If you had been at Louisville from 2003-2006 when we were averaging 45 points per game, 500 yards per game, winning 82% of our games, winning BCS games and also beating undefeated top 10 teams by crushing them with over 300 yards rushing, you would understand why we re-hired him.
He's done some crappy things, but the statements about him leaving the cupboard bare at Louisville and at Arkansas through poor recruiting is pure garbage. Kragthorpe had 8 future NFL draft picks on the 2007 team. The reason why Kragthorpe flopped is that (1) he was nowhere near as good of an offensive playcaller as Petrino and (2) he wasn't allowed to bring Todd Graham (then DC at Tulsa and now HC at Arizona State) with him when he moved.
Louisville and Arkansas struggled post-Petrino for one simple reason: they hired coaches who weren't anywhere near as good as Petrino. The rest of the stuff about poor recruiting is spin from two athletic departments attempting to pacify their fan bases.
Western Kentucky didn't struggle when Petrino left, and the reason why is because they were smart enough to hire another great coach - a Petrino protege and former star UofL quarterback, Jeff Brohm.
You are very generous to the man. Real leaders take what they have and make something of it until they get what they need/want. Your next post is how Atlanta stuck him with Harrington and management interfered. So what? The guy is supposedly a professional, that is essentially what you are arguing. Guess what, he's a arrogant egotistical moron. I chose my words carefully.
Yes, Petrino knows how to call a game - as long as it's his players! If he cannot adjust his game to meet the abilities of the players in front of him, then he is no leader (re-read your post on Joey Harrington!). A real coach works with Harrington and makes adjustments to work him into the system. You can praise him for the wonderful players he brought in the first go round with Louisville, but there is no denying that the kids he brought in lacked character (which is important for long term image, donations, fan base!) and did not deserve to play at an institution like Louisville, WVU maybe, Miami under JJ, probably.
Regarding management intervention over playing time: GROW UP! In college, the AD has to worry about at least 16 teams, football makes up a percentage of the overall responsibility of the AD and the coach will have more freedom. The NFL is a completely different animal. The whole organization is about the 53 guys on the field, teams can have over 400 personnel (for the mathematically challenged that is roughly 87% support and management and 13% players!). Management will be into the daily business and the decisions of coaches. I am accountable to the owners of my company, I speak with them many times daily and I manage people, processes, customers, etc. they have a right to know what is happening and put in their two cents because I am managing their assets towards their specific goals. The NFL is a pure business, Petrino is NOT a leader in business.
Other factors in the NFL: Playing time: Owners need to manage how much abuse a player takes to keep them healthy throughout their contract. Owners need to get value for all the players on the team (i.e. keep them playing so they can step in when needed). Owners need to ensure that they are not burning out stars too quickly - recall that a good running back may last 7-10 years! The average NFL career is three years!
You have more so proved the point with two posts in this thread that Petrino really is not a good person. Louisville is likely to have academic and personnel issues within a couple seasons. I hope I eat crow on this because I have tracked Louisville for 25 years - I served with a gent, a die-hard Louisville fan so I began following Louisville hoops back then.
Most posters on this site do not hate the institution, just the coach's character. Separate your love for Louisville from your love of Petrino's on field success. Only then will you realize that this site respects his coaching ability but despises his character. Most Syracuse fans like Louisville fans because of great experiences, interaction with each other. Syracuse wanted Louisville in the Big East and in the ACC. There is a good relationship between the Universities.
The funny thing is that after the game wears off, win or lose, unless there is some major drama (injury, cheating, heartbreak plays), we will move onto the next team. We will focus on hyping ourselves up for the next game. This game will be in the past.
Enjoy the game, we will.
