Bobby Petrino to the Falcons

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 7, 2007 9:02 PM EST in News Comment 10 comments

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Pat Forde have confirmed that Bobby Petrino has accepted a 5-year $24 million deal to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Petrino is telling his players of the news right now (9 p.m.).

Maybe I'll feel differently in a day, but right now this feels like a complete betrayal. True character comes out in these situations and perhaps the guy who has snuck around behind our backs multiple times like a soulless business man using his success to leverage a deal with a better comapany is who Bobby Petrino truly is.

I feel like a fool.

"I also wanted to make sure that everyone understood, I know I've said it, that this is where my family wants to be. This is where I want to be. I want everyone to really believe it." --Bobby Petrino

UPDATE (9:07): This damn near breaks your heart:

"I'm in shock right now," Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody told ESPN's Joe Schad Sunday night. "I'm about to walk into a team meeting right now. We're coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn't think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He's a great coach and we're going to miss him."

UPDATE (9:43): Jurich confirms and speaks:

"Bobby Petrino did a great job here at Louisville. I'm proud of what he accomplished. I just wish we could have kept him longer. He will do a great job for the Falcons."

UPDATE (10:33): Oscar Brohm speaks about how this affects his son's future:

"It’s a variable that we weren’t really counting on," the player’s father told The Courier-Journal last night. "It’s something we weren’t anticipating, but obviously something that will need to be taken into consideration."

"We have been talking about it this weekend but no decision was made," his father said last night. "We were hoping to make a decision early this week. But I’m just not sure now. I don’t know really what to expect about anything anymore."

Oscar Brohm, who also played quarterback at U of L, said it would be nice to know who the U of L coach was going to be before making a decision.

"Obviously, that is of great interest," he said. "It’s going to make for an interesting, probably stressful week for everybody."

UPDATE (11:30): Jurich says, "We're going to move quickly in hiring our next coach to keep our momentum going."

It's going to be Kragthorpe.

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Comments

24 millon reasons to leave Louisville

Can anyone say they would turn down $24 million to stay at UofL. UofL is a nice program, but come on. Good luck to Petrino and let's get going with the new coach search.

by sgaras on Jan 7, 2007 9:13 PM EST reply actions

"I want everyone to really believe it."

I guess he was the only one who didn't.

by rico clark on Jan 7, 2007 9:17 PM EST reply actions

Good Riddens

Let's find someone truly committed to the city, the fans, and the university. Louisville will be competing for a national championship next year while Petrino will be failing miserably in trying to control Herpes Vick.

Trust in Jurich.

by Red C on Jan 7, 2007 9:28 PM EST reply actions

Its more than the loss of the coach. This guarantees that Bush/Brohm are gone and Urutia will strongly consider it too. Any recruits will have to reconsider.

This always sets the program back regardless of who the replacement is.

He's not ready for this move. The Peter Principle will prevail and he will be back coaching college football in a few years.

He Hate UK

by orlandocard on Jan 7, 2007 9:34 PM EST reply actions

tear

Its hard to see him go, but ya know its kinda like dating out your league. It's great while it's going on but you know it's going to end suddenly and probably painfully. I just don't see what we as Louisville fas have to complain about other then that he said he wanted to stay in Louisville for longer then he did. The guy kept the homegrown studs at home won us a BSC game and has laid the foundation for the PJCS expansion. I don't see any reason for animosity, just disappointment and maybe deep deep sadness.

by Blocky on Jan 7, 2007 9:47 PM EST reply actions

I agree to a point

We're all deeply indebted to BP for what he has done over the last four years, but what's bothering me right now is the way that he blatantly lied this summer. He didn't have to say those things, and I would have been fine with knowing that we were stealing his services for another year while he was still looking to pounce on something better.

I definitely agree with the dating out of your league metaphor, but when you've caught your girl staring at the douche with the popped collar and spiky hair one too many times, I think they owe it to you to leave right then if they aren't all that into you. Petrino got caught twice and not only did he end up staying, he pledged his allegiance to all of us just six months before bolting.

And the money argument just doesn't carry any weight with me. He was doing just fine monetarily with his new deal here, I mean how much money is enough?

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 7, 2007 9:55 PM EST reply actions

We all new this day was coming...

It was good while it lasted. I'll take an Orange Bowl victory over the way John L. went out.

Jurich has a track record for good hires (for football anyway). Here's hoping he makes another wise choice.

by flubby on Jan 7, 2007 10:08 PM EST reply actions

"knew" not new, duh

by flubby on Jan 7, 2007 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

Petrino

If you are a Cardinals fan, you knew this day was coming. Sure i didn't think any other University was going to get him because Jurich would put the money up. But when an NFL team is paying you twice as much and it is the top League to play in, Your gonna be gone. Petrino was just waiting for the right team, and i guess he thinks its going to be the falcons. I sure as hell would'nt take the Raiders, and he has Vick to play with. Any coach is going to like this city, but now its going to be harder to like because the fans want more. So the next coach, which will probably be Kragthorpe, is going to have to come in winning or dont come in at all. I think Jurich will make a good choice. I just wish Petrino could have waited till after Brohm and Bush made their decidion.

by Final4Galore on Jan 8, 2007 12:29 AM EST reply actions

Money

There is never enough money. Sure $2M is more than all of us can ever imagine but think of it in percentages. As Patrick Ewing eloquently said, "Sure we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot too".

Its TWICE the money. That amount of EXTRA money is enough that his kids no longer will need to worry about anything ever and neither will any of the next few generations.

Its like hitting the lottery every year for the next 4.

Given similar options and at his age, everyone takes that deal.

He Hate UK

by orlandocard on Jan 8, 2007 6:56 PM EST reply actions