Since the middle of the season, when it first looked like Chizik wouldn’t make it to next season, the Petrino bandwagon began to grow and grow each week. I tried to ignore it because I wasn’t going to talk about coaches unless Chizik was gone.
Now that he is, I’ve thrown my two cents out on Twitter about my dislike for the idea of hiring Petrino. With the growing minority becoming louder and louder, I’ve had multiple conversations with “Petrino-lovers”, or PLs for short. They have all gone almost the exact same way. I’m beginning to think PLs all have some sort of checklist of points because they all use the exact same ones, almost in the same order, and exact same verbiage.
Many of these conversations have happened between friends and me, and to those guys, I respectfully disagree (except Blake Ells, I really hate that guy). To the ones I don’t know that think I should quit the site or die in a fire because I don’t want your guy as my school’s coach, have a nice day.
So because I’m tired of typing my same points to their same points over and over, I’m just going to put it all here so that we don’t continue to waste our time.
Them: “Petrino is the obvious choice. It’s not even close.”
Me: “He is a bad choice. We can do better.”
Them: “Oh get off your high horse. Quit being holier than thou. You got the Auburn Creed tattooed on your chest? Everybody makes mistakes.”
Me: “First off, this has nothing to do with the Creed. I am not saying anything about ‘Auburn man’ or that whole spiel. And yes, everybody does make mistakes, but most learn from their mistakes after the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd time. He has too much of a history. Too much baggage.”
Them: “You know that guy who’s name is on the field? Pat Dye? Yeah he wasn’t a saint.”
Me: “No he wasn’t, but two wrongs don’t make a right, and that is no reason to hire a football coach. I understand you are only mentioning Coach Dye to prove that a man most of us loved as a football coach also made mistakes, but that does make the decision to hire or not hire Petrino any different. How about we get a guy who will win that doesn’t have a history?”
Them: “What about forgiveness? Jesus says we should forgive.” (Yes, I’ve actually had people bring up Jesus in this.)
Me: “First off, he didn’t do anything to me, so I don’t have to forgive him for anything. Second, I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t say anything about forgiving someone by handing over the keys to your football program. Auburn is worried about getting a man that will successfully run their program, not go out of their way to give a guy a third, fourth, or fifth chance because it’s the nice thing to do. That is not their job or their duty.”
Them: “So you’re going to overlook the best and obvious choice because the guy had a girlfriend?”
Me: “Not specifically. That was just the icing on the cake. He’s left every job in a shady or negative way. He undermined Tommy Tuberville with Jetgate. He toyed with Louisville for years, claiming to be committed, but interviewing for multiple jobs every year. After claiming to be committed to the Louisville fans and AD his last year there, he left for the Falcons. With three games left in the NFL season, he left the team high and dry. Did he tell the players? No. He simply left them a paragraph on a piece of paper. Then at Arkansas, he had an affair, where he allocated school funds to pay his mistress. When that affair was exposed with the motorcycle wreck, he tried to cover it up and lied to his AD. That is a career of lying and negativity. Study history or you will relive it. ”
Them: “Yeah, but I think he’s probably changed. He’s probably pretty desperate.”
Me: “Auburn should hire someone because you hope he all of a sudden has changed the way he’s been for a decade?”
Them: “Oh whatever, I just want a winner. Petrino is a winner and he will win immediately.”
Me: “Really? Petrino’s SEC record is 17-15 and he is 0-4 against Alabama. He’s never won a division title. Never even played for the SEC Championship. He did win the Big East and C-USA at Louisville. Is that what you want?”
Them: “Yeah, but he was at Arkansas with 3-star recruits. Think about what he’ll do with our talent pool.”
Me: “Well, the 3-star recruits are his problem. He has never been a strong recruiter. He usually gets a good quarterback, a halfway decent running back, and a few good receivers. He doesn’t care about or recruit a strong defense. Second, Arkansas is not Vanderbilt. Houston Nutt took Arkansas to the SEC Championship Game. Houston Nutt won ten games once and nine games three times. They have been in the top half of the SEC for over a decade. By the way, he’s the only SEC coach to lose to Ohio State in a BCS game.”
Me: “Oh, and he’s also an a-hole, and even though I hate this word, a jerk.”
Them: “We need an a-hole. We need somebody tough. Saban is an a-hole and look at what he’s done.”
Me: “Saban is a different type of a-hole. Saban is a coaching a-hole. Petrino is a belittling a-hole. He’s just not the guy we need.”
Them: “Oh so you just want a ‘good, nice guy’ don’t you? Did you see what us having a ‘good guy’ got us?”
Me: “Well, yeah, that ‘good guy’ got us a National Championship, but if you mean the last two years, I don’t think being a good or Godly man is what brought that on. Being softer and less of a disciplinarian brought that on. But that doesn’t mean any other nice or good guy would be that way as well. There is no connection. You can have a tough coach who’s also a good guy. You don’t have to have a belittling, lying a-hole to win football games.”
Them: “Whatever. Winning solves everything. Once he wins us ten games next year, you’ll shutup.”
Me: “Again, winning is not a guarantee in any way, but did winning solve and hide and dumb down everything he was exposed to be doing behind the scenes at Arkansas? No. That’s why was he fired. His record was not enough to save what he had done because *gasp* it’s really not all about winning.”
Them: “Oh, who do you want then?”
Me: “I’d take any number of guys.” (I then name a few guys that would be perfectly fine choices.)
Them: “Well I hope you’re ready for another decade of losing.”
Me: “Right, because no other coach besides Petrino will win a football game. And tell me the last coach that did not win at Auburn. Hint: you’ll have to go back a few decades.”
Them: <silence>
Me: “Auburn will be better off without Petrino. He brings too much negativity. The media/nation will just have one more reason to poke fun at and bash Auburn for being the first school to hire back the chronic liar. Haven’t we had enough of that?”
Them: “I don’t care what anybody thinks. We’ve been through it before and we can do it again.”
Me: “Or we could just hire a good coach without a decade’s worth of baggage and win with him.”
Them: “Petrino is the only option if we want to win, and I JUST WANNA WIN!!!!! You just gonna stop going to games if he’s hired?”
Me: “Alright, we’re done.”
And that’s how they’ve all gone. Maybe not in that order, but those are the talking points. Bottom line, PLs “just wanna win” at all costs. They are ignoring a decade’s worth of history, lying, and scandal because they hope a guy has changed his ways. They are jaded because of the number of losses from last season. Auburn is constantly in the negative spotlight to the nation, and the last thing we need to do is to bring in a guy who has nothing but negativity attached to his name.
I want to win just as much as anybody. Probably more than anybody. But I don’t want to do it with that man. Winning is not enough. Winning with a guy we can all be proud of is the Auburn I know and want. And you can call that high and mighty all you want, but it’s just stupid to ignore history. I don’t care what he did in his personal life. I care that he’s lied everywhere. Nobody can trust him because of that.
Again, and listen this time, I’m not saying that the Auburn coaching job is not about winning. I’m saying that just winning is not enough. Auburn can do better. Auburn does not need Bobby Petrino.
Leave your hate-filled comments based off my thoughts on a coaching candidate in the comments section below.
68 comments
Bingo. I could care less about who he was diddling, I care about who he screwed over.
I believe petrino is the best football coach available and that’s what Auburn deserves. Your points are valid. But any coach wud leave Louisville for Auburn. The Atlanta that’s a tough one. The firing at Arkansas well that’s between him and his wife. But neway I believe malzhan isn’t proven enough as a head man. Patterson has never been in the sec. And smart has never been a head man. Petrino took Louisville and Arkansas to bcs bowls. What cud he do at Auburn with a dc? WIN BIG. My opinion WDE
It is not just between him and his wife, dude. It is between him and his wife, that chicks fiance (ruined future marriage), the state trooper who lost his job because bobby asked him to lie for him, the AD who he lied to when given the chance to come clean and be forgiven before it all was revealed as a lie, and the university that he put in a potential position to be sued because he hired his unqualified mistress over other qualified candidates for a position under him. (pun intended)
Stew, here is a suggestion, simply wait until someone hires Petrino and then begin to pull for them. With you statement here, it is obvious that you are not an Auburn fan but a Petrino fan. So, just wait, some other university will take your advise and hire him, and then you can root for your man.
P.S.-Terry Bowden, took players from Pat Dye’s 5-6 team and went 20-1-1 in two years, in the SEC, and he came from little ole Division II Samford.
Excellent post, and your reasoning is spot on Blogle! We should NOT be the “win at all cost”
types. We should be the “win with class” type, IMHO. So, totally agree that we can do better
than this guy. In addition to your reply to “Yeah, but I think he’s probably changed. He’s probably pretty desperate.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? We want Auburn to hire a “desperate” man? Are you stupid or something?
If we stoop to the Saban level on this coaching hire and he doesn’t win more games than Saban, it’s not just a fail but a depraved fail.
This is perfect. Very well said. I don’t know how so many Auburn people can just forget everything Auburn is about and want to sell out to the dark side and petrino.
The firing of Gene Chizik sent a clear message: the Auburn Family doesn’t care about a coach’s character if the team isn’t playing well. An unquestionably good man just got fired because he didn’t win enough games to keep us happy.
Because the quality of the product on the field is so much more important than anything else, I believe Auburn should drop all pretense about being different and just hire whoever it believes will win the most games among the candidates who will take the job. If you believe that to be somebody other than Bobby Petrino, you’re entitled to that perfectly legitimate opinion. I strongly disagree (that said, I’d be OK with Malzahn).
Love the site, keep up the great work.
Wrong. Auburn does and should care greatly about a coaches character. He represents Auburn to the rest of the world (largely). Just as Blogle said, we can and should have a great coach who also has great character. There are more than one of those out there.
Sorry to reply again but there is just so much wrong with your first two sentences. A coach’s character should be a given at Auburn. The only message sent was that Auburn does not accept loosing of that proportion and a loss of team discipline and effort. That is how it has always been at Auburn and I really hope it always will be.
I agree with this post 100%. With his character, I would be concerned about future potential NCAA investigations also. I just can’t trust Petrino.
Petrino has never had run ins with the NCAA. In that regard, he’s cleaner that Gene Chizik.
Are you kidding me? Gene is the only coach in history to ever have the NCAA give a press conference and basically say he runs the cleanest program in the nation.
I agree with you Blogle. Leave the baggage at the airport. We don’t want to have to lock the cheerleaders up to keep our HC from hitting on them. I’ll say it. Malzahn can win with our current roster not to mention the recruiting class.
Well said. Your points are spot on. We all want to win, but winning on the field isn’t the only win that Auburn has been concerned with. Having a “win” in terms of developing quality young men and rebuilding Auburn as the class of the SEC is of utmost importance. Hiring Petrino MAY bring wins on the field, but the lack of integrity and character would probably trickle down to the players and also would run the chance of tarnishing the Auburn Creed.
Personally, I’d love to see Charlie Strong come in and give it a shot. A man that rebuilt Louisville from Petrino’s debacle and is man of strong character. And he understands that defense wins football games.
Good points. While I hope Auburn doesn’t hire Petrino, I think I’m at the point that I could accept it. I think it would be a HUGE mistake but I could accept it. What I couldn’t accept is hiring someone who only has a losing record as a head coach to show for himself. Then again, maybe the two are more equal than I first thought.
I totally agree with you here blogle. Petrino is not an Auburn man. Yes previous OC during the Campbell, Tuberville era, but notbworth bringing back all the baggage. Let’s bring in the exciting coach who will return the Auburn team we know and love. I say we go with either Malzahn, Patterson, hell, let’s begin talks in Lubbock and bring back Tuberville. Patterson isn’t proven as an SEC coach yet, but he is solely respobsible for putting TCU on the map and in the national spotlight. Those are the guys Auburn needs and I hope one of them signs the contract and coaches us back to the championship.
We can do better & deserve better than Petrino! It is possible to have a good man/coach who can win. Just because Gene was fired doesn’t send a message of win at all cost, character doesn’t matter, but yes winning is important. 0-8 SEC record is unacceptable, even for a good guy.
I’ve seen a lot of talk saying that Auburn should not hire Petrino because that’s not what Auburn is about. I’m a die hard Auburn fan, and I’ll be a student there next fall, but I’m sorry. Hiring someone like Petrino is EXACTLY what the Auburn Football program is about. Not the University, the Football program. Visiting Petrino in the middle of a season where Tuberville was the coach: that’s shady and unethical. Trooper Taylor’s recruiting methods: a lot of unknowns regarding how he gets some of those recruits. The whole situation with Cam Newton: Let’s be honest, why on earth would he not go to the school that offered him the $180,000, the school where his former offensive coordinator coached, and go to school where there was allegedly no money and no coaching connections to his past? I’ll forever say he wasn’t paid, but something else happened there besides the average recruiting methods. Also, Auburn has a history of recruiting players with a questionable character: Dyer, Newton, Fairley, the four who did that whole robbery thing. This is a program that has almost received the death penalty. This is a program that was caught giving players money. This is a program that has a VERY shady past. Furthermore, who else could Auburn hire? Malzahn is waiting on that job at Arkansas. Big name coaches are going to be scared away from the job because their are a lot of hands in the cookie jar at Auburn. The head football coach at Auburn does not control nearly as much as the coaches at Florida, Alabama, and UGA do. Think about it: what coach will not have a say in anything, no matter where he goes, due to his past? Petrino. What coach will only have control of what goes on on the field no matter where he goes? Petrino. It just makes sense, in my opinion. I love Auburn to death. I always will. I truly hope Petrino is not hired, because he leaves programs in shambles. I live in Atlanta and I’m a huge Falcons fan. He really killed us. I will be furious if we hire Petrino. But I think if we’re all being honest with ourselves, Petrino will be the next coach. I want Malzahn. I would be happy with Patterson or Petersen. But it just really seems like it’s gonna be Petrino. If you find something wrong with what I said, please let me know. I want to be wrong.
Used the wrong “their.” Sorry. That’s embarrassing.
Your main point is that Auburn may have done wrong in the past, so they should continue to do it with Petrino?
My main point is that Auburn has done wrong in the past. They’ve shown that ethics isn’t their number one priority. By all means I am not saying that Auburn should hire Petrino. I am saying I really think they will.
No SEC team has had a cleaner run in terms of NCAA major sanctions and violations in the last 17 years than Auburn. I am not talking about supposition and rumor, I am talking about findings of fact. We have become so used to the verbal beatings from other teams’ fans we are beginning to believe them.
Current SEC Football teams on probation: Tennessee and South Carolina.
Number of Times SEC Schools have been Given Major NCAA Penalties Since 1995:
Alabama – 3 (2009, 2002, 1995)
Mississippi State – 2 (2004, 1996)
South Carolina – 2 (2012, 2005)
Tennessee – 1 (2012)
LSU – 1 (2011)
Arkansas -1 (2003)
Kentucky – 1 (2002)
Georgia – 1 (1997)
Auburn – ZERO
Number of Years on NCAA Probation Since 1995 (includes future years for penalties ongoing)
Alabama – 7 years
South Carolina – 6 years
Mississippi State – 5 years
Kentucky – 3 years
Arkansas – 3 years
Tennessee – 2 years
Georgia – 2 years
LSU – 1 year
Auburn – ZERO
source – the War Eagle Reader citing NCAA database
Bill, please hold off your enrollment at Auburn. Wait for a team to hire Petrino and then go there. Because if what you blogged above is how you truly feel, then you do not “love Auburn to death.”
– the people involved in “Jetgate” all paid dearly for their shenanigans
– NCAA said Auburn was not involved in trying to pay Cam
– We have never “almost received the death penalty.”
– and you have used this form to attack the character of men that you do not even know. You have made assumptions based on your flawed ideology about Auburn, that as an Alumnus, offends me. Because, if I use your logic, you are a man of questionable character–why else would you make these accusations if this was not so?
So wait on your man to be hired at another school and go there. Thanks.
Tell me where I said Cam was paid. The FBI couldn’t find any money, so I definitely don’t think he was paid. Reuben Foster’s mom got a job in Auburn when he committed, so maybe something similar to that happened. We have almost received the death penalty for recruiting violations. That was a long time ago, but it did happen. Oh really? They all paid? Then why wasn’t Bobby Lowder cut out of everything at Auburn until like 2010? Why is his name still on the building by Jordan-Hare? Listen, all I’m saying is the truth. There are some shady events that point to Auburn possibly hiring Petrino. Again, the main reason he would get hired here is because not many other candidates could deal with such small amounts control. Don’t question my love for Auburn. This doesn’t suggest that I don’t love Auburn in any way. It suggests that if we’re all being honest, there’s a high likelihood that Petrino will be hired, due to shady developments in the past of Auburn football. I’m just being honest!!! I’ve been going to the football games since I was 2. I went to every game but two this year, both away. I believe in Auburn, and love it. I can’t stand Petrino. I hope he never sets foot on Auburn’s campus again unless it’s as the coach of an opposing team. You’re questioning my love for Auburn? You’re an alumnus, where’s the “Auburn Family” love? You don’t know me, so making assumptions about my love for the school that I’ve been planning to go to since I was two, in fact, make you a man of questionable character. War Eagle.
Bill, wanting something since you were 2 is different than understanding something. You talk in the affirmative about BP as if it is a done deal. You make references that the university you love is cheating somehow, even though you love the university. You reference the character of individuals who control Auburn, as if you have a seat at the table. And above all else, I walked into the stadium for my first Auburn game in 1972, please make sure you understand that I have been practicing the “Auburn Creed” for many years. Attacking me and my character does not enhance your credibility.
I did not attack your character. You attacked mine by saying that I am a fan of a man with very questionable character. Yes, I speak in the affirmative about Petrino, because I believe that he will be hired. That is my opinion. If you would like to debate that with me, please do so. I said the football program has made mistakes in the past. I am saying that I think they will make another one, and hire Petrino. I reference the FACTS, not character, of certain individuals at Auburn, namely Bobby Lowder, who have made huge mistakes and greatly cost the university. I did not reference him as if I had a seat at the table. I referenced him in the intelligence that everyone else has. I’m not sure I understand what you mean by your first sentence… Please explain that. Yes, I make references to times that the university I love has made mistakes. I’m not going to turn a blind eye to it. I’m merely speaking the truth. “I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.” One more time, where did I attack your character? I said you weren’t showing the Auburn family love, which you were not by telling me to go to another school. You told me to go to another school because you made an assumption about me. You told me to go to a different school because of a football coach. Is that all that Auburn is to you? A football program? Is the football program such a priority to you, that you would tell a third generation student to go somewhere else because of comments he made about a coach?
Very well said. If he is hired, don’t get me wrong I’ll support him. I just hope it doesn’t come to that point. Malzahn, Fisher, Patterson, Petersen, Strong, James Franklin, or Kirby Smart would all be good picks in my book. WDE
Agree with you 100%.
I am i the only one who just doesnt care about louisville or atalanta? could he have handeld both situations better? absolutely. does the fact that he flirted with other opportunities while at Louisville and left Atlanta without notice make him an asshole? maybe, probably. Does it make him a big fat lier that can never be trusted? not in my opinion. lying to the administration at arkansas while diverting funds to his mistress is a bigger issue. I may be in the minority here (especially on this site it appears) but im just not going to sit here and say, based on the evidence presented, that this guy has some kind of incurable character flaw, and because of that hes not worthy to be auburn’s coach. to me the proper way to frame the issue is whether you think hes likely lie to our administration…. leave us abruptly without notice. reasonable minds can differ on that question, but personally i think the chances are pretty low after the shit storm hes been through. Oh, and he also gives us the best chance to win, so thats a factor.
not quite sure were “atalanta” is….
double fail. Where*. took bill off the hook.
If AU makes a run at the TCU coach, I think they will land him. Just a matter of how high he truly is on the list. I can’t imagine them stealing Peterson from Boise but I would certainly support that hire. I’m really impressed with what Strong has done with the Cardinals considering what’s he’s inherited. Some people may disagree with me but I am not sold on Gus as the guy yet. Arky state was headed in a very good direction when he took over, and the sunbelt is so uneven. Hiring Petrino would certainly earn Auburn some more bad press but I do believe he would be very successful. My top three are Strong, Peterson and Fisher.
Patrino isn’t the man for Auburn. I don’t care what anyone says, he isn’t right for the job. As we all endured, Auburn’s program is in shambles after this season. Why would we want Patrino? He’s left every team that he’s coached in shambles. Malzahn is the man we need (though wont get). I could see Patterson coming to Auburn, but he’ll be at Tennessee I believe. All I can hope is that the man Auburn University chooses is the right man for the job.
Trust is a big part of recruiting. How may recruits and their parents would decline AU b/c they do not, cannot trust Petrino?
See Mark Richt, Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer, Mack Brown, Chris Petersen, etc. for examples of coaches who are great, likable guys who can also discipline a football team and win big games. Even Les Miles is kind of likable when we’re not playing him.
I can’t agree with you more. As a matter of fact my husband and I had this same conversation the other day, and you said some things almost verbatim as what I said. Auburn is already the red headed step child of the state and now we are the laughing stalk of the SEC, not to mention the media LOVES to pick on us. We need some positivity, bot in our coach and on the field…PERIOD!
Are you kidding me? Stoops and Meyer are anything but likeable. Peterson has never coached in a real conference. Richt and Brown are inconsistent as all “get out”.
Petrino is the best coach available…and the best play caller…period. All reports from those close to him are that he is a changed man. He loves Auburn. We’re broken…with all kinds of potential to do great things…so is he.
I am utterly amazed at the moral quandary here…but I am utterly disappointed by the hypocrisy herein. Lots of folks seem more than ready to “cast the first stone”. This is sad.
The guy is squeaky clean as far as the NCAA is concerned…but I guess that’s irrelevant…
Cast the first stone? Are you kidding me? There is a LONG line of people waiting to throw stones at Petrino and the Auburn family is way back in the line.
And you NCAA argument is moot, Petrino has not stayed at a university long enough to get in trouble.
Petrino is not the best coach available! It is possible to be a man of character and still be a good coach. I will be very disappointed if he is the coach at Aburn. I would think we would want someone that is not a proven liar for years. Hopefully, the people making the decision will make a wise decision. I cannot imagine Pat Sullivan being happy with Petrino as our coach.
A bull’s-eye by the Blogle. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Without denigrating any other members of the search committee, having Pat Sullivan on the committee gives me hope that we’ll steer clear of Petrino.
Petrino will not win at Auburn. What is so bad about being unrealistic and going big. What’s the hurt for interviewing Gruden, Jeff Fisher (who’s son plays safety at Auburn), or another big name. If they don’t come, fall back on another coach, such as Charlie Strong, Jimbo Fisher, Malzahn, or Kirby Smart. I don’t understand the problem with requesting an interview with the big names.
Well done, Blogler.
Petrino is coming, just a matter of time. Get used to it haterz
Blogle,
I think you make a strong point on the potential damage Petrino would do to Auburn’s image. Further, you are absolutely on point about the current state of Auburn’s image. I graduated this past May and am now in grad school with people from SEC, B10, Big 12, and ACC schools. What I have taken from this small consensus is that the Auburn football program cheats, lies, and bribes. This reflects on the University, that piece of paper with my name on it, and therefore myself. I expected it from the SEC people. But hearing this from so many others that come from all across the country was rather embarrassing.
The media is licking it’s chops at the prospect of a Petrino hire at Auburn. That is a red flag itself. The media knows he is a gold mine for good reason. However, this time the Auburn brand is going to be attached to this potential train wreck. So, why should Auburn consider hoping on this train? Money. I think the root of all evil, rather than the Auburn Creed, will determine whether Petrino will be hired.
It is a simple cost-benefit analysis. The Auburn brand is far too more important to risk further damage by taking a chance with this clown. The potential $$$ gained from winning some football games is outweighed by the potential catostrophe that is BP. This would not only destroy the football program but, would also reach the pockets of the entire athletic department and University. People keep repeating how Auburn is greater than any one man. Well, that sounds great but I am a realist. What they are really trying to say is Auburn’s brand carries greater weight that someone like BP.
I agree with you on this. Auburn deserves a much better man. We can get someone that wins and has morals.
Good job with these off-centered PL’s. AND for Auburn men & women, it is about the Creed! “I believe in honesty and truthfulness, w/out which I cannot WIN the respect and confidence of my fellow man.”
I’m with you. Not “them”.
I’m with you Bill.
Don’t let this goober get you too riled up…not worth it.
Now – “coach” –
No, I wasn’t kidding. Are you saying that a long line of stone throwers makes it ok to chunk one more? Forgive me but I’m having trouble following your logic. The man is a good coach and I believe he may turn the corner and be a good man. If you bible thumpers can’t entertain that thought then you’re laboring less under a cross than a delusion.
Pat Sullivan will look this man in the eye and measure sincerity…that’s enough for me.
As for “moot arguments”, let’s address the one that says you have to be somewhere for a long time to have an opportunity to get in trouble with the NCAA…
Petrino was at Arkansas for 4 years with a clean NCAA slate. That’s long enough to get into trouble. Just ask Dubose, Mullen, Meyer, Kiffen, Lil Nicky, Lil Terry, Chizik…need I go on?
Us “Bible Thumpers” as you berate us, are not “throwing stones”, or “casting aspersions”. He has done nothing to be forgiven for to anyone on here personally(there may be exceptions I don’t know of). What we are doing is looking at his past actions, which seem to indicate his lack of morals at the most, and lack of good judgement at the least, and expressing our opinion of whether or not he is the coach we would want to have.
Ultimately none of us on this blog have any say so in the hiring of him or anyone else. It is just our opinion based on his previous actions, that he is not the best we can do. No coach, no one will ever be perfect. No one can be. But I believe it makes sense to not go with someone who has questionable judgement or morals/values.
Whether or not Petrino is a changed man is irrelevant to me. I don’t want him, period. If he is hired will I support him? I guess. Do I think Auburn will hire him? Yes. Do I want to be wrong about that? Yes. Here is the main reason why I believe Petrino will ultimately be at Auburn.:
Who else will we hire? I said this earlier, allow me to reiterate…
Malzahn- waiting on that Arkansas job. It’s his hometown. Again, I want Malzahn bad, but I think he’ll end up at Arky.
Fisher – FSU is a top program that is in almost the same situation as Auburn: Playing second fiddle to your in-state rival. In fact, it’s worse at Auburn. What would he gain by coming here? Unless we offer him an absurd amount of money, he won’t come here.
Other big name coaches, Patterson, Petersen, etc. – Scared by the lack of control. Too many masters to be served at Auburn. So, to those who don’t want Petrino “in control” of the AU program, don’t worry. Not many coaches in Auburn’s history have had much control over anything besides what happens on the field.
War Eagle.
This isn’t about Bible thumping Christians disliking Petrino, at least not for a lot of us. My religious beliefs aren’t what makes me dislike Petrino as the next coach at Auburn, it is his supposed “good coach” status… His coaching statistics for SEC wins are presented above, so I won’t rehash that. He is a decent coach and a mediocre human being. Are there no other decent coaches out there that are also energetic (which is not an adjective that comes to mind when thinking of Petrino) or exciting? Why is it all of a sudden “Petrino or nobody!” for some of y’all.
Also, since when did Chizik get lumped in with those people who broke NCAA rules? Have I missed something? We were combed over in 2010 with nothing to show for it, and are still clean as of yet. Until we are handed down some punishment, you should retract that statement.
Finally, just because you may like to criticize Christians or throw around the “Bible thumper” title does not mean you should turn this into a religious argument… Nobody I read brought up anything of the sort, and you’re making yourself look very ignorant.
Thank you for this great post! It has been driving me crazy listening to Auburn fans whitewash Petrino’s career and screw ups. I want Auburn to win, but I will not support Auburn with Petrino as the head coach. He is not an honorable man. How can you put your faith and loyalty in a man who has been loyal to no one but himself? The people that are now crazy for Petrino were making fun of Arkansas last year during the scandal. A disaster of a seasan has made some of our fanbase become beyond desperate and delusional. Auburn deserves better than Petrino.
I just watched Jeff Long’s press conference in which he announced the dismissal of Petrino. One thing he said in particular left an impression. I’m paraphrasing, but he said: We can’t say we teach our kids integrity and leadership, when our Head Football Coach does not embody those traits.
That’s why we should not hire Petrino.
Yes!
I’m not naive enough to overlook the importance of wins and the extreme amounts of money tied to college football ( and the good that does for the university as a whole), but in the end, isn’t teaching integrity & leadership; developing young men into who they are becoming what the football program at any university should ultimately be all about?
( and this is from a raving, never-miss-game fan since I was 3. And I’m no where near 3 now :-)
I disagree entirely with your take on Petrino and the way you seem to embody the Auburn Creed Monsters. Weren’t you also a supporter of Evan Woodbery as Auburn beat writer? You really are a poor excuse for an Auburn fan.
Lots of people supported Woodbery as Auburn’s beat writer, including people within Auburn’s own journalism program. Stop trying to change the subject just because you can’t look at the argument with a straight face.
Anyone who thinks that Malzahn is the right man for the job should be ready to expect more of the same. Malzahn is one of the reasons we are in this situation to begin with. Kirby Smart has 0 years HC experience, so not a good choice. I would be okay with Fisher or Strong.
But, if we want to win and win now, Petrino is the only answer. I disagree with Blogle’s opinions because I don’t think they are all accurate. Jetgate was not Petrino’s fault. Yes, he left Atlanta high and dry, but were they really going to retain him. Yes the scandal at Arky is embarrassing, and yes he lied. But Chizik lied too. He said he could actually coach football. If there was a vote. Petrino would be my #1 with Strong being a close 2nd.
I agree with you about Malzahn. Not sure what he was doing when he should have been developing quarterbacks.
Welcome back to War Eagle Country, Coach Petrino
you should change your handle name to WARBOBBY after Petrino is hired. Can’t wait to get some W’s!
Petrino is not the coach that Auburn needs! I totally agree with the War Blogler!
All this talk about “Character” I’m not sure we all share the same definition. Will someone who is whining about Petrino’s lack of “Character” please give me their definition? And explain to me how that is abosolutely not a fit at our glorious holy University (that has been reprimanded for cheating before). And how he is beyond forgiveness for a situation where the person he hurt the most has already forgiven him? Does anyone know Bobby Petrino more than his wife? And are you so sure he has not changed?
Then explain to me the phenomenon of 2010, how Cam Newton with a history of bad decisions (one that kicked him out of Florida) was so easily welcomed, cheered, and supported while he lead us to a National Championship. What were our assessments of his “Character” then. Was he not forgiven? Were we not convinced he is a changed man? What did Cam do that seems to be impossible for Petrino to do in some people’s eyes?
Some people just like putting stickers on the back window of their car.
I don’t always agree with your posts, but wholeheartedly agree with this one. I’ve had the same conversations again and again…can’t help but be surprised anytime someone advocates for BP. Just hand to understand. Thanks for laying out “our” position.
Can’t we all just get along and share a GroupHug? ;) I don’t think that Bo and Pat will let Jay “The Fucktard” Jacobs hire BP.
There is so much wrong with that post. Like the capitalized G and H and the lack of space in between “Group” and “Hug”. Also, I agree with you on your Bo and Pat sentiments, but you’re not winning people towards your group hug (sp?) calling the AD an f-tard. There aren’t many people in the world that deserve that kind of namecalling, nor many Auburn fans who appreciate it.
Also, Saban isn’t the devil, fuse-ball is. Get it right. War Eagle.
Adennis…. I was clearly being playful… I was mocking the Twitter hashtag #GroupHug … Maybe you’re not familiar with Twitter?
Beyond that, I agree, not many people deserve to be called a fucktard; but Jay Jacobs does.
Additionally, Nick Saban is the mortal worlds equivalent of Lucifer himself.
Furthermore, let’s all pull the sticks out of our rear ends and remember that no matter who our coach is we will still love Auburn.
War Damn Eagle