December 31, 2004
Does Petrino deserve a pink slip?
Does the Louisville Cardinals' Head Coach, with a career record of 19-5, deserve to be fired?
That astounding proclimation was issued by ESPN.com's Pat Forde, who makes a pretty healthy case that Bobby Petrino, for all his recent actions, should be let go by the Cardinals.
If LSU offers Petrino the job, he'll take it. If LSU goes a different direction -- Oklahoma State's Les Miles being the other top option -- it would not be a shock to see Louisville take the extraordinary step of divorcing itself from one of the hottest coaches in the country.It's a realistic option, and it would be the ultimate payback for Petrino's hubris. Shocking as it might be to bounce a certified offensive maestro with a 19-5 record in two seasons, such a move likely would be supported by a fed-up fan base. In fact, the multi-million-dollar buyout figure needed to pull it off might be the easiest fund raising athletic director Tom Jurich would ever have to do.
Jurich won't comment publicly on the Petrino-LSU situation, but the tension was written on his face at the fan party. The event is usually one of Jurich's favorite moments of the year, a grand thank-you bash on the athletic department's nickel, but he's having a hard time enjoying himself this week. His relationship with the coach he handpicked to lead his football program into the Big East has frayed considerably.
In fact, Petrino's fourth meeting with another school in little more than a year's time could well be the breaking point in his relationship with all of Planet Red. His devious meeting with Auburn last year, behind the back of his own administrators and his former boss, Tommy Tuberville, was bad. Following that up by chasing the Florida job, then the Notre Dame job and now the LSU job, is worse.
Worst of all: Going after the LSU opening before the ink is dry on your new deal, and just after professing your undying (he really means it this time) affection for Louisville. Asked point-blank on Dec. 21 if the new contract nullified any potential interest in LSU, Pinocchio -- uh, Petrino -- said it did.
Comments:
Aaron said:
posted on January 1, 2005 9:26 AM — 24.248.64.23 — link — abuse?
Every school has fans and others that complain when coaches leave. But that is the nature of the profession. LSU fans whined because Saban is leaving, but Saban left Michigan State to come be their coach, and that was okay.
I see nothing wrong with Petrino seeking out other options. Professional advancement and a bigger challenge is what drives these great coaches.
Every fan wants a coaching dynasty, but the fact is that very few ever get it. We need to all accept that and stop getting so worked up over a coach coming and/or going. It's a cycle that isn't going to end anytime soon.
George said:
posted on January 1, 2005 1:36 PM — 65.54.98.26 — link — abuse?
Petrino's intelligence is questionable. At 43 years of age, he should know better than to put himself in this position. Since LSU has not made an offer, they can now afford to offer substantially less to him for the head coach job. People in Louisville would not have liked it whether or not he had announced before or after the bowl game. However, Petrino has demonstrated a lack of professionalism in his job-hopping starting even after only the first year at U of L. This year's fiasco takes the cake. For all that do not know, Petrino flat lied in his statements about the desire to leave Louisville. Sentiment in Louisville is turning against Petrino at this point - he lost the respect of the community at large when he lied. If he stays at Louisville and Jurich allows him to stay, he has absolutely no respect from this community. LSU has everything to gain from playing "Bobby" for everything he is worth, including a low-ball offer. Given his current status in this community, he should leave if he gets any offer at all - including a bottom-of-the barrel offer. He has put himself in this position.
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
Brian said:
posted on January 1, 2005 2:59 AM — 12.202.109.218 — link — abuse?Fine by me. Granted, Petrino has led our team to great success and it has been particularly nice to see the lack of discipline that had become routine under John L. Smith done away with.
Sure, U of L has become accustomed to being a stepping stone on their coach's journey up. But, rarely have we had a guy spend so much time on his own advancement, and one who has been so exceedingly clumsy about it.
While Petrino deserves part of the credit for the team's success, the quality of the players Louisville is putting on the field is on the rise.
U of L will immediately become a contender for the Big East crown and a BCS berth regardless of who our coach is. It's time to find a man who wants to make Louisville a coaching destination rather than a roadside cafe. Clearly Petrino is not that man.