Bobby Petrino Fired

by Mo Johnson


Arkansas AD Jeff Long fired Bobby Petrino for lying about a motorcycle accident he'd been in. He said he was riding alone when, in fact, he was riding with a 25 year old female employee he'd hired only a few days before. There are various allegations of inappropriate conduct regarding the relationship and the hiring.

Taver Johnson will remain interim coach of the Razorbacks through the end of spring practices. However, UA has begun a search for a new coach. Long said:

It's hard to say what impact this will have, but we hope to find a head football coach that can lead this program and attract the kind of student-athletes that can be successful in the SEC. We all know this is the toughest football conference in the country and we're in the toughest division so I think that will attract a quality coach and quality student-athletes.


I think it will be difficult to find a quality coach at this point in the offseason. The Razorbacks likely will have to stick with their interim coach at least through the 2012 season. But, we'll see.

Here's the Statement from Bobby Petrino:

I was informed in writing today at 5:45 p.m. that I was being terminated as head football coach at the University of Arkansas.

The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry. These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart. All I have been able to think about is the number of people I’ve let down by making selfish decisions. I’ve taken a lot of criticism in the past. Some deserved, some not deserved. This time, I have no one to blame but myself.

I chose to engage in an improper relationship. I also made several poor decisions following the end of that relationship and in the aftermath of the accident.I accept full responsibility for what has happened.

I’m sure you heard Jeff Long’s reasons for termination. There was a lot of information shared. Given the decision that has been made, this is not the place to debate Jeff’s view of what happened. In the end, I put him in the position of having to sort through my mistakes and that is my fault.

I have hurt my wife Becky and our four children. I’ve let down the University of Arkansas, my team, coaching staff and everyone associated with the Razorback football program. As a result of my personal mistakes, we will not get to finish our goal of building a championship program. I wish that I had been given the opportunity to meet with the players and staff prior to this evening’s press conference and hope that I will be given the opportunity to give my apologies and say my goodbyes in person. We have left the program in better shape than we found it and I want the Razorback Nation to know that it is my hope that the program achieves the success it deserves.

My sole focus at this point is trying to repair the damage I’ve done to my family. They did not ask for any of this and deserve better. I am committed to being a better husband, father and human being as a result of this and will work each and every day to prove that to my family, friends and others.

I love football. I love coaching. I of course hope I can find my way back to the profession I love. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to heal the wounds I have created.

I want to thank Chancellor Gearhart, Jeff Long, the Board of Trustees, the University administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and fans for the opportunity to serve as the head football coach at the University of Arkansas for the past 4 years. I was not given an opportunity to continue in that position. I wish that had been the case, but that was not my decision. I wish nothing but the best for the Razorback football program, the University and the entire Razorback Nation.


Petrino went 34-17 in four seasons as the Razorbacks' head coach, with a 21-5 record in the last two years. Arkansas earned its first invite to a BCS Bowl game in 2010 and in 2011 tied a program record with 11 wins. Arkansas also is in the midst of several major fundraising and building projects in support of its growing football program.


Here's an opinion about why Bobby Petrino had to be fired.

Comments for Bobby Petrino Fired

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Apr 11, 2012
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he's a jerk
by: sportsdude

Petrino has been a genuine jerk wherever he coached. Karma, baby.

Apr 11, 2012
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shame
by: Anonymous

Bobby made a mistake. As far a hiring people I guess hiring brothers and sons should also be in this and all coaches who hire family or friends should be fired. I think this is funny to a point that people talk about karma. If this had happened to Saban or Mles they would still be the coach.

Apr 21, 2012
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Bobby Petrino’s departure at Arkansas
by: Kavin Caruso


Things in Fayetteville will not be the same for Arkansas’s football team.

What did Bobby Petrino did, was not good for their football program. Things were going great; they were in the top 10 last season, winning 11 games, with losses to Alabama and LSU. Now the Athletic Director has to search for a new coach for this upcoming football season. The girl that Bobby Petrino was with was Jessica Dorrell. She’s 25 yrs old, a blonde, sorry I mentioned her hair, and guess what? SHE’S ENGAGED!!! Yes, the girl is supposed to get married this year. Question, why was she EVEN with Bobby Petrino that day? Riding a motorcycle is dangerous; he risked himself in getting into trouble.

Jessica Dorrell was a Volleyball athlete at Arkansas. Bobby Petrino is again a jerk; just 5 yrs ago he left the Falcons during the season to head, WHERE? Arkansas!

He told Arthur Blank that he will not leave the Falcons, that was in December of 2007. A week later, he leaves after the Falcons lost to New Orleans Saints on a Monday night game. He left without a noticed, fans here in Atlanta were furious. He knew the team was going nowhere, but it still showed he had arrogant in him.

Bobby Petrino mentioned this week that the affair started with a kiss. Well he also fooled around with Jessica by calling her and texting her constantly. Bobby Petrino is 51 yrs old; Jessica Dorrell is 25 yrs old. Something’s wrong with that picture? One main reason why Jessica liked fooling around with Bobby Petrino, he is a Football coach!
If Bobby Petrino was a truck driver, custodian, or even a construction worker, Jessica would never have anything to do with him. Jessica Dorrell is going to get married, according to other newspaper sources. I am wondering what her fiancé is going to think as their marriage progressive? Will Bobby Petrino’s wife dump him in the near future? Maybe, or they will have a marriage counseling? Something tells me that they will have marriage counseling. Only reason why, money. The Petrino’s house is on the market in the Fayetteville area. So now the question is will Bobby Petrino coach again? Maybe, but he might have to go to a smaller school.

I am now wondering if the Razorbacks football team will be good again this season. Players did back Bobby Petrino, even fans at Arkansas were on Bobby Petrino’s side. Coaching and playing football in the south, it’s another level of tolerance that could not be put up with in other parts of the country including the New England states. I like football, but with someone who used to coach my NFL team, I am not sorry for what happened. Things happened for a reason.

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