Why Did Bobby Petrino Leave Arkansas? What Did Bobby Petrino Do to Arkansas?
by Madhumitha
Updated Nov 29, 2023
Why Did Bobby Petrino Leave Arkansas?
Bobby Petrino's departure from Arkansas in 2012 stemmed from a scandalous series of events that unfolded and led to his dismissal. The primary reason behind his exit revolved around personal and professional misconduct that severely tarnished his reputation and impacted the program:
Personal Misconduct:
Professional Misconduct:
Consequences and Fallout:
The scandal had a profound impact not only on Petrino's career but also on the Arkansas football program. It resulted in Petrino's departure amidst public scrutiny and criticism, and it took some time for both Petrino and the university to recover from the fallout of the controversy.
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What Did Bobby Petrino Do to Arkansas?
Bobby Petrino caused trouble for Arkansas because he was not honest with the school. He got into a motorcycle accident and didn't tell the truth about who was with him. He was riding with someone who worked at the university, and they were having a secret relationship.
Petrino tried to hide this from his bosses and everyone else. When the truth came out, it created a big problem for Arkansas. Because of this, the university had to let him go as the head coach of the football team. His actions brought a lot of negative attention to the school and hurt its reputation.
Who is Bobby Petrino?
Robert Patrick Petrino is a football coach in America. Right now, he works as the offensive coordinator for the Texas A&M Aggies. He used to be the head coach for the Missouri State Bears. Before that, he coached the Louisville Cardinals football team twice, from 2003 to 2006 and then from 2014 until he got fired during the 2018 season.
He was also the head coach for the University of Arkansas football team from 2008 to 2011 but was let go because he hid that he was having a relationship with someone who worked in the sports department. He coached the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL for a short time in 2007. He spent the 2013 season coaching the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and from 2020 to 2022 coached again for the Missouri State Bears.
Petrino's teams went to nine bowl games while he was coaching college football. He helped both the Louisville Cardinals and the Arkansas Razorbacks go to their first big Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl games. His teams had four seasons with 10 or more wins and finished in the top 25 of the AP Poll six times.
Bobby Petrino EarlyLife
Robert Patrick Petrino was born in Lewistown, Montana, but he grew up in Helena. He finished high school at Capital High in 1979. He went to Carroll College, which was in his hometown and graduated in 1983 with a major in physical education and a minor in math. While he was at Carroll, he played as a quarterback for the Fighting Saints football team.
His coaching journey started there too, as he became a graduate assistant during the 1983 season. At that time, his father, Bob Petrino Sr., was the head coach of Carroll College, a position he held for almost three decades, from 1971 to 1999.
Bobby Petrino Arkansas
After Bobby Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons, he signed a contract with Arkansas for $2.85 million per year, initially for five years and later extended to seven years. In 2008, the Razorbacks finished with a 5–7 record, winning two games in the SEC against Auburn and LSU. The following year, under Petrino's guidance, the team improved notably. Quarterback Ryan Mallett received praise from analysts at ESPN and CBS, becoming recognized as one of the standout college quarterbacks.
In a game against the top-ranked Florida Gators in 2009, a controversial call against an Arkansas player sparked controversy. The SEC later apologized for the call and suspended the officiating crew. In the 2010 season, the Razorbacks, with a record of 10–2, earned their first significant bowl game appearance in twenty years, facing Ohio State. Despite a comeback effort, Arkansas lost in the Sugar Bowl after an interception in the final minutes.
However, they secured victory in the 2012 Cotton Bowl Classic against Kansas State with a score of 29–16, finishing the 2011 season with an impressive 11–2 record. Their only losses were to Alabama and LSU, marking just the third time in their history to achieve an 11-win season and their first top-ten finish in 30 years.
Why Did Bobby Petrino Leave Arkansas? -FAQs
Bobby Petrino left Arkansas in 2012 after he was fired due to hiding an extramarital affair with a staff member in the athletic department and providing misleading information about it to the university.
Petrino's dismissal from Arkansas came about because he covered up his inappropriate relationship with a woman working in the athletic department, which violated trust and ethical standards.
Petrino's actions brought negative attention to Arkansas, causing controversy and damaging the reputation of both Petrino and the university's football program.
Petrino's misconduct, involving a hidden affair and dishonesty, led to his termination as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team.
Petrino's actions resulted in his firing and brought significant disruption to the Arkansas football program, causing turmoil and requiring the university to find a new coach to replace him.