I was still stunned yesterday as I would occasionally drift off and think about this team's upcoming season with Bobby Petrino as the head coach. I would have to shake my head to snap out of it. My mind just wasn't catching up to the fact that he's actually not the head coach at Arkansas anymore.
This morning I woke up without remembering going to sleep. That never happens to me, just not the way I'm wired. I estimate that I slept for 11 hours straight, and I typically sleep six hours a night and am good to go. I woke up and started writing this. It has been a long week-and-a-half. I bet I've literally been on 50 radio shows from California-to Nebraska-to-Texas-to-Florida-to shows that span the country since April 2, and I have done sit-down interviews with ESPN and KTHV to discuss Petrino's plight, not to mention my primary obligation to our folks at HawgSports.com and Rivals.com. I've got more stuff scheduled for today. It has been a busy, draining, sad and shocking 10 days.
Let me tell you who I am. I am different from most media personalities in this state. I don't care what people assume of me or think I am trying to accomplish in my position. I got into sports professionally because I loved it, not because I want to hurt it. That has never changed. Like most Razorback fans I grew up in this state following Razorback athletics with a passion. I attended Park Hill Elementary School in North Little Rock in 1986 going into the second grade. I went to Sheridan Junior High and High School where Arkansas fans are as passionate as anywhere in the state. I have lived here 26 of my 34 years. After high school, I applied to one university . I spent my first two years at the UA alongside Razorback Stadium in the Phi Delt house. After that I moved off Razorback road on the other side of the stadium and used to park cars in my yard on Markham Street before Razorback games. I have been all over this campus for nearly 16 years.
As a professional, it is part of my job to put that aside. I would never get involved in the recruiting process of a student-athlete beyond covering their process. I cover the university, but I'm not going to act like I don't hurt when it hurts. I loved covering Razorback football under [db]Bobby Petrino[/db]. Even though there was less access than I was used to, I know the fans did not care what I thought about access. I liked covering a winning team, they loved following one and that's what matters. That's the way I've always felt. Petrino made that happen. He left the wrong way, but for four years he showed the people in this state and football fanatics across the country that Arkansas is capable of big things.
And I'm not sure my mind has been completely clear through all of it until this morning. I certainly have had difficulty moving forward. The days have run together, no doubt, but I finally feel awake. I finally have accepted what just happened. I do not think I am unlike the majority of Arkansas fans who went through this with me. On the field he was the greatest Arkansas coach in my lifetime (dating to 1977), and now it's over.
When I woke up, I was convinced more than ever that UA vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics Jeff Long did the only thing he could do given the circumstances, regardless of whether I or anybody likes it or not. How do I know Long did the right thing? -Because I know he absolutely did not want to fire him and he did. I've watched the Petrino tenure as closely as anybody the last four years. I never missed a practice, I never missed a press conference, and I was at every game last season except at Vanderbilt.
There wasn't some strained relationship between these two men. He set up a deal for Petrino after the 2010 season that made him one of the nation's highest paid coaches with a buyout clause that made it virtually impossible for him to leave. After the 2011 season he was glad he did it. Only something like this scandal could end his tenure at Arkansas before Petrino was ready to retire. That tells me Long felt that there was no choice. Long is not happy nor is he comfortable with his decision, but as Petrino said he has no one to blame but himself. The fact that Petrino appears to have accepted Long's decision tells me all I need to know.
Tuesday, I saw in Long's face and heard in his voice that he had to make this move. Even though a smaller segment of fans felt Long made 'the easy choice' or 'wanted him to go,' I do not believe that and know that it's not the case. I know those fans are hurting and are concerned for the program. From the position Arkansas is in with regard to making a run at a championship to the support Petrino had from fans to the financial implications from a fundraising standpoint, there is no question this was a disaster, not an easy way out.
I was sitting on the corner of the front row Tuesday and was the closest media person to Long when he announced it. I had a list of questions for him, but since other media members were asking them before the microphone came my way on my first two questions, I had to signal to media relations man Kevin Trainer 'never mind.' Eventually, I decided I was going to stop looking for the mic, stop trying to think of new questions and start looking at Long and absorb the gravity of the situation.
Long's pain wasn't just for Petrino, it was for everything that came with Petrino - the uncertainty for the current coaches on the staff, the uncertainty for the support staff, the people in the media relations department, the equipment managers, the trainers, the fans and everyone involved.
When Petrino came to Arkansas virtually all those positions changed. There is a new head trainer, the media relations people I dealt with under Houston Nutt are gone or have been reassigned to other sports. The equipment managers, the people in the offices and on and on could have their lives affected by this change. A new coach who is not interested in doing things Petrino's way will likely want his own people in place.
In addition, the fundraising effort at Arkansas to improve athletic facilities, most notably a $40 million football operations center that is under construction now and is not yet fully covered financially, is reason enough that this decision was near unthinkable for Long. I do not believe Long was thinking of himself because he had to know any decision he made was going to infuriate a large portion of the fan base, and this decision was going to anger more than the other one would have.
Given my profession I am not supposed to hurt for the University of Arkansas, but I can't help it today. I have always strived to be fair and balanced. I have always hoped to come across as representing both sides. But I am a human being, and I'm close to this situation. I feel for Petrino, his family, the U of A and those associated, and mostly I feel for the fans and everyone on this website.
I think if Arkansas goes with a new head coach before the season Garrick McGee makes the most sense. It would affect fewer individuals and ultimately fewer families. However, I understand that in this business turnover is going to happen.
Arkansas may find another coach out there. It would not be a bad idea to find a top-notch NFL defensive coordinator who would not want to change what Arkansas has going, especially on offense. By getting a coordinator Arkansas would affect fewer coaches and families because he would not already have a staff together, and they could still get a big name by getting an NFL coordinator.
If Arkansas decides to go the interim route, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton makes the most sense. Brother Paul Petrino would not be a bad fit, either, but Horton is from Arkansas and is a former Razorback player. His father is a former Arkansas assistant and is head of the Razorback Foundation. Horton cares as much or more than anybody about keeping this thing on the right track, and he also commands the respect of high school coaches from around the state. Horton is a good choice to lead in the interim.
I don't know where Arkansas will go from here because I never envisioned this scenario.
This post was edited on 4/12 12:01 PM by Trey Biddy
This morning I woke up without remembering going to sleep. That never happens to me, just not the way I'm wired. I estimate that I slept for 11 hours straight, and I typically sleep six hours a night and am good to go. I woke up and started writing this. It has been a long week-and-a-half. I bet I've literally been on 50 radio shows from California-to Nebraska-to-Texas-to-Florida-to shows that span the country since April 2, and I have done sit-down interviews with ESPN and KTHV to discuss Petrino's plight, not to mention my primary obligation to our folks at HawgSports.com and Rivals.com. I've got more stuff scheduled for today. It has been a busy, draining, sad and shocking 10 days.
Let me tell you who I am. I am different from most media personalities in this state. I don't care what people assume of me or think I am trying to accomplish in my position. I got into sports professionally because I loved it, not because I want to hurt it. That has never changed. Like most Razorback fans I grew up in this state following Razorback athletics with a passion. I attended Park Hill Elementary School in North Little Rock in 1986 going into the second grade. I went to Sheridan Junior High and High School where Arkansas fans are as passionate as anywhere in the state. I have lived here 26 of my 34 years. After high school, I applied to one university . I spent my first two years at the UA alongside Razorback Stadium in the Phi Delt house. After that I moved off Razorback road on the other side of the stadium and used to park cars in my yard on Markham Street before Razorback games. I have been all over this campus for nearly 16 years.
As a professional, it is part of my job to put that aside. I would never get involved in the recruiting process of a student-athlete beyond covering their process. I cover the university, but I'm not going to act like I don't hurt when it hurts. I loved covering Razorback football under [db]Bobby Petrino[/db]. Even though there was less access than I was used to, I know the fans did not care what I thought about access. I liked covering a winning team, they loved following one and that's what matters. That's the way I've always felt. Petrino made that happen. He left the wrong way, but for four years he showed the people in this state and football fanatics across the country that Arkansas is capable of big things.
And I'm not sure my mind has been completely clear through all of it until this morning. I certainly have had difficulty moving forward. The days have run together, no doubt, but I finally feel awake. I finally have accepted what just happened. I do not think I am unlike the majority of Arkansas fans who went through this with me. On the field he was the greatest Arkansas coach in my lifetime (dating to 1977), and now it's over.
When I woke up, I was convinced more than ever that UA vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics Jeff Long did the only thing he could do given the circumstances, regardless of whether I or anybody likes it or not. How do I know Long did the right thing? -Because I know he absolutely did not want to fire him and he did. I've watched the Petrino tenure as closely as anybody the last four years. I never missed a practice, I never missed a press conference, and I was at every game last season except at Vanderbilt.
There wasn't some strained relationship between these two men. He set up a deal for Petrino after the 2010 season that made him one of the nation's highest paid coaches with a buyout clause that made it virtually impossible for him to leave. After the 2011 season he was glad he did it. Only something like this scandal could end his tenure at Arkansas before Petrino was ready to retire. That tells me Long felt that there was no choice. Long is not happy nor is he comfortable with his decision, but as Petrino said he has no one to blame but himself. The fact that Petrino appears to have accepted Long's decision tells me all I need to know.
Tuesday, I saw in Long's face and heard in his voice that he had to make this move. Even though a smaller segment of fans felt Long made 'the easy choice' or 'wanted him to go,' I do not believe that and know that it's not the case. I know those fans are hurting and are concerned for the program. From the position Arkansas is in with regard to making a run at a championship to the support Petrino had from fans to the financial implications from a fundraising standpoint, there is no question this was a disaster, not an easy way out.
I was sitting on the corner of the front row Tuesday and was the closest media person to Long when he announced it. I had a list of questions for him, but since other media members were asking them before the microphone came my way on my first two questions, I had to signal to media relations man Kevin Trainer 'never mind.' Eventually, I decided I was going to stop looking for the mic, stop trying to think of new questions and start looking at Long and absorb the gravity of the situation.
Long's pain wasn't just for Petrino, it was for everything that came with Petrino - the uncertainty for the current coaches on the staff, the uncertainty for the support staff, the people in the media relations department, the equipment managers, the trainers, the fans and everyone involved.
When Petrino came to Arkansas virtually all those positions changed. There is a new head trainer, the media relations people I dealt with under Houston Nutt are gone or have been reassigned to other sports. The equipment managers, the people in the offices and on and on could have their lives affected by this change. A new coach who is not interested in doing things Petrino's way will likely want his own people in place.
In addition, the fundraising effort at Arkansas to improve athletic facilities, most notably a $40 million football operations center that is under construction now and is not yet fully covered financially, is reason enough that this decision was near unthinkable for Long. I do not believe Long was thinking of himself because he had to know any decision he made was going to infuriate a large portion of the fan base, and this decision was going to anger more than the other one would have.
Given my profession I am not supposed to hurt for the University of Arkansas, but I can't help it today. I have always strived to be fair and balanced. I have always hoped to come across as representing both sides. But I am a human being, and I'm close to this situation. I feel for Petrino, his family, the U of A and those associated, and mostly I feel for the fans and everyone on this website.
I think if Arkansas goes with a new head coach before the season Garrick McGee makes the most sense. It would affect fewer individuals and ultimately fewer families. However, I understand that in this business turnover is going to happen.
Arkansas may find another coach out there. It would not be a bad idea to find a top-notch NFL defensive coordinator who would not want to change what Arkansas has going, especially on offense. By getting a coordinator Arkansas would affect fewer coaches and families because he would not already have a staff together, and they could still get a big name by getting an NFL coordinator.
If Arkansas decides to go the interim route, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton makes the most sense. Brother Paul Petrino would not be a bad fit, either, but Horton is from Arkansas and is a former Razorback player. His father is a former Arkansas assistant and is head of the Razorback Foundation. Horton cares as much or more than anybody about keeping this thing on the right track, and he also commands the respect of high school coaches from around the state. Horton is a good choice to lead in the interim.
I don't know where Arkansas will go from here because I never envisioned this scenario.
This post was edited on 4/12 12:01 PM by Trey Biddy