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John Adams reports from the SEC meetings in Destin FL
DESTIN, Fla. - A sportswriter attempted to depict coach Bobby Petrino's disastrous year with the Atlanta Falcons by referring to the famous dream season of "Dallas."
"That's not the show that popped into my head," said Petrino, who is attending his first SEC spring meetings this week as Arkansas' new football coach. "Did you ever see that movie, 'Misery?' "
"I'm kidding," he quickly added.
That didn't diminish the impact of his analogy.
Coaching the Falcons has proved less than pleasurable for a lot of guys. But that's the first time anyone has equated it to having a psychotic nurse break both your ankles with a sledgehammer.
Some Falcons fans might consider that fair punishment for a coach who abandoned them so abruptly in their most recent time of misery. Whatever horrors they might have conjured up for their unfaithful coach were lost on Petrino. He seemingly dumped the Falcons one minute and embraced the Razorbacks the next.
"It was real hard on my wife and my kids," Petrino said. "I didn't hear a lot of it (the criticism)."
The firestorm of criticism has faded; eventually, Petrino will become a throwaway line when a critic needs an abandoning-the-ship analogy. However, until his new team plays a game, there will be a lingering curiosity about the old team he dismissed so emphatically and uncaringly last year.
"I asked Becky (his wife) on the plane coming down here what I should say (if asked) about the (negative) media publicity," he said. "She said, 'You don't want to say what I want to say.' "
In retrospect, Petrino said he doesn't believe he could have handled his job change any differently. Falcons owner Arthur Blank might have a different take.
That's not Petrino's concern. He has moved on. And he has moved to the right place.
The SEC has become the favorite getaway destination for a pro coach who likens NFL coaching to having your ankles broken. First, there was Steve Spurrier, who went from Washington to South Carolina. Next was Nick Saban, whose departure from Miami to Alabama fostered only slightly less animosity than Petrino's escape from Atlanta after just 13 games.
Not surprisingly, coaching's most recent quick-change artist doesn't sound like a short-timer (Granted, they never do). Instead, he sounds at home with the Hogs.
"I feel like this needs to be my last job," said Petrino, who took Louisville to a BCS bowl before leaving for the Falcons after the 2006 season. "Professionally, there's no question that's how it needs to be. And that's also what I want."
Professionally, he faces a huge challenge. The team coach Houston Nutt left behind for Ole Miss could be the worst of the West in 2008. There's also a daunting transition to be made from Arkansas' run-oriented offense to Petrino's wide-open approach that often relies on the pass to set up the run.
Much of Petrino's first-year success might depend on how well quarterback Casey Dick can assimilate and execute the new offense. A pedestrian passer at best, Dick won't remind anyone of Brian Brohm, Petrino's last quarterback at Louisville.
On a positive note, Dick doesn't remind anyone of Michael Vick, who Petrino thought would be his quarterback when he signed on with the Falcons. When your quarterback is arrested for torturing dogs, a pedestrian passer doesn't seem so bad.
The defensive change, though not as striking to the layman, could be just as extreme for Petrino's first Arkansas season.
"Defensively, it's a pretty big adjustment," Petrino said. "They played a lot of man (coverage), not understanding a lot of the zone concepts or zone blitzes. There's a lot of newness to it all."
Petrino was an assistant coach at Auburn long enough to know how painful transitions can be in the SEC. This isn't Louisville, which Petrino converted into an offensive juggernaut in the space of one off-season. This is the SEC, where your schedule can unfold as Arkansas' does in the first half of the season: Texas, Alabama, Florida and Auburn in succession.
That's a tough stretch. But it's not having-your-ankles-broken-with-a-sledgehammer tough.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 55
Bigger_Al writes:
Tuscaloosa John fills up his shaving kit by stealing those little shampoo bottles off the maid's cart in the Super 8 motel.
Smallmike4pres writes:
"I feel like this needs to be my last job", Damn right it's your last job. I wouldn't hire this idiot to coach my fantasy football team. It amazes me that any father would allow their son to play for a man that has no morals or character. This guy & Adams should get along great.
aspenvol writes:
Adams, please quit, or move away from Knoxville. Far away.
imw8n4u writes:
Petrino is quickly going to learn that it's not easy to flip the script in the SEC. LSU, AU and AL are going to rule the West just like UF, TN and UGA rule the east. Ark and USC are pretty much in the same boat, they may rise up and knock off 1 of the big 3 every now and then, but to get past them all in the same year is highly unlikely. And to schedule Texas, Alabama, Florida and Auburn in succession, that's going to be UGLY.
Go Vols!
iowavol writes:
Didn't read this article, don't care. Adams is worthless.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Too bad that midget owns Foolmore.
utclassof1992 writes:
Adams is a great writer. Just not a cheerleader like some of the morons on here expect. He calls it like he sees it.
hogfan1 writes:
imw8n4u - Its still amazing the arrogant ignorance that is spreadout through SEC fan bases. First we are not in the same boat with S Car and won't be until they reach at least 3 SECCG's(only 3 to go lol). Actually, '02-07 the Hogs are closer to the same boat as the Vols. Both have 2 SECCG appearances. The Vols are 5-7 vs Fl and UGa with only one season where you beat both. The Hogs are 4-8 vs LSU and AU with one season where we beat both. Not seeing much difference.(Getting the picture you might want to be careful with your comparisons?) Last decade the Hogs have beaten Auburn and Bama as many times as they have beaten the Hogs - 5-5. Record vs LSU is 4-6. And we did that under the Nuttster and his one dimensional offense. Wow, that really suggests that we can't even hope to compete in the SECW.<sarcasm>
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
hogfan, when your "natural rivalry" is with South Carolina and your closest "rival" is 6+ hours away you are for all intents and purposes an after thought in the SEC. In fact, when FLorida plays Arkansas it shouldn't even be a conference game. Going .500 or close to it is about the best you'll ever get. Sorry, but the Hogs are not part of the club and never will be. I do enjoy Hog fans inferiority complex when it comes to the big boys of the SEC. It's quite entertaining.
mparker writes:
Are you guys kidding me?? Petrino knows what he is doing. Like him or not, he will have arky back in a couple of years.
IMHO, the SEC ramped up even more with his hiriing and Nutt moving to Ole Miss. HOuston is indeed a 'nut', but he is a dang good recruiter.
hogfan1 writes:
workin' - So these conference games shouldn't be conference games either because of the distance?
Penn St - Iowa
Texas - Nebraska
Arizona St - Washington
Miami - BC
Thank you for perpetuating the stupidity here.
VOLS85 writes:
I really get geared up for arizona st. and washington every year!!!! And oh my, Miami (that doormat program with even worse facilities) vs BC! Nebraska, now there's a solid program!
I could care less if these conference games ever happened, because they're all phooey...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
hogfan1, Big Fletch and I motored over to Little Rock several years ago. Enjoyed ourselves and fans were great. I envisioned one of those Hog Snout Head thingees painted orange.
Game I believe was in early 90s or so. Windy day, but Tenn completed a long pass to score right before halftime, We won by 7-10 points I believe. Stadium (War Memorial ?) was old and historical. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Maybe Petrino will surprise some folks. I bet the Ole Miss game will be rockin!
GreerVol22 writes:
does this blog make me look fat? I smell bacon!
gainesville_vol writes:
Even though I am a huge UT fan, I can't believe that anyone is seriously slamming Arkansas and Petrino, especially by comparing them to USC. Arkansas HS football has more prospects than South Carolina, there is no real competition in state to those recruits unlike SC and Clemson fighting over theirs with UT and UGA cherry picking, and Petrino has a proven record of winning at the college level.
Was he stupid for going to the NFL? Absolutely. Very few coaches ever jump from colleges to the pros. There are different games regardless of the sport. IMO, Donovan would have been a bust at Orlando, but will always be successful at Florida, the past year notwithstanding.
Personally, I think Petrino is going to end up having a very good record at Arkansas. Give him 3 or 4 years to recruit and he will be winning the west, if not the SECCG. At Louisville, he was beating better teams with his scheming. I can think of lots of coaches that I would have preferred Arkansas to hire (Terry Bowden, Lou Holtz, Cooper, Lloyd Carr, the latest OC guru, etc) over Petrino. I wish we played them this year and next rather than 4 and 5 years from now. He will simply make it tougher for UT to win an SEC or MNC.
That has always been one of my objections to UT, they rarely beat a team that, on paper, has better talent. Miami in the Sugar Bowl in the 80's was one of those games. Don't remember too many more.
gainesville_vol writes:
As a continuation to the previous post, look at the coaches in the SEC:
Fulmer - MNC
Meyer - MNC
Richt - BCS
Spurrier - MNC
Brooks
Johnson
Myles - MNC
Saban - MNC
Petrino - BCS Bowls
Crooms
Tuberville - Should have MNC, BSC
Nutt
Without doing any research, I can't think of another conference that has anywhere close to this kind of talent.
Each of these coaches has a great pedigree and, for the most part, has been extremely successful either at their current school or a previous school. Does Vandy suffer for talent? Absolutely. Would Johnson be a success at Auburn? Absolutely. The days of Gary Denardo in the SEC is past. Like it or not, there is not a single coach on that list that would not be successful at UT (as much as I don't like Saban!).
mparker writes:
gainesville_vol;
fully agree. seems dumb to slam arky. they will be pushing people around prett quickly. Lots of instate talent, access to Memphis, Tex, Miss, and Louisiana...Nutt always had great talent.
velovol writes:
I am not a big adams fan but love the line
When your quarterback is arrested for torturing dogs, a pedestrian passer doesn't seem so bad.
T0MMYJACK writes:
"... that midget coaching Alamullet ..."! Very nice, Ashley!
Maybe one of the usual suspects can post a funny YouTube URL now. They love to fritter away their time, always stayin' the course.
GerryOP writes:
gainesville_vol, good posts. Most folks on here mindlessly thrash and trash anything and everything that is not orange -- and even some things that are orange! Just the way they are!
I agree with you. It is easy to hate guys like Petrino and Saban, but they are pretty good coaches. I do give Petrino a bit of credit. He knew in less that a year that he did not belong in the NFL. It took Spurrier two years to figure it out!
BTW, what crime against nature were you convicted of that causes you to have to live in Gainesville!?!?! ;>}
Be well my friend.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
GerryOp, I don't know about "easy to hate Saban", but its sure as h##l easy to respect him when his LaMonroe losing bunch kicked our a##clean over the Smokies. And this was done from down in Bama.
As someone said earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if Arkie and Tenn's record is not very, very close come Dec. They will always trail in the fritter dept, however. Spurrier will be golfing full-time within three years.
I wonder if Arkie might have another McFlatuence on their roster.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
hogfan, thanks for ignoring the point about your closest rival being about 6+ hours away. Also, you may need a history and geography lesson. Something tells me that Iowa, Penn State, AZ, Washington, Nebraska, Texas all have rivals that are closer and teams they have been playing forever less than the following distance apart. From Fayetteville:
500 miles to Starkville
402 miles to Oxford (ONLY about 5 1/2 hours away)
547 miles to Baton ROuge
548 miles to Tuscaloosa
668 miles to Auburn
979 miles to Gainesville (have fun)
919 miles to USC - your "natural rival" (also see above)
698 miles to UK
709 miles to UT
530 miles to Vandy
780 miles to UGA
As for BC and Miami, they were brought into the ACC in spite of their distance to/from other schools. They have a huge market area or one that dwarfs Fayetteville or the state of Arkansas.
So again have fun spending on average about 681 miles per away game. I'll be laughing at Hog fans who actually attend road games while gas prices keep rising. The SEC appreciates your Olympic sport contributions though for balance. The SEC needed another team as USC was true natural fit. The joke is on you.
I also find it humorous that Arkansas views Tennessee as a "big" game even though we play each other every few years and our campuses are what 12-13 hours apart.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
gainesville_vol, you should have stopped yourself before this sentence:
"Arkansas HS football has more prospects than South Carolina"
Ummmmm....I really hope you don't believe this. The state of South Carolina has about twice as many D-1 prospects than does Arkansas.
volboy81#211803 writes:
someone besides John Adams must have written this. It was a good article!
(of COURSE Arkansas wont be good this year, we dont play them!!!)
rootin4volz writes:
Bobby Petrino and John Adams...A match made in heaven...Both of 'em as unloyal as they come.
TheVolMan writes:
Hmmm... unloyal. Try disloyal next time. JA bashing Weenies continue their boycott of his articles. LOL...
arkyvol writes:
i've lived in arkansas for thirty plus years and i'm tickled pink that the hogs are in the s.e.c. (i also happen to own two degrees from U.T.K.). i don't know what workinlikeheck has got against arkansas, but i think they've been a marvelous addition to the conference. i also seem to recall that since the hogs joined up, UT has enticed a fair number of good ballplayers from this supposed wasteland. get over it. the hogs are gonna be a major influence in the years to come.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Major influencea as in what? Cross Country? Again, they have a great non-revenue producing sports teams. Winning the West a few times is about the best they are going to get.
Also, all of the players we have gotten from Arkansas have done nothing or if they did they were all head cases:
Cedric Houston - 1 good year, "retired" from the NFL after 1 year, got into a fight on the strip last year
Bret Smith - didn't talk to the media ever, ineligible for bowl game his senior year, last news on him we left the scene of an accident on Middlebrook Pike
Roshaun Fellows - kicked off team
Ricardo Kemp - transferred to kicked off team
James Turner - transferred or kicked off team
Greg Jones - left school due to family tragedy (he shouldn't be included in the list with the others).
Wow...6 players from Arky most of whom have done nothing over a 7-8 years period.
hogfan1 writes:
pdhuff - You are probably talking about the 97 game. We only had 3 wins going into that one but actually took a 22-21 lead in the 4th qtr. Manning threw a TD pass to put the Vols back up and you won 30-22. It was one of the signs that Ford was about to turn the corner on his rebuilding project that had to be started because Hatfield had stopped recruiting his last 2 seasons. Then of course we fired Ford and let a moron benefit from Ford's work.
As far as WMS, that will be the last time the Vols play there. Its old, outdated and an embarrassment as far as an SEC stadium. It does have history and a rowdy atmosphere but just isn't up to standards any longer. We'll play Ms St, S Car and LSU(because its Thanksgiving and classes are out on campus) there until all games are in Fay in the next decade.
imw8n4u writes:
Arrogance and UT fan have no business in the same sentence. We (TN) are the same team that was recently referred to as "irrevelent" on a national level. My point in comparing USC and ARK is that, given the competition in the upper echelon of the conference, it's unlikely that either one will be able to overcome the leaders all in the same year. Granted, Ark has been to SECCG's and USC has not, but over the long run you both are the 4th best teams in your respective divisions. Can Petrino change that, I don't know. It's a lot to overcome when your competition is only getting better too. I will agree that having Petrino coaching in the conference makes the SEC an even deeper, stronger conference. A strong Ark is good for the SEC, not the one that got embarassed by the real USC or the one that no-showed their bowl game last year.
Go Vols!
gainesville_vol writes:
GerryOP:
It is called having a job. Been here for 15 years and, primarily due to the church family I have here, will probably never leave except to go to Knoxville on game day and to visit my family in Franklin (TN), Atlanta and Athens (AL).
The only really bad thing is that my daughter was corrupted by the local schools. She was 1 when we moved here and I never realized the influence of elementary school. She is required to keep her Gator stuff in her room, no visible signs outside the house.
Fortuneately, my two older sons are both UT orange, even the one that just graduated from UF. It was neat seeing all of his UT stuff in his dorm room!
gainesville_vol writes:
WorkinLikeHeck:
Well, we are both kinda right. According to Rivals.com on May 28, 2008, we get:
State Staying Leaving Total
South Carolina 18 30 48
Tennessee 17 30 47
Arkansas 20 8 28
While SC does have more Div 1 athletes, Arkansas actually keeps more to themselves. I threw TN in just for comparison. To see the entire list, go to:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/con...
GerryOP writes:
gainesville_vol,
I understand ... just pulling your leg a bit. Everyone has to do what they have to do.
Yes, it is fun to flash Tennessee Orange around FL! Lived down in Central Florida for a while and the reaction to the UT stickers on the Cherokee varied according to who won what recently! Stood tall, did not get shot, but fielded many one finger salutes. That was before Meyer and I usually could get out of any debates by reminding them that the only time they won anything in football was when they had a good ol' East Tennessee boy there by the name of Spurrier! Also, the incident with the Croc' on the cover of the media guide tended to quiet down the more knowledgeable folks!
Be well my friend!
TommyJack writes:
Arkiesaw was a true outsider in the old SWC...tho they had their moments. Now having trouble getting acceptance in SEC. Tuff love.
murrayvol writes:
gainesville: Good posts. It remains to be seen if Petrino's Arky tour will produce championships. I have no doubt his arrival makes the SEC an even tougher neighborhood.
Like him or not this guy can coach (college) football.
invisiblekid writes:
Agreed on the good post sentiment GainesvilleVol but I suggest you tread lightly when it comes to implying that there are any other coaches than Fulmer who could do the job at UT. Some of our fellow posters get a wee bit defensive when the subject of a coaching change comes up.
invisiblekid writes:
On the subject of Petrino, I don't condone what he did with the Falcons in leaving before the end of the season. However, it seems that Donovan at FL got off relatively light in the court of public opinion for a similar offense.
Colliervol writes:
If I have to listen to more discussions of mileage between schools, I may ask for that psychotic nurse to hit me in the head with that sledgehammer.
I don't have any problems recognizing Arkansas as a rival. We got more Hog fans down this way to argue with than we do just about any other SEC school other than Ole Miss and Miss State. (And probably AR and MS State are pretty close in numbers.) And as far as just contributing in "Olympic sports", I will remind you that they have as much or more tradition in basketball than just about any school in the SEC other than Kentucky. Nolan Richardson, the triplets, several final four appearances, etc.
Hawgfan100 writes:
Thanks, Colliervol (for the b-ball bits; stole my thunder there a little. ;^) and for appreciating good fans when you see them.
This is the first time I've been exposed to the 'milieage' issue. Who cares? The Hogs certainly don't: our bitterest rival back in the SWC days was Texas (still is for Old Time Hog Fans). I can't remember off-hand how far it was to Austin but it was 6 hours to Dallas from where I lived and the college was still a couple of hours north of me. Nowhere in Texas is 'close' if you don't live there. Don't get me started on what a trip to Lubbock would entail...!
Also, I'll note that over the course of our time in the SWC Arkansas had a losing record against only one of the other eight (Texas) schools in football in the conference: the aforementioned Teasips. This is what the SEC has to look forward to...we don't have an inferiority complex where the rest of the SEC is concerned. Quite the contrary. What you're seeing is justified impatience for the football universe to be the way it rightfully should.
TommyJack writes:
hawgfan: Now's there's a good fan. They never should've busted up the SWC, IMO. Blame SMU
budrhon writes:
Petrino will regret the day he bail ship on the Falcons. With their pickup of the BC QB the Falcons will be impoving over the next few seasons. No thanks to Bobby. Razorback fans will be ready to run him out of the Ozarks if he doesn't have them competing on and SEC level in 3 yrs. That's right Bobby 3 years, which is better than what you gave the Falcons.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
workin' 9:51 could you break that distance down into Bud Lites rather than miles? I think many of us could grasp that.
Hawgfan100 writes:
Heh, Tommyjack blame SMU and a host of others. Hogbashers (especially from the SWC) like to hammer the UA for leaving in '92. "Running out" as it were. Not too many of them like to talk about the culture of arrogance and corruption that pervaded the conference before the breakup. Say what you will about Broyles (and many have...) but he saw the handwriting on the wall and moved quickly and decisively to put us in a much better situation.
There are times I miss the old SWC. After all, that was our conference and the transition to the SEC has been rough. But give credit where credit is due: how would you Vols feel about uprooting yourselves, ending all that tradition and history, and moving to a much different situation? (I almost said moving to a tougher neigborhood but they don't come any tougher than the SEC, baby! ;^) I think the Hogs have done well considering and I believe we'll continue to do well under Petrino & Co.
Hawgfan100 writes:
"That makes me an old fart."
I'll say, TouchdownTennessee! That game was a little before my time but it nicely points up a sorry continuing trend: Arkansas absolutely blows at bowl games. I'm so ready for a playoff I can't stand it. And don't anyone go on about the 'tradition of the bowls'. After what happened to the old Cotton Bowl there's no such thing. Besides, in a playoff system, Arkansas might actually do good in the post-season for a change. ;^)
TommyJack writes:
Hawgfan: I agree it would be tough. Have never had a problem with the Hawgs except when they play TN...which brings me to...
TDTN: I remember that game...I think we got away with one there at the end of that game. But, I'll take it...I think it was when Joe Ferguson was QB at AR...long time ago
murrayvol writes:
I remember the game and the dustup but can't remember what precipitated all the Hog squealin'.
TommyJack writes:
Murray: I think it was a fumble that wasn't or some such that gave us the ball near the end....Some old geezer hawg will remember...they were mighty peeved for years...
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
SWC was so great that nearly half of the schools went to the like of CUSA, WAC, Mountain West, etc.
Also, of course you don't mind Arky being in the SEC, they are so far away, we hardly ever play them and they have beaten us what 3-4 times in 15 games?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ, who was our tailback in the Cotton Bowl I believe who rushed for over 200yds vs Arkie.
Was that Jamal or earlier period?
I still have that old newspaper, but just the the RB,s name I don't know where it is.
I can't even remember our DT's name.
TommyJack writes:
PD: Chuck Webb. Best RB we ever had, IMO
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