One Christmas wish granted
Brandon's Line of Scrimmage column for December 19th
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Arkansas fans got what they wanted for Christmas: a step up from Houston Nutt. In Bobby Petrino, the Razorbacks have found a coach who has a proven record in college football, an ability to propel his team to a BCS bowl and someone who won’t let rumors and gossip stop him from doing the best job he can.
Before the unprecedented late-night news conference where Arkansans and the nation saw Petrino call the Hogs for the first time, scrutiny about the new coach’s track record of staying with a team was all over the media.
I’m pretty sure he knew this would happen coming into a state that has been the setting of a college football soap opera. When leaving the NFL to return to the college level, there has to be a ton of doubt and uncertainty going through a coach’s mind.
He knew exactly what he was getting into, and I honestly think he is ready to take the University of Arkansas to the next level.
Will he do it next year? Probably not. Will he stick around long enough to develop and manufacture a squad that can compete at higher standards? I think so.
He has to realize that he doesn’t have the best record at staying somewhere. If he were to leave Arkansas after only one or two years, it would be hard for an athletic director to hire someone who keeps jumping around.
And if he does happen to leave, Arkansas will still be better off with him as their coach for however long he stays.
I can’t wait to see his offense that has the state pumped up. After 10 years of running it up the middle, fans will get an introduction to a balanced offense.
The search that has had the state buzzing for the last few weeks is finally over. I remember days where I would receive at least 15 text messages about the latest rumors and “reports” about who would grasp the reins of the Razorbacks.
And I, like most of the state, am pleased with the results. Let the Petrino era begin.
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