FLORIDA FOOTBALL: FOOD FOR A MAN'S SOUL
NFL Hypocrisy
Is it just me or is anyone else getting a little tired of hearing all the constant denigration of Bobby Petrino for leaving the Atlanta Falcons for the University of Arkansas job? The bottom line is that, no matter the manner in which it was accomplished, Bobby Petrino simply left one job for another. Where are all the media pundits getting their self-righteous indignation from? Simple, how DARE a coach leave a great job in the NFL for what all these NFL biased commentators declare to be a “second tier” college coaching position. Why the sheer impudence of it all!!!
The NFL is the most powerful and successful sport in the United States. Since most of the sport shows originate from the Northeast and are populated by people who graduate from schools that don’t even have legitimate football programs, they are NFL cronies. The overall knowledge of NCAA sports (football, basketball, etc) is so slight that anything unrelated to the NFL, MLB or perhaps the NBA is considered rural and off the mainstream. Thus how could they possibly understand someone leaving a sport they know for a sport they don’t understand? And essentially they are so removed from college football that it’s virtually another sport to them.
Bobby Petrino left with 3 games remaining . . . and your point is??? What exactly would waiting three more games on a team that was 3-10 effectively accomplish??? What is the difference between going on a three game roll and finishing 6-10 compared to ending up 3-13? Worse draft picks for the franchise next year? What friggin difference does it make? It’s more important for a college coach to be in place now because of the recruiting impact. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . based on all the people jettisoning from the NFL coaching ranks these days that the life of an NFL coach might . . . perhaps . . . umm . . . SUCK????
Lovie Smith goes to the Super Bowl last year but if he has another year next year like he had this . . . his arse might be GONE at the end of the year!!! There is no such thing as loyalty in the NFL. Belichick ditched the Jets for the Patriots 7 years ago. NFL players leave teams all the time in search of greener pastures (where the green is the color of additional currency they can receive). The NFL steals coaches from college programs all the time and I never hear the arse kissing pundits on ESPN crying about how the poor LSU or Louisville fans are left crushed. But GOD NO!!! Should the situation be reversed it’s crime against MAN AND NATURE!!!
I think Petrino is a fine college coach. I have no delusions regarding his long-term loyalty but then again I can say that about a lot of people in my own profession. Leaving for a better or preferable job doesn’t mean someone isn’t good at what they do or has a lack of character. The quality of a man shouldn’t be judged on strictly his sports resume. I expect Petrino to eventually jump from Arkansas to a better program. The Hogs are likely just a stepping stone (based on Petrino’s own past) to bigger and better. At least in college you can survive a couple bad years while you build to something better. The NFL time limit for success isn’t quite so long.
The basic fact is that now that college coaches are making CLOSE to what they make in the NFL (or at least the separation isn’t as great as it once was) the college position is now much more enticing. Once you factor in the quality of life and greater job stability a college can legitimately make a run at an NFL coach these days where only the opposite was true in the past. I’m sure NFL cronies and fans are outraged based on their sense of superiority and the threat it poses to their easy, unchallenged lifestyle.
It’s time for NFL fans to see things for how they are. Coaches are going to go where they want just like everyone else and since the NFL and NCAA are not PARTNERS there isn’t anything unethical about them competing for coaches. That’s the free market economy. The NFL is only recently becoming aware of the free market dynamics since they are essentially run as a giant, government sanctioned monopoly. There is no loyalty in the NFL. Not from the players, not from the team office, not from the coaches and definitely not from the fans. If anyone should realize this, it should be the NFL minions - There is no honor among thieves.
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12 Comments so far
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Great post! I’m sick of the national pundits subjecting college fans to their pro sports bias.
Wilbon is a perfect example. The guy watches maybe one college football game all year and catches some hi-lites now and then on Sportscenter and then writes an article telling us what is wrong with college football.
Hey Wilbon, stick with the NBA, the NFL and the other pro sports and leave your ill-informed opinions about college sports to yourself.
By Jeff Brown on 12.13.07 9:06 am
My idea of orange and blue love? The Chicago Bears
Brian Urlacher will Super Bowl Shuffle Tim Tebow into NFL mediocrity.
DA BEARS! DA BEARS! DA BULLS! DA CUBS!
By Vincent Gagliano on 12.13.07 9:42 am
[…] My friend Keltic Gator, a college football blogger at Orange and Blue Hue, writes: Bobby Petrino left with 3 games remaining . . . and your point is??? What exactly would waiting three more games on a team that was 3-10 effectively accomplish??? What is the difference between going on a three game roll and finishing 6-10 compared to ending up 3-13? Worse draft picks for the franchise next year? What friggin difference does it make? It’s more important for a college coach to be in place now because of the recruiting impact. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . based on all the people jettisoning from the NFL coaching ranks these days that the life of an NFL coach might . . . perhaps . . . umm . . . SUCK???? […]
By » I Don’t Blame Bobby Petrino on 12.13.07 11:18 am
I look at it like this…Does any of the NFL teams let a coach know before they fire them? No. Do they let the player know when they are going to cut them? No. If you were working a crap job, albiet at great pay, and someone gave you (in your eyes) a better job at relativley the same pay, what would you do? It’s called “right to work”. That gives you the opportunity to leave a job without notice, and it also gives the employer the right to fire you without notice. Now that’s freedom.
By urbanisagod on 12.13.07 11:57 am
[…] My friend Keltic Gator, a college football blogger at Orange and Blue Hue, writes: Bobby Petrino left with 3 games remaining . . . and your point is??? What exactly would waiting three more games on a team that was 3-10 effectively accomplish??? What is the difference between going on a three game roll and finishing 6-10 compared to ending up 3-13? Worse draft picks for the franchise next year? What friggin difference does it make? It’s more important for a college coach to be in place now because of the recruiting impact. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . based on all the people jettisoning from the NFL coaching ranks these days that the life of an NFL coach might . . . perhaps . . . umm . . . SUCK???? […]
By ProFootball24-7.com » I Don’t Blame Bobby Petrino on 12.13.07 12:09 pm
Yea Urban, but he’s part of a TEAM and you’re not supposed to leave your team and go to a better team. Its selling out. Sports is different than work.
By Gator Boys on 12.13.07 1:38 pm
[…] My friend Keltic Gator, a college football blogger at Orange and Blue Hue, writes: Bobby Petrino left with 3 games remaining . . . and your point is??? What exactly would waiting three more games on a team that was 3-10 effectively accomplish??? What is the difference between going on a three game roll and finishing 6-10 compared to ending up 3-13? Worse draft picks for the franchise next year? What friggin difference does it make? It’s more important for a college coach to be in place now because of the recruiting impact. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . based on all the people jettisoning from the NFL coaching ranks these days that the life of an NFL coach might . . . perhaps . . . umm . . . SUCK???? […]
By FOOTBALLGAB » Post Topic » I Don’t Blame Bobby Petrino on 12.13.07 1:59 pm
Gator Boys
If the “team” sucks, who gets the axe, typically? Not the QB or the RB, it’s the coach. I don’t view the coach as part of the “team”, the coach is part of management. He’s an extension of what the GM/Ownership wants. Now keep in mind that this view is ONLY for the professional level. On the collegiate level, I agree 100% that the coach is part of the TEAM. He talks you into coming to the school, he talks to your parents, heck, sometimes he brings his family to practice and lets them play with the players. Never seen that in the NFL. So when a successful coach leaves college to go to the NFL, that bothers me. If an NFL coach leaves, regardless of time or reason, it doesn’t bother me one bit. Think Jon Gruden Raiders-Bucs move.
By urbanisagod on 12.13.07 4:38 pm
Keltic, I understand where you’re coming from, but the manner in which the douche left is much to be desired. I mean the guy left without even addressing his players!! I agree that he is probably a better college coach, but his actions show his character, imagine how that’ll do for recruiting…
By BurritoBrosShits on 12.14.07 10:30 am
Petrino is a quitter. He made a commitment to an owner, an organization, his assistants and his players. He let all of them down.
He bolted like a thief in the night and didn’t even have the balls to face his players and tell them. Instead, he left them a 3 sentence note in their lockers. Are you kidding me? What a mouse of a man. He’s also liar - stating that he was committed to the Falcons and that he defintiely planned on returning the following year. this was THE DAY BEFORE HE QUIT AND RAN OFF LIKE A COWARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
Petrino will get what he deserves. Arkansas isn’t Louisville. They don’t play a cupcake Big East schedule where teams can’t defend his offense. Also, his recruiting will take a hit as parents seriously cannot advise their kids to sign with a coach that would leave tomorrow at the drop of a hat.
By Skigator on 12.14.07 10:48 am
Many of the players on the team are quitters and cowards. They refused to follow the leadership of the same coach which they ridiculed for leaving them. They’re overgrown babies.
You’re right on, KG. If the players have no loyalty and fair weather commitment, why should the coach be expected to act differently?
By UFGatorDMD on 12.14.07 1:04 pm
As someone who lived in a town with a formerly good college football team, I must take issue with you.
Yes there are corrupt coaches in college and the pros. However, there is an OBLIGATION to stick to a contract. If I understand it correctly, Mr. Petrino coaches as an assistant in the NFL, so he was no stranger to the ways of the NFL. Moreover, I never want to hear about the welfare of the student-athlete again. At least in the pros, there’s no illusion of the “student-athlete” nonsense that permeates the majority of the major college teams.
By Joshua N. on 12.21.07 10:38 am
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