By Matt Thacker
A friend once told me that he used to get jealous every time he saw another guy look at his wife, until he realized that you either have a wife who makes other guys stare or one who doesn’t. He said he’d choose the former.
That’s the relationship that University of Louisville football fans have with Head Coach Bobby Petrino. As much as the annual job-change rumors feel like a smack in the face to U of L, everyone also realizes that the team is better off with him.
Petrino made headlines again last week after newspapers in California reported that he had talked to the Raiders management about possibly taking over in Oakland. He immediately tried to downplay the rumors by releasing a statement. In the statement, he said he would fulfill his commitment to U of L but never denied that he had talked to the Raiders.
For most coaches, the statement would have been enough, but Petrino has a history of checking out other options. Rumors of Petrino meeting with Auburn about their head coaching position dominated the 2003 GMAC Bowl. Then after the 2004 season, Petrino met with Louisiana State officials just a week after signing a major high-money contract with U of L.
However, it’s hard to blame Petrino for what happened this year. Assuming he did talk to the Raiders, that’s his right to do so. There are only a handful of coaches like Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden who are content to stay at one place for decades. Realistic fans understand that at some point Petrino will want to try his hand at the next level.
And while some fans may grumble, Petrino has earned the right to check out his options. He has put U of L on the college football map and has become known as one of the greatest offensive geniuses in the country. Tom Jurich would rather put up with uncertainty than with a coach who doesn’t know how to win. Now, the problem becomes convincing the fans.
A few days before the Petrino rumors began swirling, U of L running back Michael Bush made a statement of his own – that he’ll be returning to U of L for his senior year. However, Bush looked less than thrilled about his return to the Cards. He even admitted that he had always dreamed of playing three years and then leaving for the National Football League. The wandering eyes of the head coach and star running back have left some fans asking what’s so bad about U of L that everyone seems ready to bolt for the door.
However, it’s not a question of their motives but of their public relations skills. Petrino is certainly not the first coach to ever wonder whether he’s ready to take the next step to the pros, and Bush isn’t the first player to want to shorten his stay in college. Others just hide their feelings better.
Petrino could have said outright that he planned to be back next year rather than releasing a statement that sounded more like a politician trying to sidestep the real question. Bush could have made an effort to sound excited about returning to U of L. That’s because Petrino and Bush know that only one thing matters – winning.
If Louisville has a great season next year and makes it to another major bowl, fans will forget their jealousy and just be thankful they have a coach that everyone wants.
