Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/21/2010 at 2:23pm

Apparently, living in Atlanta is Heaven, while us Arkansans reside in Hell.

Jeff Schultz, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports reporter live-blogging from Hoover, Ala., listed the order that the Southeastern Conference coaches would addressed the assembled horde for the SEC Media Days. Notice the schools next to the coaches' or officials' names:

– Today: Bill Hancock (BCS), Mike Slive (SEC commissioner), Nick Saban (Alabama), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State), Urban Meyer (Florida), Joker Phillips (Kentucky).

– Thursday: Bobby Petrino (Hell), Mark Richt (Georgia), Steve Spurrier (South Carolina), Bobby Caldwell (Vanderbilt).

– Friday: Gene Chizik (Auburn), Derek Dooley (Tennessee), Les Miles (LSU), Houston Nutt (Mississippi).

Granted, Mr. Schultz, it does feel hotter than hell around here these days. And, speaking of the devil, we guess you've been hanging out with Paul Finebaum and discussing the Natural State's nicer aspects and how much the Hogs have brought to the SEC in their 18 years in the league.

Meanwhile, Clay "I love reading what I write" Travis is closing in on chucklehead status. In Travis' preview of the SEC Media Days reported via Fanhouse.com, complete with a list of 13 items of note, he offers this prediction of Bobby Petrino's future in Fayetteville:

12. Anyone else think Bobby Petrino's wife, Becky, is already checking out homes in Ann Arbor?

Just in case Jim Harbaugh turns down that job after Rich Rodriguez is fired in November?

I'm certain of it.

Especially given how depressed the real estate market is in the state of Michigan. The Wolverines might even be willing to build him a castle up there; anything to win more than four games in a season.

Petrino has never coached for more than four seasons anywhere, and he's only done that one place: Louisville.

Given the weak recruiting classes he's put together at Arkansas and the fact that he's only 5-11 in the SEC in his first two seasons, nine wins at Arkansas in his third season and Petrino is going to be out that door.

Where is anyone's guess, but he won't be in Fayetteville come season four.

We're not arguing the point that Petrino could bolt after this season; yes, his track record is such that one may never know what Petrino will do next (though he's only left ONE college head coaching job in the past and that was for his dream to try the NFL, and like Nick Saban experienced, that failed). Michigan's a great call, too, for Petrino's next destination, in fact. The Big Ten seems to be wanting for an offensive style that Petrino would bring, if brother Paul doesn't deliver it first as offensive coordinator at Illinois.

But we didn't realize Travis, besides apparently striving to be the most prolific author/writer to emerge from Tennessee since Shelby Foote (remember that quantity doesn't equate with quality), is also a recruiting guru. Granted, last February's signing class was not rated as highly as Petrino's first two hauls, but the out-of-state recruits still were ranked higher than any out-of-state class Houston Nutt managed to pull in during his 10 years, and this year's commitment list iincludes all but one of the state's top players. Those first two Petrino classes produced several quality players in the past two seasons, including the talented array of wide receivers, and by any recruiting site's account were not considered "weak." If anything, Clay, the state of Arkansas' production of Division I talent this past season was weak, not unlike your native state.

Give Travis credit for not hedging, though, and just going right out on the limb and saying Petrino won't be at Arkansas next year. However, earlier in his column Travis rates Petrino among five coaches, in no particular order, likely to NOT be at next year's SEC Media Days. That's going to be a lot of changeover.

You can catch Travis likely dining somewhere soon with Paul Finebaum, Jeff Schultz and Pat Forde as they share classic Petrino stories and tales of forgettable traveling in and around Arkansas.

Tagged: Bobby Petrino, Southeastern Conference, Fanhouse.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jeff Schultz, Pat Forde, Clay Travis