If you are looking for a reason to keep Bobby Petrino, then look no farther than South Bend, Indiana. Brian Kelly was a "Dead Man Walking" in 2016. His Notre Dame team was sitting at 4-8. His season had begun with high expectations coming off a 10-3 season with a Fiesta Bowl berth. He fired his Defensive Coordinator mid-season and drew the ire of the Irish fanbase.
Kelly had a pretty solid track record prior to this horrible season. He was 43-6 at Cincinnati then got his dream job at ND. At ND he started off with two 8-5 seasons and then had his dream season finishing 12-1. After the 12-1 season he had a 4-loss and a 5-loss season. The fanbase began to become restless again. Then came the 4-8 season. The administration stuck with him. Kelly revamped his staff and focused on recruiting. Since the 4-8 season his team has been 17-3.
There are a lot of parallels with Kelly and Petrino. Both have succeeded at similar schools (UC and UofL) during their climb up the coaching ladder. Both landed in much higher profile jobs, with tougher schedules, and higher fan expectations. Both have had or are having a down year.
Everyone knew deep down that Brian Kelly had not forgot how to coach. His track record showed that he knew how to win. The same can be said for Petrino.
The difference may be whether Petrino can make the changes that Kelly made and turn it around. That remains to be seen, but UofL should allow it to happen.
Kelly had a pretty solid track record prior to this horrible season. He was 43-6 at Cincinnati then got his dream job at ND. At ND he started off with two 8-5 seasons and then had his dream season finishing 12-1. After the 12-1 season he had a 4-loss and a 5-loss season. The fanbase began to become restless again. Then came the 4-8 season. The administration stuck with him. Kelly revamped his staff and focused on recruiting. Since the 4-8 season his team has been 17-3.
There are a lot of parallels with Kelly and Petrino. Both have succeeded at similar schools (UC and UofL) during their climb up the coaching ladder. Both landed in much higher profile jobs, with tougher schedules, and higher fan expectations. Both have had or are having a down year.
Everyone knew deep down that Brian Kelly had not forgot how to coach. His track record showed that he knew how to win. The same can be said for Petrino.
The difference may be whether Petrino can make the changes that Kelly made and turn it around. That remains to be seen, but UofL should allow it to happen.
