Razorbacks defend Petrino as caring

Atlanta Falcons players scribbled “coward” on Bobby Petrino’s farewell note. Others called him a liar or a recluse. And those were some of the less-malicious sentiments after Petrino left the Falcons just 13 games into his first NFL season to take the job at Arkansas.

But the Razorbacks depict a different Petrino, one who attempts to connect with the players on a personal level. He might not be the most gregarious character — “I haven’t really been around him when he’s been in a joking manner,” center Jonathan Luigs said — but players claim he’s not the monster many people think.

“I think people think he doesn’t care for his players or care what goes on,” Luigs said. “He came in wanting to know about us as individuals before players. I think everybody has a misperception the way he left the Falcons and the way the media portrayed him. To me, he’s been a first-class guy and a caring individual.”

Petrino starts his first preseason camp at Arkansas facing more scrutiny than most coaches with a 41-9 collegiate record. He’s still answering questions about the way he left Atlanta and his propensity to search for other jobs. Petrino has tried to land another job each of the last five years.

These questions aren’t just coming from the media and fans. He heard them in the homes of recruits.

“It always came up in the home. There’s no question about that,” he said. “But I think when you sat down and visited with the parents ... you know, the recruiting went well and it became a non-issue.”

And on his hasty departure from the Falcons: “The whole situation, the timing was bad. There’s no question about that. If it could have played out any other way, I would have loved to see it play out a different way. But with the Falcons, and with Arkansas, it was really the only way it could play out.

“They had a quarterback at that time (Michael Vick) that I thought could be real special. So that played a lot into it, too.”

Petrino is facing more pressing issues now, such as finding wide receivers, linebackers and other replacements for the six Razorbacks taken in the NFL draft, including first-rounders Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Casey Dick finished spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback.

The media picked Arkansas, which finished 8-5, 4-4 in the SEC last season, to finish last in the SEC West.

“It wasn’t unexpected,” Petrino said of the sixth-place pick. “It certainly will help to motivate us, but you know, it’s not going to help us win or help us lose any games.”

That will largely be determined by the players, many of whom lack experience but not praise for their coach. Luigs even defended criticism of Petrino’s quick transition from Atlanta to Arkansas, where he was “calling the Hogs” just 24 hours after losing a Monday Night Football game.

“It’s going to come with the way he left the Falcons and the way everything went down, but at the same time, you’ve got to realize that he had to take advantage of the opportunity he was given,” Luigs said. “The NFL season goes longer than the college season and we had to fill that position, that need, and I think it’s sad he had to take the rap he got for going somewhere he needed to go.”

And the Razorbacks, for now, are glad it was Arkansas.

“Coach Petrino is a great man, a great coach from what I’ve seen,” linebacker Elston Forte said. “He knows what he’s talking about. A lot of people might see the stuff on TV or whatever, and maybe let it play a big part in what Coach Petrino does. But the Arkansas Razorbacks, we love Coach Petrino.”