach of the Falcons, Petrino was captured on live TV calling the Hogs alongside Razorback cheerleaders. Kiffin somehow resisted the urge to ride into his Southern Cal press briefing atop Traveler, the equine mascot of Troy. Bigger shameless rat: Petrino.
Category: Spousal involvement. Becky Petrino joined her husband to lead cheers. Layla Kiffin did not lead any cheers, at least not on-camera. Bigger familial rat: Petrino.
Category: Obliviousness. According to those Falcons folks who knew Petrino well (and there weren’t many), he was stunned his abrupt departure elicited such venom. Kiffin maintained Tennessee fans were upset he was leaving because he’d done such a great job. Bigger tin-eared rat: Kiffin.
Category: Staying power. Petrino coached the Falcons for 11 months. Kiffin coached the Volunteers for 14 months. Bigger fickle rat: Petrino.
Overall: You’ll note that Petrino is the winner, if that’s the proper word, in six of the seven categories. Which would seem to make him the landslide choice as the rat of all rats, would it not? Uh, no. Forget categories, I say. Look instead at the big picture. (At least Petrino can coach.) Alongside Kiffy, all other rodents must bow. King Rat: Kiffin.
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540 comments Add your comment
Joe
January 14th, 2010
4:33 pm
Damn 5 pages of shi__ All you dog killers in Atlanta, aren’t you proud, I’ll take Petrino , Oh by the way Mark where will you write when your newspaper folds, We don’t need them anymore jackass let it rest
David
January 14th, 2010
4:36 pm
Mike, I agree with you…the NCAA is scared of change so nothing will happen. I’m not trying to promote any ideas to change it either. I do know this though, until there is no more money in college football, coaches are going to leave for bigger and better jobs. The ramifications of that affect a lot of people: assistant coaches, players already on the roster, signed recruits, potential recruits, sponsors of those schools, etc…I really believe those are just the breaks you have to deal with if you’re one of those others affected. If you don’t like it, get into another line of business. If you’re an athlete on that team, play your best, impress the new coach and if you’re good enough, you may have a future in the NFL and if not, you’ll get a college degree. Nobody owes these players anything with regard to their development as a football player or basketball player. I feel sorry for some of them really…I do, but bad things happen to good people all the time. Great people figure out a way to thrive in the midst of trouble.
Billy Bob Thornton
January 14th, 2010
4:45 pm
Mr. Bradley,
It is hard to believe that with all of the people out of work YOU are still getting paid. This is what, the 2nd, 3rd piece you’ve done on Kiffin?? Be at least a ‘little’ creative!!!!!!!! Guess that why you are writing in a local paper than mag or book.
Braves WIN, Braves, WIN, Braves...NEVERMIND
January 14th, 2010
4:50 pm
Without any question, it’s Barack the LIAR Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm.
Halsey
January 14th, 2010
4:51 pm
Petrino and Kiffin are both ambitious and talented coaches. We should wish them well.
Mr. Upright
January 14th, 2010
4:53 pm
Definitely Kiffin. The man has been a rat in everything he’s ever done. I’m no resentful Vol here. I’m a proud Vol who was disgusted by Kiffin’s hire and embarrassed by everything he did this year. I actually shuddered watching him stand across the field (and getting his butt handed to him) by the infinitely more classy Frank Beamer. I’m glad Kiffin’s gone, but the ratty way he left was the cherry on top of poop sundae he scooped out all season.
BraveMan
January 14th, 2010
4:56 pm
Petrino is the most unethical, RAT $%Y_##+@!#*$ that I know. The folks in Atlanta do not know the whole deal behind Petrino – he told lie after lie while coaching The University of Louisville. He met with Auburn officials in Southern Indiana while Tubberville was still the coach, lied about the meeting to the media and the UofL AD and had 3-4 more incidents. HE IS A RAT – HE WILL NEVER WIN THE TITLE because for all his X’s and O’s knowledge, players do not trust him; do not like him and his is a LOSER!! Go Cards – Charlie Strong is a real man!!
mars
January 14th, 2010
4:58 pm
Oh no, thank YOU! You’ve sufficiently made it clear. Please grace us further with your incredible wit and wisdom.
superDawg
January 14th, 2010
4:58 pm
TO ALL DAWGS BOYCOT THIS BLOG LET THE TEKNOIDS HAVE IT.
Mike
January 14th, 2010
5:00 pm
Kiffin is loving this type of thing. He should send a thank you letter to Petrino.
mars
January 14th, 2010
5:03 pm
And thank you again for pointing out that the facts are irrefutible. You may soon be able to operate your computer without a safety helmet. Huzzah!
DMR
January 14th, 2010
5:17 pm
The first thing Tennessee should do…SCHEDULE A GAME WITH USC. A HOME AND HOME. MAKE KIFFIN COME BACK TO ROCKY TOP.
Pitbull
January 14th, 2010
5:21 pm
Who’s the bigger rat: Mark Bradley or Jeff Shultz? Cast your votes.
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
5:22 pm
Getting paid? Am I supposed to get paid? Nobody tells me nothin’ …
Paddy
January 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
Petrino, hands down. You can’t include Kiffin in this vote. He is mentally defective and needs help not votes. And USC is not a better job!
mars
January 14th, 2010
5:24 pm
However, David, I must give you credit for calling out Alphare. That moronic drivel doesn’t make any sense. Nor does his reply. Where you from, Alphare? What stokes your interest in a blog from a “southern” newspaper? Do you have any coherent thoughts at all that you would like to share?
Dostoyevskiy
January 14th, 2010
5:24 pm
Add David Cutliff and Tn to mirror Kiffin and USC if he leaves Duke.
Alphare
January 14th, 2010
5:25 pm
David Cutcliff is the biggest rat of all. He just left Duke and became TN coach, what about those Duke recruits? Cutcliff did not even give his recruits 2 weeks as Kiffin did. What a rat, David Cutcliff.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
January 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
Mark,
What. Have you forgotten about Rich Rodriguez leaving WVU in the middle of the night?
This happened after losing to a dismal Pitt team costing a chance at the MNC.
DawginLex
January 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
Glad for Cutcliffe after what happened at Ole Miss.
Dostoyevskiy
January 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
UGa fans, be truthful, you know what CMR would have done had he been offered the HC at FSU. But, then again, who would not make that move!
Joe
January 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
Kiffin is the worst. He lied to incoming recruits and left UT’s recruiting in state of limbo. NFL teams don’t recruit, they select. Now UT will probably backslide considerably whereas the Falcons did not. Both coaches are liars and are a disgrace. Kiffin’s decision affected the young men he “wanted” to come to UT. What do they do now?
Dostoyevskiy
January 14th, 2010
5:36 pm
You know what I say? If a coach, or player for that fact, doesn’t want to attend my alma mater, so be it. We don’t want them either.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
January 14th, 2010
5:39 pm
Lil Lane was called a liar by Al Davis after coaching Oakland for 20 games and getting fired.
Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
January 14th, 2010
5:47 pm
Look up “punk” in any dictionary and you’ll see Lane Kiffin’s mug.
how2fish
January 14th, 2010
5:58 pm
Joe I hear your “pet” pig calling..now go away..
Bama Falcon
January 14th, 2010
6:00 pm
Never, ever, wanted Petrino’s ( howie doody ) A$$ in the organization to start with, david…
DC
January 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
Folks, grow up. There will not be one word written about Cutcliff being a rat and UT will not have one problem stealing away a coach that just got to Duke. Please stop with all of the hypocrisy. This is the system. Is it right? Don’t know, don’t care. We have been in the process of stealing away a D Coordinator from other programs and if Smart had come we, myself included, would have been through the roof cheering. Get off of your high horses people. Goooooooooooooooo Dawgs, Sic’em Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof!!!!!!!
how2fish
January 14th, 2010
6:08 pm
Dostoyevskiy no we Dog fans don’t know what CMR would have done and neither do you…jeesss what a maroon !
Mr. Thomas Anthony "the Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, Lt. Colonel/ ret.
January 14th, 2010
6:14 pm
No where in your blog do see the true victims in theis mess, the players. The coaches lie to us and our children in our living room. You jumped on Kiffin and Petrino, but why not mention the liar at the Univeristy of Michigan, “Coach Rod” Rodriquez, and Nick Saban who jumped ship on Michigan State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins, and one day will jump ship on Alabama, guaranteed.
And how about the rich folks at Auburn who went behind Bowden’s back. And don’t forget UGA where the Assistant AD quickly “forgot” to mail in the insurance for Mr. Decory Bryant’ Insurance and who fired three assistants right before Christmas. And Tech’s Big Wreak firedthe DC, Mr. Dave Wommack, even though Wommack worked twice as had as Johnson!!!!!!!!!
sadielovesbama
January 14th, 2010
6:17 pm
This an insult to rats everywhere!!! RTR
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:18 pm
Mark, as to petrino defenders, as you know, sometimes the lunatics are in charge of the asylum.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:23 pm
Mark, the gettin paid thing is gettin old. best, willie
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
6:25 pm
It is, Coach. Sorry.
Byron Mathison Kerr
January 14th, 2010
6:27 pm
The 678, January 14th, 2010, 3:41 pm:
Petrino is the bigger rat!! Nick Saban is a close second!! (ask Michigan State, LSU and Miami Dolphin fans) Alabama fans need to keep a close eye on his door!!
I’m an Alabama alumnus and fan, but I admit to not having the interest or knowledge in football goings-on that most bloggers on here have.
I tried to research why Nick Saban was mentioned derogatively in a few posts on the subject of Kiffin’s recent move. But simply pronouncing Saban a rat doesn’t tell me much.
I did find out that Saban resigned Michigan State in 1999 with a 9-2 season before the bowl game — which they won anyway.
Any coach that would resign before finishing the season is probably using bad public relations judgement. And I was critical of Urban Meyer for bringing about so much confusion before Florida’s bowl game this year.
But what would LSU fans have to be sore about? Under Saban’s direction, they won their 2nd national championship in 2003. And he adamantly refused to discuss rumors about going to Alabama before finishing the season with the Miami Dolphins.
Saban has been with Alabama three years and he just led us to our 13th national championship. This makes him only the 2nd coach ever to win national championships for more than one team.
As far as I’m concerned, if he wants to head for that door, then “Great job! Thanks for everything! Good luck! — except when we play any of your teams in the future.”
Is it simply a matter that relationships typically end badly — or they wouldn’t end at all?
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
6:29 pm
I believe it’s based on the assumption that the team will find a coordinator, Coach.
Mike
January 14th, 2010
6:31 pm
Mark, here’s the true test for the “rat”.
Question: If you’re a Petrino-hating Falcon fan with a son who committed to Tenn because of Kiffin’s sweet-talking, who is the bigger rat?
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
6:35 pm
I hear Todd Grantham. Like everybody else.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:35 pm
well, even the ole coach runs out of material once in a while. is uga’s 22 ranking based on the team having a defensive coordinator?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:41 pm
at the moment, thats a pretty big assumption. have you heard any realistic rumors lately as to my successor?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:44 pm
i shudder to think who CMR might be considering now.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
6:46 pm
RIDICULOUS!! as you said, that guy cant recruit etc. while the cowboys are playing. got no college resume at all.
Byron Mathison Kerr
January 14th, 2010
6:59 pm
This makes [Nick Saban] only the 2nd coach ever to win national championships for more than one team.
Oops! That should have been SEC championships!
Pete
January 14th, 2010
7:02 pm
The Lane Kiffin article below mentions Petrino also and even links to this page.
http://jockpost.com/lane-kiffin-liar-met/
Vol-tktholder32yrs
January 14th, 2010
7:44 pm
Kiffin , Pop and slobbering Ogerwrong deserve the worst the world can provide, both on and off the field. How can you slimers live with yourselves? Please crawl back into the sewer where you belong and save another program from suffering one embarrasing moment after another. P.S. – take lthe incompetent loser Hamilton with you.
Chucktown 38
January 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
Well if it looks like a rat smells like a rat runs its yap like a rat well,who care who’s the bigger rat just kill it!!
Ryan
January 14th, 2010
8:18 pm
Bigger group of crybabies: Atlanta Falcon fans/media or a room full of 2 year olds?
Get over it.
BeachGaBulldog
January 14th, 2010
8:23 pm
I hate both with a passion, so I won’t pick one over the other. They both can go f*** themselves.
JESUP
January 14th, 2010
9:11 pm
http://www.box.net/shared/0gok96fjoh FUNNY SONG…..RUNAWAY LANE
brutus
January 14th, 2010
9:12 pm
I know who the biggest “I just can’t let it go” D-bag is after reading this drivel. Are there any real men in left in Atlanta or are they all just a bunch of whining biatches such as yourself? Get it together man….