FAYETTEVILLE — A rally to support Arkansas football Coach Bobby Petrino did not draw a massive gathering, but the organizers got one thing they wanted: publicity.
“I think we’re still making noise, and that’s what we wanted to do,” said Matt Couch of Rogers, one of the administrators of the Team Save Coach Petrino Facebook page who helped put together the event.
Inside the Petrino Crash
PETRINO STATEMENT: “I was informed in writing today at 5:45 p.m. that I was being terminated as head football coach at the University of Arkansas. The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry. These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart. All I have been able to think about is the number of people I’ve let down by making selfish decisions. I’ve taken a lot of criticism in the past. Some deserved, some not deserved. This time, I have no one to blame but myself." CONTINUE READING HIS STATEMENT
Several local television stations, live radio and an ESPN reporter were among the media members covering the event, which brought a crowd numbering close to 200 to The Gardens, a popular tailgating spot for Razorbacks fans near Bud Walton Arena.
Forgiveness was the overriding theme for the supporters, who said they would like to see Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long retain Petrino.
Long placed Petrino on paid administrative leave while investigating the issues surrounding Petrino’s April 1 motorcycle wreck, which involved UA employee Jessica Dorrell, who was a passenger on the motorcycle.
Sylvia Schlagel of Fayetteville walked to the “stage” ofthe event carrying a sign that read: “Accept Apology and Forgive. Jesus Saved Bobby. Jeff, you can too.”
Schlagel, a poultry trader who said she walked to games at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, said forgiving Petrino is the Christian thing to do.
“We all know that we do things that we wish we hadn’t done,” Schlagel said. “I know Bobby, if he could do it all over again, this would never happen.
“Bobby’s just a special coach, and I want to keep him. A lot of Razorbacks want to keep him.”
Jeff Januszek, part of the Tim and Jeff radio show on KMCK-FM, 105.7, in Prairie Grove served as the rally’s unofficial master of ceremonies.
“I figured I could yell pretty loud and get up there and kind of help out a little bit,” Januszek said.
Januszek favors a second chance for Petrino.
“I think the Razorbacks have a fantastic future ahead of them and to have it all thrown away because of a rash decision, I think would be terrible,” Januszek said.
Couch isn’t condoning Petrino’s behavior, he said, only supporting his tenure.
“I wouldn’t ask him for marriage counseling,” said Couch, a 2000 UA graduate. “Being an Arkansas fan, being born and raised in the state of Arkansas, I really have honestly never seen Arkansas get good press.”
Couch pointed out that one of ESPN’s top sponsors is Home Depot, which was founded by Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons. “ESPN has done their very, very best to make this an anti-Bobby Petrino situation,” Couch said.
Petrino led the Falcons to a 3-10 record in 2007 before he resigned to take the Arkansas job.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 04/10/2012