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DEL.ICIO.USArkansas recruits react to Petrino’s hiring
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/12/07
Troup offensive lineman John Oliver, who recently committed to Central Florida, turned down a scholarship offer from Arkansas.
Oliver said had he originally committed to the Razorbacks, he likely would be looking for another school today.
“If that was to happen to me, I wouldn’t be committed to Arkansas if I was an Arkansas commit,” said Oliver, when asked about the Razorbacks’ decision to hire Bobby Petrino, who bolted from the Atlanta Falcons after just 13 games.
“But I would give [Petrino] a chance to meet me and be around him before I did that,” he said.
Oliver believes Petrino’s personality never meshed with the players on the Falcons’ roster.
“I think Bobby Petrino had a good thing going on at Louisville, and then he came down to the Atlanta Falcons hoping to mature Michael Vick as a quarterback,” he said.
“Arkansas is a good fit for him. They’ve got a good group of quarterbacks and it was probably a good move for his family.
“But as far as the way he handled it, I might have done something differently.”
The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder said Wednesday evening he will politely tell Petrino no if the Hogs’ new coach tries to lure him away from coach George O’Leary’s Golden Knights.
“I’m comfortable with the coaching staff at Central Florida,” Oliver said. “And I gave them my word. When I give somebody my word, that’s it.”
Searcy commits to Troy
James Searcy, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman for Northgate in Newnan, chose to commit to Troy on Saturday.
Rated a three-star defensive end by Scout.com, Searcy also had scholarship offers from the SEC’s Arkansas, Mississippi State and South Carolina.
“It was between Troy and Mississippi State,” Searcy admitted. “I never scheduled a visit for Arkansas. I just didn’t think I’d like it there.”
Searcy, who was offered by former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt’s staff in March, believes new Razorback coach Bobby Petrino should have remained in Atlanta for at least one more season.
If he had committed to Arkansas, Searcy would give serious consideration to withdrawing his commitment to the Hogs.
“I probably would have visited a few other schools,” he said.
As for whether Petrino is in it for the long haul in Fayetteville, Searcy said the longevity of the coaching staff he plays under is important to him.
“Me and [Troy] coach [Larry] Blakeney talk all the time,” Searcy said. “I’d probably leave Troy if he left before I got there.”
Wright sticking with Arkansas
Tenarius Wright of Whitehaven High in Memphis, Tenn. is thrilled with Arkansas’ decision to hire former Atlanta Falcon coach Bobby Petrino.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker was emphatic when asked Wednesday evening if he plans to honor his commitment to the Razorbacks.
“I think it was a great move for a college team to get an NFL coach,” Wright said. “He had a good reputation at Louisville. I’m looking forward to playing for him.”
Wright, who still plans to take official visits to Kentucky on Jan. 11, Arkansas on Jan. 18, Memphis on Jan. 25 and North Carolina during the weekend prior to signing day in February, admitted that his commitment to the Razorbacks would have been shaky if Arkansas had waited much longer to hire a coach.
“If it had been another two weeks, I probably would have seen something better,” Wright said. “He had to come now to recruit us.”
But Wright seemed unfazed over the prospect of Petrino’s employment being short-lived with Arkansas.
“I play football for football,” Wright said. “I never really was going to Arkansas over who the coach is. You can have the best coach and still not be able to perform on the field.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By JB
December 13, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
Could ANYONE blame a kid for bailing on a guy who’s credibility is next to zero???
HBTD!!!
By James Hall
December 13, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
I guess NFL conrtacts aren’t binding like in the real world. If Blanc doen’t have Petrino in court for breach of contract plus added damages, he deserves what he gets….three more years of a “building team”.
By James Hall
December 13, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
I guess NFL contracts don’t mean anything like they do in the REAL world.If Blanc doesn’t have Petrino in court for breach of contract plus damages, he deserves what he gets….three more years of a “building team” with no hope of ever being anything else.
By EasyCharlie
December 13, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
“I play football for football,” Wright said. “I never really was going to Arkansas over who the coach is.”
Gee, another sacred belief shattered. And to think all along I felt that these kids were using football to give themselves a chance to get a good education.
By mpete
December 13, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
“I think it was a great move for a college team to get an NFL coach,” Wright said.
Tenarius, if you think 13 games makes him an NFL coach then all I can say is good luck with those finals next year.
By Refreshing Perspective
December 13, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Nice to see a kid like T Wright pick his school. The kids that hang on a Richt or Spurrier, etc. are the ones that lose when the coach leaves. This kid seems to understand that. Look for the school you want and be happy about that decision.
Mr. Oliver might want to check on O’Leary’s credibility issues before throwing too many stones at Petrino. Petrino changed his mind and told his boss. O’Leary changed his mind when he got caught.
By BuzzFactor
December 13, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Sounds like Tenarius may not be playing very much after grades start rolling in. I hope “PeTreasonO” flops on his face! I hope his kids realize that their father has no moral values and cares for nothing other than himself!
By War Eagle
December 13, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
This is second”off spring matter” coaching reliance CBP has been involved with…remember jetgate At Auburn,where he met the Auburn officials in a isolated airfield to discuss the HC Auburn job without Coach Tuberville knowledge??
By War Eagle
December 13, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
above post.._alliance__instead of reliance..sorry
By Refreshing Perspective
December 13, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
I remember Jetgate. How could Tuberville keep working there after what the school did behind his back. The only reason Petrino met with them was because they said they were letting Tuberville go. What a mess down there on the plains.
And isn’t it sad to see Stephanie Blank disrespecting all of Arkansas. No wonder Petrino left. She and Art seem to have created an environment that fosters the kind of “Free Mike Vick” attitude we saw on TV Monday night. They will forever blame people like Petrino for their own problems. I think the Blank household needs an intervention.
By rfsbkr
December 13, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
How can anyone trust Pistrino. Any man that can’t even face the owner or player to let them know that he is leaving is truly a coward. This guy will leave Arkansas very soon. He has no morals. Did anyone notice that his brother left the Falcons too. What did their parents teach these guys. Notice to all recruits of Arkansas, don’t believe anything he says.
By Scott
December 13, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
You Atlanta folks need to worry about water, crazy cruel quarterbacks and Georgia Tech. You lost a great coach to a program with a rich tradition and very deep support. Your NFL program is clearly sub-par and getting worse. BP did not create your losing franchise, Blank did. Good luck and Woo-Pig Sooo.
By Scott
December 13, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
You Atlanta folks need to worry about water, crazy cruel quarterbacks and Georgia Tech. You lost a great coach to a program with a rich tradition and very deep support. Your NFL program is clearly sub-par and getting worse. BP did not create your losing franchise, Blank did. Good luck and Woo-Pig Sooo.
By Scott
December 13, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
You Atlanta folks need to worry about water, crazy cruel quarterbacks and Georgia Tech. You lost a great coach to a program with a rich tradition and very deep support. Your NFL program is clearly sub-par and getting worse. BP did not create your losing franchise, Blank did. Good luck and Woo-Pig Sooo.
By Wade
December 14, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
We in Arkansas love coach Petrino, suck your sour grapes losers! Knute Rockne would not be able to help the Falcons with their premadonna’s and immoral idiots!
By mia
December 15, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Come on ya losers! Petrino is just like every other major division 1 headcoach. Between you whiners and ESPN, who needs enemies of the game. Go Razorbacks, go Petrino and just go away critics.. mia
By mia
December 15, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Come on ya losers! Petrino is just like every other major division 1 headcoach. Between you whiners and ESPN, who needs enemies of the game. Go Razorbacks, go Petrino and just go away critics.. mia
By mia
December 15, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Come on ya losers! Petrino is just like every other major division 1 headcoach. Between you whiners and ESPN, who needs enemies of the game. Go Razorbacks, go Petrino and just go away critics.. mia
By RobS
December 18, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
It seems to me Oliver migtht be a Falcons fan and after Petrino did to A. Blank and that organization, he just like the rest of world have an oppinion in the matter.
I like to hear of recruits who stick to their promise to play for who they commited to. UCF will get a great OL and a VERY standup young man.
For the ARK fans… this is an ATL newspaper what do you expect since Petrino did walk out on the falcons before the end of the season.
By RazorbackinTexas
December 24, 2007 4:35 AM | Link to this
Sounds like a lot of commenters would like to talk Tenarius Wright out of going to Arkansas, blaming new Coach Petrino or any other factor for a reason for not going.
They are just jealous of Arkansas and/or over-zealous trying to get Tenarius’ to reconsider to their particular team.
Tenarius has a bright future at Arkansas - just as Darren McFadden (Twice All-American and top NFL recruit) and Mr. Jones (All-American and top NFL recruit) have been there.
Are you negative commenters REALLY interested in what is best for Tenarious and the other Arkansas recruits?
By RazorbackinTexas
December 24, 2007 5:21 AM | Link to this
Who would like to coach for the Atlanta Falcons? Petrino? Anyone?
A loser owner, a loser bunch of players who won’t play for ANYONE, and all they can think to do is complain about a coach who left them after the promises that the Falcons made to him were dis-honored.
Blank (Whose Home Depot is a major ESPN sponsor) would have fired Petrino at the end of the season, anyway, in order to have a scapegoat for the incredible mess Vick and the sorry cast of players of players have made of this season (and probably the next several seasons).
If Atlanta fans don’t want to face the truth of the matter with the Falcons and will listen to the local media harp on Petrino (to help Blank look better), then so be it. It seems like the fans would see through everything and blame the ones that are truly at fault (Otherwise, grow up!).
The media types that keep up this mis-directing of blame should either take up writing society columns for their outlets or go to work directly for ESPN-Disney (You know, the ones whom like to do unbalanced and one-sided reporting, make “disingenuous” statements, no research on their articles, unintelligent conclusions, and continually attack hoping that no one will notice their inconsistencies).