Bobby Petrino: Why Arkansas Should Have Known Better After Falcons Fiasco

A zebra can't change its stripes, and a leopard can't change its spots.

So, when head coach Bobby Petrino was hired by Arkansas in December of 2007, Razorback fans should have known that it was just a matter of time before a black cloud would be hanging over their university.

In this case, it took just over four years and took place just a couple of weeks before Arkansas holds its much important spring game.

You may know the story by now, as it's been covered by numerous media outlets, including ESPN. Head coach Bobby Petrino was involved in a motorcycle accident earlier this week. He had said that there were no passengers on the bike with him, but the police report reads different.

Considering that he lied, and that the details seem a little odd—namely that he was with Jessica Dorrell, a Razorback foundation assistant director—he has reportedly been placed on administrative leave.

But shouldn't the Razorbacks have seen this coming? After all, it was only a matter of time before something happened. 

Arkansas had hired Petrino after he quit on the Atlanta Falcons, when he realized he couldn't handle the competitive nature of the NFL. Atlanta was without its star quarterback Michael Vick at the time, and he left the Falcons with a 3-10 record when the job opened up thanks to Houston Nutt resigning.

It wasn't really the fact that he signed a five-year deal worth $24 million and only stayed around for 13 games. It was more so the fact that he left without addressing the team like a professional would and instead left a four-sentence note on everyone's locker.

Was that not enough to get your attention and make you realize that this guy may not exactly be the best fit for the program? I mean, since he did that to Atlanta, what makes the Razorbacks any different?

Once Petrino announced that he was leaving Atlanta for Arkansas, ESPN writer Pat Forde wrote these words about Petrino and his self-absorption:

"

The disingenuous drifter doesn't love you or any other fan base. He doesn't love any school or any NFL franchise. He loves himself, his playbook and his bank account.

That's it. Don't expect it to change.

Bobby Petrino will return your embrace, Hog fans. But while he's hugging you he'll be looking over your shoulder, scanning the terrain for his next hook-up.

"

This wasn't necessarily the case this time, but it might as well have been. After all, nobody is sure he will even remain the head coach of Arkansas when this is all said and done. And it will all be because of a selfish choice he decided to make.

I mean, what type of lunatic brings his mistress closer to the workplace?

Petrino has already admitted to having an “inappropriate relationship” with Dorrell, who was recently hired by Petrino to work for the football program on March 28.

But if it wasn't this incident that resulted in his firing, he would have likely found another gig within a couple of years and forgotten all about Arkansas. This is the same man who has held 16 different positions at 11 different institutions in the last 29 years.

If it wasn't this, it was going to be that.

Arkansas learned the hard way as it took a risk on a troubled head coach, and it'll have to deal with the consequences accordingly.