There are currently many unhappy fans wanting to cut Coach Petrino and his staff loose as soon as possible. Come on guys, give the man a break. Yes coaching and organization is a vital key to success, but I firmly believe as I've stated before, great players make great coaches! Did you know that NBA Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach had a won/loss record of 36-36 and 39-33 the two years prior to the drafting of the number two pick in the 1956 NBA draft, Bill Russell. Boston won the title in Russell's first year, lost in the finals his second season and then went on a tear through the 1966 season, winning the title every year. I liked Red Auerbach but he didn't become the legendary coach until he accumulated a roster full of future hall of famers. The same holds true for John Wooden while coaching at UCLA. Woodens won/loss record in the five seasons prior to his first NCAA title was really good 86-49. In the 1963/64 season his team was 30-0. What happened? Did he wake up one morning and suddenly become a coaching genius. I think not! He had a bevy of great players that fit his system and as they say, the rest is history. So before you grab your pitchforks and torches and demand that Coach Petrino be bought out, fired, or run out of town, let's learn from the past and "Give the man a break"!!!
