[outdoorsman43]

Bobby Petrino is not the only coach that can win here, folks. There are other guys out there that UK is capable of getting that can win football games. I'm not saying he wouldn't win games here, because I do think he would win here. I just don't think hiring him would have been in the best interest of the program with all the baggage that comes with him. Every administration he has been involved with in the past doesn't miss him at all. He hasn't left anywhere a better place than when he arrived there.

You guys have to keep this is mind too: This is potentially and probably a make/break hire for Mitch Barnhart. If he screws this up, then his tenure as the UK athletic director might be finished and he knows that. He is taking this search process very seriously and gathering every detail imaginable. I'm sure that he had several conversations with Jeff Long (Arkansas' AD) and knows much more about this man than you or I.

Having said all of this, no one can say Mitch let Petrnio get away. Because even if Mitch did want to hire Petrino, it was never going to happen if Tennessee wanted him. Kentucky football is just not Tennessee football. This goes for any other coach. If Auburn offers a coach and we offer that same coach, if that coach has any interest in either program then he is going to Auburn. If Arkansas offers a coach and we offer that same coach, that coach is going to Arkansas. It's just the way it is.

There are certainly positives that would come with his hire, but there are undoubtedly negatives that come with him as well. And I think the negatives outweigh the positives. Don't get me wrong. If he had have been hired as UK head coach, then I would have supported it and probably been excited. At the same time though, I look at this and understand that there are better (and realistic) options available (see Sonny Dykes, Butch Jones, and Kliff Kingsbury).

It will be interesting to see how Petrino looks in the Dooley orange pants.