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University of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said tonight he is leaving the Cardinal football program to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.Petrino reportedly spoke after leaving a meeting tonight at which he informed his players.According to The Courier-Journal, Petrino declined further comment, saying, “I just met with the players. I’m a little emotional right now.””I’m in shock right now,” Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody told ESPN’s Joe Schad Sunday night. “We’re coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn’t think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He’s a great coach and we’re going to miss him.”The Falcons deal reportedly calls for $24 million over five years. His U of L contract, which he renewed earlier this season, called for $25 million over 10 years.Though he had previously interviewed with Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame and the Oakland Raiders for other jobs, he announced in August that he would be at Louisville for the long haul.”I can’t tell you how happy I am with the commitment and the confidence that Tom Jurich has in me and the university has in me,” Petrino said after signing the contract. “I also wanted to make sure that everyone understood, I know I’ve said it, that this is where my family wants to be. This is where I want to be. I want everyone to really believe it.”
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