Bobby Petrino: On leave, in trouble and maybe out of a job
Uneasy rider: Bobby Petrino speaks after the crash but before the confession. (AP photo)
Bobby Petrino has been placed on administrative leave. Ordinarily this is a prelude to getting fired, but Bobby Petrino coaches football in the SEC. And we’re about to see if Arkansas places a higher premium on winning football games — which Petrino has — than on cornball stuff like family values.
Speaking of which: Bobby Petrino first said he’d spent Sunday with his family at a lake before hopping on his motorcycle. If he had, he wouldn’t be on administrative leave.
Turns out Petrino hadn’t been riding alone. Turns out, via the police report, that Petrino had been accompanied by a 25-year-old woman whom he’d just hired as the football team’s “student-athlete development coordinator.” (Memo to would-be cover-uppers: Police reports are pesky things.) Turns out Petrino lied in his first public statements, same as he’d lied to Arthur Blank when he told the Falcons’ owner, “You’ve got yourself a coach” — 27 hours before surfacing in Fayetteville, Ark.
Petrino has since acknowledged an “inappropriate relationship.” Though he, oddly, described it as “previous.” Does that mean it has ended? That true romance took a hike the instant he lost control of the bike? Ah, the vagaries of the human heart.
Of greater concern to athletic director Jeff Long is surely this: Did the coach hire the 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell — a press release was issued just last week — only because of her expertise in “student-athlete development”? (She’d previously been an Arkansas volleyball player and a fundraiser for the Razorback Foundation.) In announcing her appointment, Petrino is quoted as saying: “[Dorrell] is familiar with what the University of Arkansas can offer.”
(In other news, Dorrell reportedly is engaged to the director of operations for the Arkansas swimming and diving team. The wedding date is set for June 9.)
Long moved to put Petrino on leave Thursday night, only hours after the police report was made public and the coach finally came clean to his boss. But there is, in athletic departments housing a major football program, a sort of reverse pecking order: The AD is technically in charge, but the football coach is the bigger deal.
Of all people, Long shouldn’t have been blindsided by such duplicity. He handled the search that resulted in Petrino standing in Fayetteville calling the Hogs on a Tuesday night after coaching the Falcons on a Monday. Rumors of Petrino’s departure had been swirling before the game, prompting Blank to confront Petrino, who offered his handshake assurance he’d be staying. This prompted Blank to tell newsmen he looked forward to the Falcons moving boldly forward under “CEO Bobby Petrino.”
The next day: See ya later, CEO.
The same Petrino infamously interviewed for an Auburn job that wasn’t open in November 2003. He denied any contact with Auburn officials until reporters from the Courier-Journal offered documentation of a private plane registered to the Montgomery bank controlled by the toxic Tigers booster Bobby Lowder landing in Sellersburg, Ind., which sits across the Ohio River from Louisville, where Petrino was then coaching. The backlash was such that Auburn’s president and AD wound up resigning.
But Petrino? He kept coaching the Cardinals, leading them to an 11-1 season in 2004 and an Orange Bowl victory in 2006. He’d signed a 10-year contract to remain at Louisville despite many more flirtations with other schools/teams. Then, in January 2007, he left to coach the Falcons. That lasted 13 games, 10 of them losses. (The Falcons were without Michael Vick.) Then he split for the Ozarks.
In sum: Petrino has long been a selfish jerk, but people keep hiring him because he wins. When it comes to coaches, administrators tend to develop cognitive dissonance: “He’s a jerk, but he’s a winning jerk.”
Long has pledged to conduct a review, but let’s note again: This AD hired Petrino, baggage and all, and has seen him win 21 games over the past two seasons. We’re about to see if Petrino, his belatedly admitted indiscretion aside, can deploy his won-lost record as the ultimate defense. We’re about to see if a bad guy gets to keep his job just because he’s a good coach.
By Mark Bradley
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412 comments Add your comment
Lakeisha Jackson
April 6th, 2012
2:01 pm
@ JB
re: 1:45
Well, you sure never had any problems at Penn State with coaches messing around with younger WOMEN.
ClinchCountyDawg
April 6th, 2012
2:04 pm
Petrino will stay at Arkansas. The guy is a lying slimeball but he can coach college football. How long did Sandusky stay at Penn State after the first pedophile incidents happened?
Matt
April 6th, 2012
2:05 pm
Haha, payback’s a b.
Meiotic Drive
April 6th, 2012
2:05 pm
He may win football games, but I wonder if his fate will be driven by his ability to recruit? With his record of unethical behavior and outright lying to his employers, will parents be interested in having their sons play football at Arkansas? If the AD (or the football boosters) believes he cannot credibly recruit, he will be fired.
A Father
April 6th, 2012
2:06 pm
GA posters, be careful what you claim and throw, many names and much worse situations in recent times can become public knowledge, Be careful throwing stones at Petrino.
Josh
April 6th, 2012
2:07 pm
Karma? Really? What about a lousy person like Petrino just not ever changing? No Karma there. Just getting what you paid for.
Notewise
April 6th, 2012
2:07 pm
When will the lying cease?? Looks like never. Time to say goodbye to this true definition of a DIRTBAG!
Beast from the East
April 6th, 2012
2:08 pm
Meiotic Drive,
I don’t see it as a problem in recruiting. Lame Kiffen continues to reel ‘em in.
Scott
April 6th, 2012
2:08 pm
Fire them both….
P Rose
April 6th, 2012
2:09 pm
He must have quit driving in the middle of his ride.
JSS
April 6th, 2012
2:10 pm
Only Hillbilly D has shown an ounce of sense in posting on this subject! If he’d said he was getting some strange, he’d just be looking for some cover and a good divorce lawyer like Rick Pitino!
And all of you hollering “Karma,” please meet a “real” Hindu or Buddhist and get them to explain what it really means!
Disgusted
April 6th, 2012
2:11 pm
Petrino did us a favor walking out like he did, he was a loser in the pro game.
Say what you may about the recent playoff failures, the Falcon fans have never had it so good. Mike Smith has not been that bad, had we kept Petrnocchio, we would have had a couple more 4-12 yrs.
At least it was only one lost season.
Disgusted
April 6th, 2012
2:12 pm
I really could care less what happens to Petrino or Arkansas.
David
April 6th, 2012
2:12 pm
If the relationship is “over” why is she on the back of his motorcycle…Sure…I would send these people packing and find another coach…pronto.
CaliDawg
April 6th, 2012
2:13 pm
No way!? I’m completely shocked! Not the upstanding Petrino. So….which fool, uh, school is the next in line to hire this guy who has had some difficulties but is ready to put it all behind him and start a new chapter in his life? Hello PAC12.
JSS
April 6th, 2012
2:13 pm
And Pitino and Petrino have never been more than money and power chasers… But you expect saints? Oh but the saints were flawed too!
Just Wondering
April 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
Hey, Bobby, why the red face?
Tgram
April 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
All I want to know is how he released his statement. Did he tack it up to a lockerroom bulletin board like he did when he quit on the Falcons? Classy guy! Soooeeee!!!
mike
April 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
He will keep his job because Petrino and Arkansas only care about winning — not morals or ethics…this is the SEC.
DawgInaTruck
April 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
Recruiting wise, he has time to recover. There will be all kinds of big news stories, sports-related and otherwise, that will make this old news by signing day next February. His biggest job related concern is the liability to the university and the fact that he lied to his superiors.
He’ll be okay in the long run; he either weathers this self induced storm and coaches at Arkansas or hooks on somewhere else. The short term? That will kill you every time.
phil
April 6th, 2012
2:16 pm
I don’t wish injury on anyone, but i have to admit, the pictures of the banged up loser Petrino are funny….
What an idiot for riding a motorcycle to begin with, but to ride it with no helmet? To be riding it with an engaged woman you’ve been running around on your wife with? to think you could get away with not mentioning her to anyone but the cops?
Fire this bum right here and now!!
Buckeye
April 6th, 2012
2:17 pm
doginatruck,
Let me guess, a Ford F150?
Beast from the East
April 6th, 2012
2:19 pm
mike,
Why point out just the SEC? Pete Carrol was never fired from USC because of the Reggie Bush scandal. Paterno and the entire athletic department enabled a pedophile for more than a decade. UCONN, Syracuse, etc. It’s all major sports across the country.
DawgInaTruck
April 6th, 2012
2:21 pm
LOL Buckeye. No, big commercial stuff. Good one though.
Fulmer Cup reality
April 6th, 2012
2:22 pm
Fulmer Cup often comes up on these blogs no matter what the topic. The earlier reference to it was obviously made by someone jealous of UGA. Here are some facts.
As of April 2, 2012, UGA is not in the top ten. TCU has an overwhelming lead, and will likely keep it, though they won’t be able to match the amazing score Auburn achieved in 2011. Presently the SEC is repped by South Carolina tied for third and Arkansas and UF tied for 7th.
SEC winners of the award are 2008 Alabama (28 points), 2010 UGA (21 points), and 2011 Auburn (80 points. UF has not won a Fulmer Cup though they are second place in all time points, trailing only Auburn.
rollo lawson
April 6th, 2012
2:23 pm
A bunch of soap opera crap if you ask me. If he’s fired, so be it. Our local sports writers need to focus on writing about what it will take to end this wreck of a franchise’s 47 year championship drought.
Beast from the East
April 6th, 2012
2:25 pm
“UF has not won a Fulmer Cup though they are second place in all time points, trailing only Auburn.”
Dang it! We’re trying but we just can’t catch a break with these other schools posting these huge numbers!
Sid
April 6th, 2012
2:33 pm
I really could care less about what happens to Bobby Petrino, at least not anymore.
DawgInaTruck
April 6th, 2012
2:34 pm
Fulmer Cup Reality, TCU will be at the top of the list for a while but you have to give Gary Patterson credit there. He got word of drug use involving his players and had the ENTIRE TEAM tested. That took guts because he knew he would get some rude surprises along the way. To his credit, he took the measures he deemed necessary to deal with it. The numbers themselves look bad but the long-term result will (hopefully) make it worth it relative to the future of the program.
Email Profiling Is Wrong
April 6th, 2012
2:35 pm
I could care less about Petrino’s personal issues. The guy can coach. He’s proven that. If I was a Razorbacks football fan, Bobby’s indiscretions wouldn’t trouble me in the least.
But he’s demonstrated a pesky tendency to lie to his boss. With Arthur Blank, it came at the point where his next career move was already set. The only thing he had to lose was Blank’s (and his players’) respect.
Arkansas was aware of who they were hiring and figured the risk was worth the reward. I can’t believe AD Long is too shocked about this.
However, if Bobby lied to him, then he might have earned a dismissal.
Tough break for Arkansas (and the SEC) if that’s how it plays out.
He’ll be coaching someplace else soon. He’s a darned good coach.
beard
April 6th, 2012
2:37 pm
Since when is there integrity in the SEC? Why would he be fired? And why anyone would be with this ugly looking man is beyond me in the first place.
Big Crimson 75
April 6th, 2012
2:37 pm
I love it.
I don’t wish harm on anyone.
Actually, I wish the jack-a$$ was crippled.
Lee in S GA
April 6th, 2012
2:38 pm
young girls and money or promotion purposes…..he is one ugly man period
Big Crimson 75
April 6th, 2012
2:39 pm
Although, if Arky actually got a “real” Coach — they might give Bama a Game.
just desserrts
April 6th, 2012
2:47 pm
Is that road rash all over his mug, or embarrassment? Whichever, at least it’s a lovely shade to match the Arkansas uni’s. Here’s wishing him a long and painful recovery. And that his wife has a very good attorney.
J.D. Phillips
April 6th, 2012
2:54 pm
He could become the Razorback’s mascot w/o having to dress for it. I was never a fan of his. Please change the photo. I can’t stop laughing.
joey
April 6th, 2012
2:55 pm
Fire both…slime bags
Felix
April 6th, 2012
2:56 pm
Administrative leave? Administrative leave? His lying, sleazy butt should have immediately been fired!!
Tech Fan
April 6th, 2012
2:57 pm
Beofre u UGAG fans jump on the Bash Petrino train, just remember that u guys BIGGEST booster is married to one woman but lives with the Gymnastic Coach(oops former coach) and has so for years….just sayin…
sabra
April 6th, 2012
3:02 pm
And that goes to show that she is a stoopid hussy too.
The former uga gymnastics coach.
DawgInaTruck
April 6th, 2012
3:03 pm
Tech Fan, I think most of us have strong feelings because of the way he left our local pro team. There never has been a heated rivalry between UGA and Arkansas. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled he left the Falcons, we are in much better shape with Mike Smith, but a copy of a resignation letter left at players’ lockers? I’m glad he wasn’t injured any more seriously than he was, but when you leave a team the way he did ours, fans have long memories.
Rooty Tooty
April 6th, 2012
3:04 pm
The red pantieshave shown up at Arkansas. They dont have the ballsto fire him
Dawglasville
April 6th, 2012
3:06 pm
Helen Bushay: “The chickens are coming home to roost Mr. Coach Petrino.”
Paddy
April 6th, 2012
3:07 pm
A Father……so you say they were consenting adults and it is nobody’s business? How about Bobby P’s wife and 4 children? How about the girl’s soon-to-be husband, does he just go quiet into the night like the Petrino family members. What an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!
TOo Tough44
April 6th, 2012
3:11 pm
Well, what a shame for the “Groom to be” to have this happen to him. Good thing he found out when he did….once a cheat always a cheat! (by the way…she is an attractive lady, I guess she surely had to see $ in pigtrino ): …All I have to say is “groom to be”:…hang in there , get over her and be thankful you had not taken the plunge!
DHD
April 6th, 2012
3:14 pm
Karma Got Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!!!!!!!
dean
April 6th, 2012
3:17 pm
Put it in perspective: If any of us here lied to the cops (or was the cop complicit in the cover-up attempt) we’d be in handcuffs as soon as the hospital released us.
(I laugh at Tech Fan’s attempt to equate a booster’s pleasures with Petrino’s scumbaggery)
Artie
April 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
Razorbacks fans are finally seeing what we knew all along in the ATL…Petrino is a turd!!!!!!
Pecan Grove
April 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
Used to be an Arkansas fan until Petrino went there. Now I hope they lose everything they participate in. Think the REAl Petrino has finally been caught up with.
Artie
April 6th, 2012
3:22 pm
That pick of Petrino’s road-rashed face is not only priceless but also downright funny.