I have to confess something; as college football fan, and specifically, a Nebraska fan, I feel bad for Arkansas. Maybe it’s because both of us have been the mutual object of the scorn of Texas, and both Arkansas and Nebraska are small states without major cities. And because of their small population, both programs had to make hard choices to leave their historic conferences and move on to super-leagues.
In an odd twist of fate, it was the man who replaced and was succeeded by Steve Pedersen (Nebraska’s prodigal son) at Pittsburgh , the athletic director who had to make the tough call on Bobby Petrino. In a small state like Arkansas, a major football program isn’t just the state’s identity; it’s one of the few major business. Los Angeles has the Lakers, film industry, and countless others to go along with it. In Arkansas, it’s football and that’s it.
Petrino’s firing just represents the futility that surrounds the rural program who hasn’t lived up to the expectation of the past. After twenty years, Arkansas’ football program had finally surpassed Texas and become elite again. On top of which, the Razorbacks no longer had to listen to the Longhorn’s mocking that they had deserted their SWAC rivals; with Texas A&M and Missouri joining the SEC, the Hogs could now boast to Austin that they were ahead of the expansion curb, in the place where it matters most: the homes of Texas high school players.
But to get there, they had to take a chance on a questionable coach. Jeff Long hired Bobby Petrino because, after the school had a decade of Houston Nutt, an average coach who wasn’t bad enough to get himself fired quickly. Ultimately, Bobby Petrino may just be a more successful version of Mark Mangino; a successful coach whose issues got hi relegated to a rural job, although Petrino’s was much better than Mangino’s.
So now Arkansas is open again; at least now it’s a better job than it was when Petrino took over. Oddly enough, Nebraska’s Pelini is rumored to be on Long’s list. Not surprising the two states have the same taste in coaches.
You’re welcome, and I look forward to reading your blog; you seem to have some very good articles! Great to find other conservative Christian bloggers.
I can understand where you are coming from, but as far as hiring Petrino goes buyer beware. Long knew this going into it, I’m sure they will land on their feet.
No, you’re definitely right about Arkansas; Petrino’s reputation was well-estalished when he came to Arkansas (although we shouldn’t discount that Long may have leveraged Petrino into leaving the Falcons mid-season with his offer to Will Muschamp.) But Alabama took a similar chance with Nick Saban, and it’s part of the business of high stakes college football like the SEC, with 10 other all-in programs. Arkansas must have weighed the risk worth it at the time, but they were wrong. At least Petrino raised the value of their program.
Definitely agreed there, 25-4 i think? not too shabby at all for a team trying to establish themselves in the extremely competitive SEC. It is a shame the program has to endure such a humiliating exit, but hopefully they land on their feet. Was a great read!
No, no, no, Bama didn’t take a similar chance with Saban. Petrino was a job-hopper. In and of itself that’s not necessarily bad, but Petrino’s methods – such as leaving the Falcons high and dry – gave him a deservedly bad reputation.
Saban, on the other hand, finished his last season with the Dolphins and received the team owner’s permission to leave. Yes, he blurted out in a press conference that he wasn’t going to Alabama, but he had deflected the questions day after day and, I supposed, became frustrated and answered accordingly.
Saban’s character was never something Alabama has taken a risk with.
BD, I will concede that the chance Alabama took on Saban wasn’t as great as the chance that Arkansas took with Petrino, but there are similarities. Saban has never stayed anywhere long, and spent over two years flirting with NFL teams before he went to the Dolphins. Granted, some of it was Alabama coming hard at him, but as an Alabama fan, I’m guessing you see more of his press conferences than we do, and you know, he’s a complete narcissist and treats the media like dirt. Granted, he’s been ubber successful and hasn’t had a scandal, but everyone knows, he plays like his own rules, the way really successful people do (Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, etc.) I’m not saying that Saban has a scandal in his closet, just that he’s a bit of a narcissist and we don’t know him.
One final point: you’re an Alabama fan. You have to know how LSU fans feel about him.
I actually was kind of a Nick Saban fan while he was at LSU. Weird, I know…
I do interact professionally with some LSU fans. Of course, they don’t like him now, but I think they would take him back in a heartbeat.
He’s going on his sixth season at Alabama. Before that two with the Dolphins, five with LSU, five with Michigan State. That’s not too bad.
I think the move to the NFL was to be expected, especially considering he had a significant NFL background, but I do believe if he had to do it all over again, he would have stayed at LSU. I think he genuinely likes the college game.
But don’t get me know, I’m not one of those folks that just blindly defends Saban no matter what. He’s got his flaws, but unlink Petrino, he’s been able to keep his mostly hidden so far.
Derek Johnson
i feel bad 4 arkansas 2. thanks 4 liking m post!
You’re welcome, and I look forward to reading your blog; you seem to have some very good articles! Great to find other conservative Christian bloggers.
You were right, the video kicked ass! hahah.
I can understand where you are coming from, but as far as hiring Petrino goes buyer beware. Long knew this going into it, I’m sure they will land on their feet.
No, you’re definitely right about Arkansas; Petrino’s reputation was well-estalished when he came to Arkansas (although we shouldn’t discount that Long may have leveraged Petrino into leaving the Falcons mid-season with his offer to Will Muschamp.) But Alabama took a similar chance with Nick Saban, and it’s part of the business of high stakes college football like the SEC, with 10 other all-in programs. Arkansas must have weighed the risk worth it at the time, but they were wrong. At least Petrino raised the value of their program.
Definitely agreed there, 25-4 i think? not too shabby at all for a team trying to establish themselves in the extremely competitive SEC. It is a shame the program has to endure such a humiliating exit, but hopefully they land on their feet. Was a great read!
No, no, no, Bama didn’t take a similar chance with Saban. Petrino was a job-hopper. In and of itself that’s not necessarily bad, but Petrino’s methods – such as leaving the Falcons high and dry – gave him a deservedly bad reputation.
Saban, on the other hand, finished his last season with the Dolphins and received the team owner’s permission to leave. Yes, he blurted out in a press conference that he wasn’t going to Alabama, but he had deflected the questions day after day and, I supposed, became frustrated and answered accordingly.
Saban’s character was never something Alabama has taken a risk with.
Have a nice day,
BD
BD, I will concede that the chance Alabama took on Saban wasn’t as great as the chance that Arkansas took with Petrino, but there are similarities. Saban has never stayed anywhere long, and spent over two years flirting with NFL teams before he went to the Dolphins. Granted, some of it was Alabama coming hard at him, but as an Alabama fan, I’m guessing you see more of his press conferences than we do, and you know, he’s a complete narcissist and treats the media like dirt. Granted, he’s been ubber successful and hasn’t had a scandal, but everyone knows, he plays like his own rules, the way really successful people do (Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, etc.) I’m not saying that Saban has a scandal in his closet, just that he’s a bit of a narcissist and we don’t know him.
One final point: you’re an Alabama fan. You have to know how LSU fans feel about him.
I actually was kind of a Nick Saban fan while he was at LSU. Weird, I know…
I do interact professionally with some LSU fans. Of course, they don’t like him now, but I think they would take him back in a heartbeat.
He’s going on his sixth season at Alabama. Before that two with the Dolphins, five with LSU, five with Michigan State. That’s not too bad.
I think the move to the NFL was to be expected, especially considering he had a significant NFL background, but I do believe if he had to do it all over again, he would have stayed at LSU. I think he genuinely likes the college game.
But don’t get me know, I’m not one of those folks that just blindly defends Saban no matter what. He’s got his flaws, but unlink Petrino, he’s been able to keep his mostly hidden so far.
BD
I loved this line: “Houston Nutt, an average coach who wasn’t bad enough to get himself fired quickly.”
Thank!
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