Comments on: Illini Football Hires Paul Petrino as Offensive Coordinator

By: Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:39:03 +0000

Joe is 100 percent right — the money was the issue, and the ability to get out from Bobby’s shadow. There are two more questions in play for the future: 1) CAN Petrino survive out of his brother’s shadow (I think he can)…2) How long will he be here if he succeeds at question 1?

I think that the answer to question 2 is the real conundrum. They may only have him for the two years if the Illini are successful, because if he leads a resurgance in the offense, the credit will obviously not go to Zook. I’m sure Petrino will be, if he is successful, in line for a mid-level head coaching job, a la Mike Locksley, and sooner rather than later.

By: paulmbanks

paulmbanks — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:13:30 +0000

Anything will be a step up from Mike Schulz…I guess the Univ feels so awful about that hire, they’re splurging in their spending on this new coordinator.

Now what will the Bears do when they fire Ron Turner this year (an absolutle must do) and replace him

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Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:21:43 +0000

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By: Charley Davis

Charley Davis — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:09:40 +0000

$$$

He’s now the highest paid coordinator in the entire Big Ten.
We’ve hired a mercenary; I just hope he’s deadly efficient.

By: Joe from HTTO

Joe from HTTO — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:25:32 +0000

Reason #1 they got him is the $475K he is getting for 2 years, so even if he is fired next year, he will still get a cool half million for nothing.
Reason #2 This is his first opportunity to actually call plays (something Bobby has always done)
Reason #3 He wants to get exposure outside of his brother’s shadow.

By: paulmbanks

paulmbanks — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:02:33 +0000

If he’s so good, how come he didn’t have offers in the NFL or at a more tradtional national power? Or is Zook just that good a recruiter that he can land top notch coordinators like his stellar recruiting classes?

My guess, they’ve probably told Petrino he could one day be Zook’s successor soon, and give him a chance to run his own program.