Razorbacks react to Petrino firing

April 13, 2012|by Joe Hickman

Thursday following a spring practice scrimmage at Reynolds Stadium, the Arkansas Razorback players and coaches were made available to the press for the first time since the firing of head coach Bobby Petrino, who was dismissed Tuesday night after an investigation into his motorcycle accident and subsequent admission that he lied to school administrators and hired his girlfriend on to the athletic staff. Petrino, a married father of four, also admitted paying Jessica Dorrell $20,000 dollars of his own money.

"It was very surprising and very shocking," said Arkansas runningback Knile Davis, who missed this past season due to injury. Davis, who's considered one of the top backs in the nation, added "it hurt. But at the end of the day he's human. And we all make mistakes."

Petrino's brother, Paul, who just returned to Arkansas as offensive coordinator after two seasons at Illinois, admitted that Bobby was not doing well since his dismissal. Paul said he did not know about Bobby's relationship with Dorrell, saying "I was surprised. But he's my brother. He's made a mistake and is paying for it. My focus is just on coaching as best I can."

Alfred Davis, a Razorback defensive end and senior-to-be, explained that most of the players have handled the horrible circumstances very well. "Some guys are confused," Davis said. "But it's all out of our control. (Athletic Director) Jeff Long made the decision and we have to move on."

Many players and coaches echoed that theme, pointing out that while the head coach is gone, the assistant coaches and returning players still give the team a shot at their goal of winning a national championship next season.

"I was a little disappointed," said Tyler Wilson, the Hogs quarterback who's an All-American candidate next season. "But this is an opportunity for us."

Paul Haynes, the Razorbacks defensive coordinator, came to Fayetteville from Ohio State, where the Buckeyes went through their own high-profile head coach firing with Jim Tressel. "It's a tragic thing," Haynes said. "You pray for coach Petrino and his family. But our ultimate goal is to be there for the players right now."

The next step in this unfolding story is what to do about the vacant head coaching position. Athletic Diretor Jeff Long is still deciding whether or not to look for a high-profile replacement to put in place by the fall drills or name an interim coach that would take the team through this coming season. The interim idea seems to be a popular choice considering a new coach with a new way of doing things would have little time to install his system. And most of the players don't like the possibility that a new head coach would bring in a new staff and let go of the current assistants who have played such an important role in keeping the team together.

"We've already got a system in place," explained Knile Davis. "We don't have to learn a new offense and defense and that seems to be the best way to do it." But then he smiles and adds, "but then again, it's not my decision."

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