Louisville went back to its coaching well this offseason, hiring Bobby Petrino back to his old post. Louisville fans may also remember Bobby Petrino as the man who interviewed for his former boss’s job while at Louisville (behind his current and former bosses’ backs). They could also remember Bobby Petrino as the man who signed a 10-year contract extension, said he did so to make sure everyone “really believe[d]” him when he said he’s staying around, and then left a half-year later. Louisville hired that Bobby Petrino?
What we learned from the new Bobby Petrino at ACC Kickoff
He’s anti-weather, pro-computers, anti-Cincinnati and apathetic toward Kentucky.
Andy Lyons
No, no, no. It’s a new Bobby Petrino, one who won’t do any of those things, but will still win football games. So what does that new Petrino look like? He addressed the media Monday at the ACC’s media day event, the ACC Kickoff.
Spencer Hall has his version of Petrino’s speech over at EDSBS.
He’ll still take shots at Cincinnati.
Petrino was asked what the end of the Keg of Nails rivalry between Louisville and Cincinnati meant to him, and the head coach wasted no opportunity to throw a little dig the Bearcats’ way.
“I think it was a special game every year. We liked carrying the keg home after the game. We’re going to miss playing them. ”
He won’t take shots at Mark Stoops and Kentucky.
Petrino was asked about the Kentucky head coach’s decision not to attend the Governor’s Cup Luncheon, an annual event that promotes the rivalry game between the two schools. He refrained from criticizing Stoops.
Well, I'm going to be there. No, I don't have any reaction to that at all.
He doesn’t like weather.
There are a number of former Big East members in the new-look ACC, including Syracuse. Bobby Petrino’s Louisville teams played Syracuse a number of times in the Big East, and he likes the Carrier Dome.
"I always like playing inside. I think you don't have to worry about the wind or rain and you can throw the ball around real well inside. It'll be a fun game to play."
He’s confident in Will Gardner.
Louisville has a big hole to fill after the departure of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Petrino thinks the rising sophomore Gardner has the tools.
"He can make all the throws you need to make. He's got the arm strength. He's got a very quick release. We've got to continue to work on his footwork with his lower body, getting it in the right positions for his accuracy to be where we want it. But he's very coachable. He's a good student of the game, and he's a natural leader that the players have already learned to follow. He has no problem in leading and taking control of the offense."
He addressed his troubled past.
Petrino was asked about the changes he’s gone through since his last stint in Louisville, and was willing to take blame for some of the issues he’s run into.
“Well, I think there’s no doubt it’s a second chance. And I’m very fortunate and very appreciative of Tom Jurich and Dr. Ramsey in giving me this opportunity, and very excited and motivated to have the challenge ahead of us. I’ve certainly grown and changed throughout the years in things that I’ve experienced and things that I’ve caused myself. And I’m just fortunate to be able to continue in the sport that I love so much and to coach football.”
He has computers full of ACC football.
Believe they have free software that will help you with that, coach.
“We got everything in our computers, all the games from the ACC conference, and were able to start studying the conference.”
See More:
