Timeline Now Somewhat Clearer on How Petrino Found His Way Back to Arkansas

Pittman, Yurachek had Texas A&M OC in mind way earlier than most originally thought; former Razorback head coach openly sought the job

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 30, 2023 11:57 AM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It's beginning to look more and more as if Bobby Petrino wasn't the main target in this offensive coordinator search, he was definitely near the top of the list.

A timeline, while still a little fuzzy, details an effort that was much longer in the making than most realized when word started coming down Tuesday the Razorbacks were vetting Petrino. The first step in the process was revealed on "The Paul Finebaum Show" yesterday as former Arkansas Razorback David Bazzel revealed Petrino initiated contact by having old friends with ties to the Arkansas program put out feelers to let them know he had a sincere interest in coming to Fayetteville to be the offensive coordinator.

"Once that happened, they were in communication to Northwest Arkansas, 'Just to let you know, Coach Petrino is interested if there is mutual interest,'" Bazzel said.

The day before, on his "Morning Mayhem" show on 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock, Bazzel said he began hearing talk about the Board of Trustees at Arkansas considering whether Petrino could and should be brought back as an employee of the university at some point the previous week. He said he followed up on the information with Little Rock business owner and regular guest of the radio station, Frank Fletcher.

It turned out Fletcher was hearing the same thing. Meanwhile, Petrino was finishing up his duties as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, doing his best to put together a plan to keep up with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and his prolific scoring offense with a third string quarterback.

According to Bazzel, while Petrino prepped, the Arkansas Board of Trustees gave their blessing to pursue Petrino if that's what Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek and Sam Pittman wanted to do. Meanwhile, with a new coach imminent, Petrino sat in College Station also wondering if Pittman had interest. Then his phone went off.

"And then all of the sudden this message came across my phone that said 'Coach, this is Sam Pittman. I'd love to talk to you,'" Petrino said in an interview with Hogs Plus. "So, I gave him a call and we set a time to talk that evening."

While that was going on, fans and the media bandied about several names. They familiarized themselves with UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and his many online videos explaining his "Go-Go" offense. That is until the potential head coaching considerations and numerous big name offensive coordinator options made it clear Arkansas would have minimal chance to land him.

What also threw a wrench into things was Pittman's clue as to what he was looking for in an OC the previous Friday. He had outlined three specific requirements, all of which ruled out a large number of potential candidates. Pittman appeared to have someone specifically in mind.

While the soft hum of Petrino's name buzzed in the background, no one in the media thought much of it because it was long believed that he legally could not be hired because of a law saying someone fired with cause can't be rehired. Following Pittman's bread crumbs of understands Arkansas, wants to be in Arkansas, and knows how to run the football drew a bead on two potential candidates – Illinois offensive coordinator and former Arkansas interim coach Barry Lunney, Jr. and Georgia Tech offensive coordinator and former Central Arkansas and Arkansas State assistant Buster Faulkner.

However, with a path cleared behind the scenes with the higher ups in the University of Arkansas system via a loophole in the law, Pittman set about landing his man. As Petrino settled in to begin his scheduled conversation with the embattled Arkansas coach, he was apprehensive about how serious this discussion really would be.

"Got to spend a great amount of time talking," Petrino said. "At first, I'm like 'I don't know if he really does have interest in me. I don't know if he's really serious, thinking about this.'"

He soon came to realize Pittman was serious as the two shared their love for the state and the Arkansas program itself. While they have different approaches in how tough to be on players, their hearts were on the same page.

"The thing we have in common is we both love Arkansas," Petrino said. "We both love the university and the state of Arkansas. I have always been a big fan of Coach Pittman and what he did when he came here and how he changed it around and how he was able to establish an identity of a football team. When we played them, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed that."

Once they hung up, there was a clear desire by both parties to go through with the move. However, there was still the matter of an actual vote by the Board of Trustees. They had given their word, but there had been time for influential people to get in their ear and change minds. There was also a need to get others to sign off, including Chancellor Charles Robinson. Pittman and Yurachek needed to thread the needle.

Robinson was willing to sign off on the request, but only if conditions were met. With this in mind, he e-mailed university president Donald Bobbitt at some point Monday, making the case that Yurachek and Pittman had found Petrino to have conducted himself in high character at his three coaching stops since being fired from Arkansas.

"By all accounts he has conducted himself in an appropriate manner and has not engaged in any conduct that has negatively or adversely affected the reputation of any institution or their athletic programs," Robinson wrote. "Additionally, to the best of our knowledge he has not committed any material violations of NCAA rules, institutional policies, or applicable laws. Based on the information that has been shared with me, I respectfully support the request and refer the matter for your consideration."

While Robinson awaited official word to give the go-ahead, things were a bit chaotic in College Station. Matters going on behind the scenes at Texas A&M had leaked to the public and a fan revolt led to Kentucky head coach Mike Stoops backing off reported plans to become the the next Aggies head coach in the earliest of morning hours that Monday.

As leaders there scrambled to pivot from Stoops to Duke's Mike Eklo, it set the stage for any strings that might cause additional layers of complication to be cut away. Petrino wasn't going to be retained under Elko, which didn't matter a whole lot to him so long as things kept unfolding in a positive way at Arkansas.

There was plenty of room for concern. This wasn't a case where Bobbitt shot back an immediate approval. He took a day to soak it all in and consider all angles, keeping everyone involved sweating it out.
Petrino needed a new job.
Pittman needed a splash hire to turn around a firestorm of negativity following a disastrous end to the season.
Yurachek needed anything positive to happen to keep his planned reveal of the new Arkansas Edge NIL collective on National Day of Giving from becoming a flop.

Finally, on Tuesday, Bobbitt agreed to support hiring Petrino and Robinson's requirement that the contract have a reduced payout should Pittman be fired at some point during Petrino's employment.

"I approve the exception and appreciate the diligence Coach Pittman and AD Yurachek used to guide their hiring decision," Bobbitt wrote. "Please proceed to engage with Coach Petrino to finalize his re-employment with the University of Arkansas under the terms and contingencies outlined in your letter."

Petrino wasted little time in getting to Fayetteville Tuesday. He made sure his tweets included location pins showing he was in town. He then put out an emotional message to fans Wednesday morning, making it clear how serious he is about his commitment to turning the Arkansas offense around.

His arrival in Fayetteville and eventual box seat appearance alongside Pittman at Razorback basketball's upset win over No. 7 Duke Tuesday night was treated with fanfare often reserved only for new head coaches. However, he went out of his way to make things painstakingly clear who is in charge of the Arkansas football program and his role in support.

"He's a good man," Petrino said. "He's the right man for the head job here and an he's doing a good job. Obviously, a setback this year. But sometimes when you have setback years like that, you're still doing your best job coaching. There's just things that happen that don't end up on the scoreboard. I'm excited to get started and help him. My job is to come here and help him as the head coach to score enough points to win games."