Arkansas has Faith in Coach Petrino
Atlanta Falcons fans do not think very highly of Bobby Petrino. NFL aficionados in general do not have the fondest memories of Coach Petrino. However, Bobby Petrino is a Pete Carroll, a John Calipari; he is a masterful college football coach and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Right now the Arkansas Razorbacks are heading into a new season after losing their very successful and very talented senior quarterback, Ryan Mallet. They are also playing in the toughest conference in the nation, the SEC. Undeniably though, Arkansas fans are excited, perhaps even confident, heading into the 2011 season because of their head coach and his abilities.
While the head coach at Louisville for four seasons, Petrino never won fewer than nine games in any year. He won two conference titles and finished with a record of 41-9 overall. Upon venturing into NFL lands, heading the Atlanta Falcons the season Michael Vick was arrested, Petrino rightfully saw how poor of a season they were destined to have. However, he departed the team before the season ended, quitting on the franchise for all intents and purposes.
Arkansas fans were probably concerned with their hire of Petrino in 2008 after hearing all the criticism of the man. Yet his college success speaks for itself. Perhaps he got unlucky with his team in the NFL and bailed or perhaps he did not belong in the professional ranks. But either way, Coach Petrino was able to turn the University of Arkansas around rather quickly. In just his third season with the club, they won 10 games and made the BCS Sugar Bowl.
Petrino’s strength is his passing offense. Arkansas has ranked in the top three in the conference in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense each of the past two seasons. This included finishing fourth in the nation in passing offense in 2010. His old teams at Louisville finished similarly in statistical rankings over the years, led by quarterbacks Stefan LeFors and Brian Brohm.
Although the NFL does not recall Bobby Petrino kindly, he has found a new home that is glad to have him running their show.
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