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
Lame Peuktrino
January 14th, 2010
10:00 am
They are both worthless pieces of s!@t. Both will be at lower level jobs in the next 5 years because Lame can’t coach ( huge self promoter though ) and Mr. personality Petrino will never coach any where of significance.because nobody likes him he’s an ahole. (see Falcons) My only regret as a dawg fan is Lame was right he never lost to UGA. 1-0 Da#n
DAWG07
January 14th, 2010
10:00 am
IF Muschamp is hired at Tenn Smart will be the DC.
Randy Rhino
January 14th, 2010
10:01 am
Kiffin…the spoiled brat has probably gotten his way his entire life…Hot Wife, cool job in Southern Californica, Dad & Dad’s buds still coaching for him, and a 12-21 coaching record…Go Figure!
Dawg Fud
January 14th, 2010
10:01 am
who cares?
RoswellHOG
January 14th, 2010
10:02 am
Rex, You forgot to mention that Petrino took a $2million haircut/year to “bolt”. Must have been great atmosphere at Flowery Branch.
ArmsBendBack
January 14th, 2010
10:05 am
Category: Immediate future of the program. Because Petrino was a rat, the Falcons were/are in a much better situation. It will probably take longer than it did for the Falcons to recover, but methinks UT will be better off in the long run as well. Program better off due to rat behavior: Falcons.
That should give you more justification for Kiffin’s crowning.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:05 am
Who is Gen Neyland?
gator83
January 14th, 2010
10:05 am
Kiffin wins the “award.” Petrino showed no class and dumped on highly paid professionals. The Petrino mistake was corrected with a good hire immediately following. Kiffin, however, dumped on an entire program by leaving two weeks before national signing day which could set UT back for a few years. Unlike what Kiffin said, because this year’s recuting class will probably be a disaster, he has left the program in MUCH worse shape than he found it. I never thought I’d say it, but I feel sorry for UT.
Declining UGA
January 14th, 2010
10:06 am
Need a category on nearness of Draft/Recruiting Day. By leaving three weeks before signing day, Kiffin has guaranteed that UT has a very rough recruiting year which is in direct contrast to the #6 ranked class before his leaving was announced. This could alter UT for at least the next three to four years!!! Petrino would not have been involved nearly as deeply with the Falcons draft as Kiffin was to UT recruiting and indeed the Falcons have certainly won two consecutive years without him. UT will not be as fortunate and thus Kiffin’s leaving is likely by far to have hurt his former team the worse.
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
10:07 am
oh, how ah long foah the days of yoah. life was much simpla then. guahls weah guahls and men weah men.
Angus
January 14th, 2010
10:09 am
I’ll go with Kiffin also.
The NFL is supposed to be purely a business.
While NCAA FB has almost become strictly business, most of us fans see it as something different, something with a little purity left in it.
Dave
January 14th, 2010
10:10 am
I will not argue that Kiffin did not handle this well, but, before we all go off the deep end with assertions and accusations…
1) We do not KNOW if he can coach or not. The body of work is NOT large enough to make that determination. We DO know his father can coach (he proved that with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and the fact that his father was part of the deal MAY have been the reason he got the Tennessee job to begin with.
2) Tennessee knew what they were getting when they hired the man. If they did not know, then it is their OWN FAULT for failing to do the proper due diligence during the hiring process. Besides, as noted above, they were not just getting Lane, they were also getting Monty.
3) Tennessee has NOTHING to cry about, because they royally screwed over a man in Fulmer who proved his loyalty AND competence time and again, won the SEC East as late as 2007, and yet got kicked out into the cold because he was not winning on par with Urban Meyer, Mark Richt and Nick Saban. This is CLEARLY a case of what goes around, comes around.
FINALLY, let’s be honest here: If YOU were the head football coach of Tennessee and YOU got offered a job at a clearly BETTER football program for a LOT more money in your HOME state, would YOU not jump at the chance??
I liked the "Traveler" the horse analogy...
January 14th, 2010
10:10 am
…but did you know that when daddy Kiffin was named head coach at NC State back in the ’80s he did exactly that – rode into the press conference on a white horse claiming that he was there to “save the day”! Check the records if you do not believe this!!!!!
Angus
January 14th, 2010
10:10 am
I didn’t say that very well, but I think you should know what I mean.
GT-UGA
January 14th, 2010
10:11 am
I’m no fan of lane Kiffin. That being said, if USC really is his dream job, then I cannot blame him for bolting from Tennessee. Petrino is the bigger rat.
jellybeandawg
January 14th, 2010
10:11 am
I have to go with Petrino as well for the mere fact that at least Kiffin was man enough to tell his players and the media face to face. Kiffin may not be able to coach and is obviously delusional but at least he is not LIAR and COWARD like Petrino. Petrino is just scum and is no better then Bob Ford in my book.
Jackets2010
January 14th, 2010
10:13 am
During a temporary break from hostilities, I want to admit that I agree with many Uga fans about CMR.
There is something to be said for the coach who stays like Richt and Fullmer, who actually like the place and fans.
They could have left like these rats Kiffen and Petrino during their best years and avoided taking the heat during the down years.
Tech coaches Curry and Ross took the money and ran as soon as they got the program back shipshape.
Having said that, let’s get back to hating each other.
Bill
January 14th, 2010
10:14 am
Get over it! What a horrible situation was the Atlanta Falcons’ job with the whole Mike Vick situation going down. Your hypocritical stance by bashing Bobby Petrino for leaving with 3 games left fails to mention the firing of Dan Reeves by the Atlanta Falcons when he had 3 games left. Karma. You whine and cry when a coach leaves on his own accord, but sweep it under the rug when an owner does the equivalent – give me a break. The only rat is the one that fails to see the obvious.
Supes
January 14th, 2010
10:14 am
PETRINO is the bigger rat, don’t forget he was involved in JET GATE with Auburn a few years ago too. Guy has ZERO credibility. Worst hire in the Falcons Franchise.
Ed
January 14th, 2010
10:17 am
Tie
DawgDad
January 14th, 2010
10:18 am
There’s something about walking out on a team YOU LEAD in the middle of a season when the going gets rough that’s just unforgivable as a human being and as a man. Imagine Gen. McAuliffe catching a ride out of Bastogne, or Patton signing on with the Germans after his post-slap furlough. Petrino’s scurry out of town was much sleazier than Kiffin’s, though I’d probably give the overall character sleaze award to Kiffin.
TheCamper
January 14th, 2010
10:18 am
Mr.Blanks, hired a quiter to coach his falcons knowing Petrino quit Louiville.
Bet Patrino applied for the USC job; now he has a shot at Tenn.
Just can’t trust a quitter…..its settled
!
C'mon Supes...
January 14th, 2010
10:18 am
…ain’t no way hiring Petrino was as bad as hiring Marion Campbell not once, but TWICE!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2010
10:19 am
Kiffin’s timeliness is worst. He leaves 3 weeks before signing day and with 8 guys who already had arrived. Plus he leave his minions behind to recruit.
This is a PUSH: There are no winners here!
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
10:19 am
willie martinez : He is a figment of his imagination. I’m flattered to have someone take my tag but disappointed they have no wit. To that point, I think I’ll step aside and let my alter-ego have the limelight for the day. MB can have his able staff a do pc address search if he wishes. If not, rest assured that the imposer has the stage. I’m pretty much done with the Kiffin thing for a while. My distant future remarks will deal with the real rat that fled from Atop Rocky. Orgeron. And I’ll type in english, not southernize…GBO
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2010
10:20 am
Notes in the locker; Classic
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
10:20 am
Maak, ah know that yoah question was totally hypothetical, howeva, it reminded me of the time i was trying to decide which one of my sistas was the best kissah. ah finally came down on the side of Scahlett.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2010
10:22 am
Mark this comparison is like a beauty contest between Maude and Mrs. Doubtfire.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:23 am
thanks Gen. it sounded like 2 different bloggers. best, willie
DawgDad
January 14th, 2010
10:24 am
“It has become quite popular among the AJC columnists to bash and take jabs at Mark Richt.”
Read the Editorial page. Attacking substance and character is modus operandi.
Otto
January 14th, 2010
10:25 am
Bill, Dead on
Jacket2010, agreed on all points.
Supes, It was up to Auburn’s AD to fire or speak to Tubberville.
Petrino had a moment of stupidity for taking the Falcons job. Good to see he recovered. Really? why take a job with a QB you can’t fire and will not run your system combined with a program that has a history of failure and bad personnel decisions.
Lane is a jerk but not for leaving for his dream job.
Hamilton and UT were stupid for only having a $800k buyout on Lane’s contract. What was Lane supposed to do? Turn down his dream job because he had only been at UT 1 year?
JaxDawg
January 14th, 2010
10:25 am
Tough Call here. Petrino was a coward more than a rat, he snuck out of the Dome and boarded the next plane out to call the hogs, whatever the Falcons are in a much better place without him. Kiffin is a rat, he looked 18 year old players in the face and begged them to help rebuild a struggling program only to turn his back to them when the opportunity arose. For that, he is a rat and a liar, what do recruits have to hold onto anymore, they go to schools and give their all to play for free only to watch their coaches bolt at the first sign of greener grass. I say pay the kids or let them transfer at will.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:26 am
speaking of rats, so is that guy that fired me.
Dawgs97
January 14th, 2010
10:27 am
Rex,
Excellent point about Schultz shoving his left wing, Obama-loving politics down our throat. To be a Dawg basher, coupled with being an Obama apologist does make Schultz the worst and most evil kind of hack writer, so called journalist there is.
I’m gonna take a wild guess here that Bradley’s politics match up well with Schultz. Bradley strikes me as a tree hugging, Obama apologist, too.
Otto
January 14th, 2010
10:27 am
TheCamper, Someone is a quitter for taking a better job? What kind of socialist thinking is that?
stendec
January 14th, 2010
10:27 am
Rather be bitten by a brown rat or a black rat? Both are still rats! These are two loathsome vermin who an affront to all decent sports people. To Hell with both of them! Always hated overrated Utterly Sickening Crapheads. Glad to see the swirl to the commode bottom has started for the Trojan condoms. ++STENDEC++
GoVols
January 14th, 2010
10:28 am
Sorry to the real Gen Neyland for thinking that poser was you -
A.W.
January 14th, 2010
10:29 am
Good job Mark Bradley, I like the information you provided. I also think that the category winners you posted was funny like BIGGER FICKER RAT AND BIGGER COWARDLY RAT! LOL
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 14th, 2010
10:29 am
Painting a little mascot’s a$$ white should qualify for consideration at being a rat. I can’t say for sure which coach did it, but I know it wasn’t Coach Willie or the other 2 defensive coaches that were fired only a few days before Christmas. If Coach Willie had been there I don’t think my a$$ would have been painted. Some coaches leave a school without warning and people look at them like they did something unconscionable and some schools fire coaches right before Christmas and think that’s a different deal. I am sitting in thinner right now so I may be controversial today.
Jackets2010
January 14th, 2010
10:30 am
Why I vote for Kiffen is because he taunted all of the Vol’s biggest rivals and now gets out of town leaving the program in shambles to face all their riled up foes?
I know all the Falcons fans disagree with me but I give Blank some of the blame for hiring Petrino with whatever amount of pay it would take.
If I was a Louisville Cardinal fan I would hate Blank.
Petrino had their program on top and when will it get back to that.
Rocky Road
January 14th, 2010
10:30 am
These blogs would be much better if these dawg fans would quit talking about UGA. The article is about two coaches who have nothing to do with UGA but you dawg fans seem to attack MB and JS any chance you get. Get a damn life guys…the world does not revolve around UGA. You are a middle of the pack SEC team, no better no worse…live with it.
Dawgs97
January 14th, 2010
10:30 am
DawgDad,
Yeah, thankfully as a Dawg living here in Texas, I don’t have care what goes on anymore on their biased editorial page, that had story after story bashing a genuine American hero like John McCain and defending a non-American like Obama.
The paper has made their politics well known and clearly is only out to appease a liberal, Georgia Tech loving fan base in the Atlanta area.
As a non liberal Georgia fan, it makes hard to read any of this paper online, but I love my Dawgs and my Braves and it’s a consistent way to keep up with both, for all the anger it brings out in me having to read ridiculous and biased garbage from hacks like Schultz and Bradley.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
January 14th, 2010
10:31 am
The infamous televised Hog call. Note Becky Petrino cheering at right.
NICE SLAP IN THE FACE!!!!!!!
bmeeks
January 14th, 2010
10:31 am
Colleges hire coaches. Throw a lot of money at them. They have one or two bad seasons and they get fired. The fans want them run out of town on a rail. A coach leaces a school on his own and he is tatraitor or worse. All it amounts too this day and time is who is going to screw who first. The coach bolts! The college fires the coach! The fans are calling for the moving van after a couple of loses!
jayrat
January 14th, 2010
10:33 am
I cant wish either of these two “greedy, egotisticle, scumbags” well.
ARk and USc , too bad you have these two jerks…
jayrat
January 14th, 2010
10:33 am
Enter your comments here
anotherdawg
January 14th, 2010
10:34 am
If Kiffin and company tried to get the Tenn. recruits to decommit and then come to USC, then that’s really low. Keep in mind though that Petrino leaving the Falcons was the best thing that could have ever happened. He showed no class in the way he did it, but I think it was the very best thing that could have happened for the Falcons, Petrino, and maybe the Razorbacks. If Tennessee can land the right coach, maybe they will be better off also, in the long run.
A Coach
January 14th, 2010
10:35 am
Petrino is the biggest scumbag of all time. True Lane Kiffin is up there, but Petrino has zero class. Kiffin at least finished his season, and he had done what he could on the recruiting trail (even if that was kinda dirty). Petrino didn’t even have the balls to tell his team in person, he left them a note. YEA that’s a real man that I would want to send my son to, to play football. I don’t blame Kiffin, USC is a better job, just not how it should have been handled.
DawgnMD
January 14th, 2010
10:35 am
They both have great big upper case I’s in their names. Who cares about those bums. We need to bring Travis home to run our defense right after they lose to the Cardinals this weekend. Got bless the folks in Haiti. You can also text your donation thru the Red Cross.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 14th, 2010
10:36 am
If we had lost a game or two while I was temporary mascot I am sure the moving van would have been sent to my doghouse. I was a very successful temp with a big win over Tech and a win in a bowl game, too. Still, my a$$ isn’t white enough to be considered a full time mascot. I know one day soon Coach Richt is going to walk up to me and give me my walking papers like he did Coach Willie and the boys. I have a birthday coming up . . .