Coach Bobby Petrino Should Have Been Dismissed, Arkansas Fans Say

After hearing that football coach Bobby Petrino had not only lied about who he was with when he had a motorcycle accident on April 1, but that he was also having an affair with that young woman, had paid her $20,000 and had arranged for her to get a job with the university, Arkansas Razorbacks fans are saying they agree with the decision to fire him.

"I'm disappointed," but it was the right thing to dismiss Petrino, says fan Donnie Holt, one of a series of Razorbacks faithful interviewed on video by Arkansas Online. Petrino deceived the univerisity, its fans and its players, says another fan, Janis Harrison.

As UALR Public Radio reports, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long announced Tuesday that Petrino was dismissed because "he made a conscious decision to speak and mislead the public ... and in doing so he negatively and adversely affected the reputation of the University of Arkansas and our football program."

Long also said the university does not plan to pay an $18 million buyout in Petrino's contract because he's being dismissed for his conduct.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Petrino says he accepts "full responsibility for what has happened. ... 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. ... I wish nothing but the best for the Razorback football program, the University and the entire Razorback Nation."

He had been at Arkansas for four seasons and, as Arkansas Online recounts, "led the Razorbacks to prominence in the Southeastern Conference, with a 34-17 record ... and to the school's first Bowl Championship Series appearance after the 2010 season."

Arkansas Razorbacks: Bobby Petrino Made The Right Decision?

Bobby Petrino was dismissed as coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks Tuesday Sports Director Jeff Long described as "manipulative and deceptive conduct."

It is hard to disagree with this assessment action football coach, after hearing a long list of atrocities Long Petrino - including the hiring of women with whom he had an affair and deliberately induced to mislead about the long secret relationship.

Petrino, his father 51 years old, married with four children, maintained relations with inappropriate Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old former volleyball player on the Razorbacks 'significant' amount of time, according to Long. Athletic Director also noted, Petrino once Dorrell gave $ 20,000 "gift", which was confirmed as a Petrino and Dorrell for undetermined reasons.

All this became known after a motorcycle accident involving Petrino and Dorrell April 1, four days after Dorrell was hired Petrino as the development coordinator of student-athletes of Arkansas football.

"He decided to deliberately mislead the public on Tuesday, and thus adversely affects the reputation of the University of Arkansas and our football program," Long said. "In short, Coach Petrino is engaged in pattern of deception and manipulation, designed to deceive me and athletics staff before and after a motorcycle accident."

Petrino released a lengthy statement on Tuesday night, apologized to the university team, and especially his family for his "selfish decisions." He said his only goal is to make amends with his family.

He also said: "After my own mistakes, we will not get to finish our goal of building a championship program," which brings a good point, he certainly was in the right direction Razorbacks, p. Report 34-17 in four seasons, № 5, the final ranking last season and Cotton Bowl to win the state of Kansas.

So, if Petrino was asked to direct a program of the national championship, he shot the right decision? It's a little less extreme, as a suspension or fine, was more suitable? He certainly does not serve as an example to follow for their young players, but he was also able to give these players the best chance to realize their dreams of football.

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