What’s even more ironic is that Louisville, who specifically denied their running back permission to transfer to Arkansas because of their dislike for Petrino, has as a basketball coach none other than Rick Pitino, he of Providence, Kentucky, the Knicks, the Celtics, and now Louisville.

I also heard although I haven’t verified it that ESPN Game Plan has removed several Arkansas basketball games from its schedule.

And thus what seems simply a case of ESPN being biased against Petrino for some unknown reason — why not see Rodriguez’s move as similar — becomes more sinister. We have seen ESPN’s power in manipulating the national mood, just recently in its promotion of Tebow. But think about ESPN slamming Petrino and Arkansas eliminating television appearances and also Sean Saulsbury advising recruits to stay away from Arkansas, and then ESPN is not just criticizing a coaching move; they’re killing an entire program. Why?

ESPN has great power. It’s the Big Brother of sports. I never saw how biased they could be until the Petrino hiring. But what they are doing, whether it’s because of Blank’s relationship with GameDay or because most of the people who work there are Duke, Michigan, Ivy League grads, who knows? I know there aren’t many if any Arkansas grads working there. And when ESPN pulls games and tells recruits not to play at a school, it becomes close to criminal in my opinion.

Imagine if Arkansas is chosen for no ESPN games next fall? How will that affect recruiting and future seasons. Do you think ESPN has the power to make and break programs? Look what they’ve done with the Big East over the years. Ten years ago who would think Rutgers, UConn, West Virginia, and Boston College would all be mentioned in the top ten? Now it’s accepted.

I went on too long, but to get back to Rodriguez, it’s just bizarre that they treat him with such respect and Petrino with such disdain. Unbelievable.

As I see it, the best finger in the eye poke we can do to ESPN is to get ourselves crowned SEC Champions on CBS and then National Champions on FOX. Now, wouldn’t that be sweet!

I think to the national sports media, places like West Virginia and Arkansas are just undeserving of prosperity. If the directions were reversed I bet the press would reverse. From Arkansas to Atlanta, good move; from Michigan to WVU an abomination.

Especially considering the number of Michigan alum sports writers out there.

Strangely Michigan also filled its basketball head coaching position from WVU. Maybe the Hogs can bring in Mike Woodson if Pelphrey doesn’t work out.

I compiled the following list of particularly puzzling contradictions. Some of these have already been noted, but I list them together for effect. I even emailed this to a couple of shows at ESPN, but have not heard it discussed.

-Petrino’s biggest evil of all seems to be he “quit” before ending the season with 3 weeks and 3 games remaining for a 3-10 team. Rodriguez also quit before the end of the season, with three weeks before their last and biggest game, which is a BCS bowl game.
- Petrino was criticized for signing a 12-year extension with Louisvile, then leaving for Atlanta a year later. Rodriguez flirted with Alabama 12 months ago, admits he interviewed and got an offer, but used it to get his salary doubled by WVU, becoming highest paid coach in Big East, and a multi-year extension through 2014, then he leaves less than 12 months later with 7 years remaining on his contract.
- After the hiring, it was written about constantly that the Arkansas job was turned down by several coaches and they were embarrassed and desperate. Michigan’s job was open even longer than Arkansas’, and they talked offered 2 notables and were turned down before they got Rodriguez
- Petrino was criticized for his common flirtations with teams each year, but Rodriquez has been in talks multiple season in a row, with the big talks with Bama last year and bolting to Michigan this year
- Petrino was criticized for having a personal $1 Million dollar buyout that he would have to pay Louisville which he had to pay when he left for Atlanta. Rodriquez agreed to a $4 MM buyout clause with WVU just 4 months ago, that he has also broken and must pay to WVU, though he is now trying to not honor that clause.
- Petrino was called a liar for saying he was happy and planned to stay at Louisville for a very long time, then he left for Atlanta a year later. Rodriguez gave the following quote 12 months ago, right after he decided to turn down the Alabama offer: Rodriguez said he plans “on being here (WVU) a long time.”
- Petrino was soundly and harshly criticized for talking to Arkansas about the job without getting permission from Atlanta ownership. This was reported by Tom Dienhart of the Sporting News about Rodriguez: “He is in it big time,” a BCS coach told me. “He didn’t tell his A.D. (when he first spoke to Michigan)”
- Petrino was criticized for telling the GM face to face he was leaving, but for only calling the Atlanta owner on the phone to say he was leaving and not addressing the team. Rodriguez called a high school quarterback who is the #1 player/prospect in the nation to tell him Sunday morning he was leaving (reported by Rivals and SuperPrep), before he even told his current players (had 10-minute meeting Sunday afternoon with them according to USA Today story). Note: It is considered by some an unwritten rule you don’t go immediately recruit prospects you were recruiting at your last job. The #1 player in the nation Sunday added Michigan to his final 5 and dropped WVU from his list based on his conversation with Rodriguez.

Seems a bit hypocritical at several levels.

All great comments…fight the power!

-John

Comments well thought out and worded.

These comments are all good. I am glad to see that others out there agree with me. I am a razorback fan living out here in Arizona. The local sports talk show host here shamelessly slandered Petrino for taking the Arkansas job. They acted as if no other coach has ever resigned from their jobs before the end of a season. I can remember the great coach Lou Holtz left the Jets before the end of the season. The talk show host here said that Petrino should have waited until the season if over before leaving. They should know that it now recruiting season, and he had to do it now or let the job pass.

Keep up these logical and reasonable views.
Glenn