CHATTANOOGA - A friend posed an interesting question to me at the grocery Sunday evening.
"So who's going to hire Bobby Petrino first -- Auburn or Tennessee?" he asked.
My answer was that hopefully neither school will hire him. Hopefully no one anywhere will hire the former Arkansas football coach who somehow forgot he was a married father long enough to have an affair with an athletic department employee, promoted her to a job she may or may not have been qualified to have, then lied about all of it to his athletic director.
Any university that would hire Petrino should disallow any pretense that ethics, character and decency are a part of its mission statement.






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Comments » 198
troubleinc writes:
... as sad as this is to say, at this point in time I'd welcome Petrino.
leprechaun writes:
Petrino is probably the most underhanded, deceptive, manipulative, dishonest, and unethical persons to have coached major college sports in recent years.
Just study his behavior/antics at Louisville, his attempt to overthrow Tuberville at Auburn, his cowardly departure from the Falcons, to his recent episode at Arkansas.
The guy is a walking liability/lawsuit waiting to happen, and any university that hires him is completely off their rocker!
Displaced_Vol_Fan writes:
Then you're a fool! Winning can't be more important than being a decent human being and Petrino's track record shows that he is anything but! I'd rather lose and stop watching football than have my school represented by that.
GoVols_16 writes:
I lived in Louisville during Petrino's reign. That being said, I am a Vols fan of 40+ years, and I would ACTIVELY PULL FOR ANY TEAM THAT PLAYED THE VOLS if Petrino were the head coach. Tennessee DOES NOT need a man of his caliber at the helm. I would wear Gator blue before I would wish Petrino success in Knoxville.
VOLinATL writes:
If UT hires him, I will immediately buy Georgia Tech tickets and stay here in Atlanta on Saturdays. Kiffin takes lessons from Petrino in being a weasel!
TheAnswer39 writes:
Someone will give Bruce Pearl a 3rd chance soon, just as TN gave him a 2nd chance. If major colleges and their fans have proven anything over the years, it is WIN 1st! And in this win 1st,all other things 2nd world....all things go! Just as athletes are forgiven for their missteps when leading their team to the promised land, so are coaches.
orangeinbama writes:
AMEN X 2
Pompey writes:
...as everyone who has posted here knows winning in major college and professional sports is the only thing...Petrino will be hired as a head coach, the only question is who will do it...!
jcp201 writes:
No, I love UT, and generations have been fans, but that would probably be it, for me. There's more things that should be considered than winning.
angusparvo#215458 writes:
The comments are indicating that Vol Nation would prefer to keep on losing than pick up Petrino. Good thing we're getting used to losing.
Alphafemale writes:
I want to win, but I hope we are not willing to sell our soul to do it.
volfaninbuckeyeland writes:
Agree with you, Displaced. Granted, it's a tough job for an AD to balance institutional integrity with the demands of a passionate fanbase for a successful athletic program especially in such a high profile conference as the SEC, but at the end of the day, I believe that integrity must be preserved if the institution is to maintain its very purpose for existing. If higher education does not result in helping us to become better people instead of smarter scoundrels, then we would be better off remaining ignorant and supporting only professional sports. While I understand the desperation that UT fans are experiencing, it would be nothing compared to the misery that would result from "selling one's soul" in the hope of winning a few football games.
dvols writes:
petrino has never won anything.....
so .....no!
Oldhickory writes:
And Tennessee will give Pearl a 3rd chance just as soon as he gets off probation. Bring Burce Back! Bring Bruce Back! Bring Bruce Back!
asmith writes:
ut won't do it. auburn might. i would love to have him. give him 2 years and ut is again a top 15 program.
Oldhickory writes:
Forget Petrino. Let's hire Petyon! When Payton comes macrhing home again... hoorah... hoorah...
crappieking writes:
Anybody but Doofus Dooley.
arkyvol writes:
from seeing petrino close hand here in arkansas, i can tell you that if it were put to a vote here, he'd be back on the hogs sideline in a new york minute. if you want a chairman of the board of deacons, hire dooley; if you want somebody who can flat coach...
RockyTop1 writes:
You are a loser, character over everything! Wins can come if patient but, we are a instant society (instant oatmeal, instant grits...)
Go4Two writes:
Hire Fulmer back hire Chavis as head coach in waiting. This might reverse the curse.
TooDlems writes:
The Barn needs another rat, and if they want him that's where he will go. But with the race problems they have I bet they hire Joker Phillips.
RockyTop1 writes:
Fulmer is probably talking to himself and saying "MISS ME YET!!
RockyTop1 writes:
I sure miss 9-10 wins a season....VFL!!
min32926#266113 writes:
I want to see our team win, but I think morale values and character trump winning. People who want to win at any cost are scary. We need to stick with Dooley. Changing coaches at this point brings us back to square one. Put pressure on Tyler Bray to step up and be a leader. If Bray won't lead this team, maybe someone else should. These players need to take responsibility too!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Chiz. Boy keeps his job, mostly because of the very good recruiting class coming in
volinky writes:
We need to work like heck...
6972 writes:
Love winning as much as anybody, but not at the expense of hiring Petrino. Dignity and integrity matter. If not let's recruit a bug of thugs to play. We fuss when a player acts like a thug or uses drugs (D.Rogers) and is dismissed. With that in view, we are willing to hire Petrino? I don't think so.
Orangepuddinskin writes:
" an athletic department employee, promoted her to a job she may or may not have been qualified to have, then lied about all of it to his athletic director."
Heck, have you looked at the coaching staff that Dooley has assembled? We have an entire defense being coordinated by a linebackers coach. We promote unqualified people on a daily basis with Dooley at the healm.
Orangepuddinskin writes:
I sure do. We couldnt be any worse off. At least we would have memories of when Fulmer used to win. Can anyone on the board say that about Dooley?
asleep#212036 writes:
That's the sad part brentrod - he is a great coach who has won at every college program he has led and therefore, whomever puts their character and ethics in a closet will win within two years. One commentator said (a few weeks ago) that if he were at UT, we would be in the SECCG in two years and have a shot at the crystal trophy within 5. Do I believe that? No, Dooley isn't that incompetent and we don't yet have that level of raw talent. But he will get his chance at a program somewhere, and soon. It will be one that is loaded with talent and tradition but whose coach is a decided underachiever and whose AD and fans are desperate to win now and who have all the ethics of an alley cat. I live in Alabama and I guarantee Auburn would hire him without hesitation. Chizik is a joke who was the beneficiary of a historical scam by the Auburn alumni who paid Cam's father and in return got a NC. Alabama gets stronger and stronger while Auburn is headed south faster than even I predicted. They will do anything to win now (to wit: the first Petrino occurrence when Tubby was coach) and they have 3 consecutive Top Ten recruiting classes on which to build an instant winner (by contrast we have zero). Further, we got burned with Kiffin and even the slow learners on the Hill haven't forgotten that at this point. I'm not saying Auburn will fire Chizik two years removed from the NC but if they do, I assure you that they will concoct some rationale for hiring Petrino. And when they do, look out.
secondcreek writes:
I'd rather lose under a class act like Dooley than win with a scumbag like Petrino. I'd like to see Dooley have one more year (through 2013) since it will be all of his recruits at that time and a revolving door of head coaches will simply set the program back again.
brokendownoldvol writes:
My wife cheated on me and the state could have cared less. She still got our 6 yr. old and everything else I worked for while she was supposed to be home taking care of the kid. If the state don't care if women cheat why the double standard?
smokysbark writes:
Good Lord ... Petrino? Just stop! Please! I am just as frustrated as the next Vol fan but Petrino? To even mention that name is asinine! Move along ... nothing to see here.
underthehill writes:
I too think Pearl will get another chance and do think the NCAA was out to get him and they did..the punishment did not fit the wrong in my opinion..I also think Petrino will be coach again soon but not at UT..sign of the times..I think I read where a House of Rep guy from TN got a young lady pregnant and told her to get an abortion..and he not only got elected but it looks like he will be re-elected..is what Petrino done as bad as this..don't think so..just a sign of the times...and wasn't there a problem with the Louisville basketball coach that seems to have gone away..that too seems worse to me than what Petrino done..just a sign of the times...
murrayvol writes:
Well, that is sad to say.
VolinCalif writes:
Yes you are right. However Ky will hire him this coming year. He will be priced right, he will sign any clause they want on behavior, and they know he will be able to start them on the right track of having a football team within a couple of years. Ky is tired of being the doormat.They will hire Petrino.
murrayvol writes:
He'll be back in the SEC next year but it won't be in Knoxville.
pogiegovols writes:
Heck no on Petrino, Im an Atlanta Falcons NFL fan and I remember all 2 well him jumping ship on the team. That is what he does he never stays anywhere long. I have only 2 people that I think would seriously consider this job. Charlie Strong although he will probably Arkansas next coach, and David Cutcliffe. I believed in Dooley because he was all we had, and until we have someone else I will continue to support him. Now I am gonna throw a real wild card name out there, not just for UT, but for any team who needs a HC, Herman Edwards. You cannot tell me this guy could not recruit and motivate and get the most out of 18 to 20 year old kids. I think he would be an outstanding college football coach
volnbig11land writes:
Agree Volbuck 100%
BTW, I tried to reply to your private message but it wouldn't display a reply option. I've been watching the posts to see one of yours.
Please send me another message and I'll try again.
p.s. we are almost neighbors!
Oyeeeblood writes:
I would buy Petrino a New Harley to come to UT!
mountainbrook writes:
Kentucky would hire him just like the hired Calipari.
VolinCalif writes:
Yep! The word is WILL not Would.
underthehill writes:
Good point..
oldbasshead writes:
I would take Dooley any day, anytime over Petrino. Let Auburn or Ky or anybody but UT have him.
oldbasshead writes:
I'm not familiar with Herman Edwards. Do you have more info? I agree with you about Dooley. He is our coach until Hart replaces him. I would take Dooley over Petrino any day.
underthehill writes:
All things considered..Dooley more than likely will be the coach next year and maybe one after that..it could change quickly if Vandy beats UT...
Henley-Street-Bridge writes:
Fire Hart, "promote" Dooley to UTAD and pay him $1.2 million less a year, Bring back Fulmer for a few more years, along with Coach "Chief" Chavis, bring in some old names as position coaches; Bill Bates as Secondary coach and special teams, etc etc.
oldbasshead writes:
If Dooley goes 7-5 I think he will be back. He is a good man, but there is something holding him back. Not sure what it is.
TheCopper writes:
Dooley will probably get one more year and the losing will continue, mostly because he can't coach his way out of a paper bag. Do you really think next year will be better because it will be all of Dooley's recruits? That's another reason UT is in the mess it is in is because Dooley isn't bringing in any good players except for Patterson and Hunter. You can't bring in a bunch of 3 star players and expect them to play on an SEC level when they are getting coached by a bunch of clowns. Get used to it, people. The losing will continue until UT decides to pony up some real money for a real coach.
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
We fired Bruce Pearl for lying about having a some recruits at at his house for a BBQ. If we hire this guy, what does that say?
Do. Not. Even. Think. About. It.
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