Petrino Discusses Whether He Has Truly Mellowed

What won't be changing about Arkansas Razorbacks coordinator in demeanor, approach

Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino at a spring practice on the indoor practice field in Fayetteville, Arkansas. / Andy Hodges-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Before Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino could drive past the Whataburger on MLK this past fall on his way to the Razorbacks' football facilities to assume official duties for the first time, Fayetteville was already dotted with BMFP merchandise.

This being a family publication, the acronym won't be getting a breakdown. However, it's a direct reflection of the excitement Arkansas fans have for Petrino's disciplined demands of his players and personal dedication toward exploiting opponents' weaknesses.

Some contend it's also a reference to the crass style of demanding exceptionalism from his players he once employed while head coach at Arkansas at the turn of the 2010s. It's that demeanor Petrino joking contended to former Razorback David Bazzel Friday morning on 103.7 The Buzz is a thing of the past.

"David, I've always been mellow," Petrino said.

However, despite observations early in spring practice this might actually be true, Petrino warned Razorbacks fans might see that side of him sharpen a bit at Saturday's scrimmage if his players don't bring their best. He admits his softer approach isn't his natural state.

"I'm gonna tell you what, I might crank it up a little bit," Petrino said. "I'm not happy with mellow."

Petrino is well aware of how Arkansas fans view him. He knows there's an expectation to turn the offense into a juggernaut. He also feels the people's desire for him to be a source of wisdom from which head coach Sam Pittman can draw.

"I've always enjoyed pressure," Petrino said. "It's something that drives you as a competitor. It drives you as a player, as a coach. So I don't I don't feel any issues with that whatsoever."

While he's not interested in changing fan perception, he has felt is the need to adjust his approach to be more in line with the change in modern college athletes. However, one thing he's not going to back off is being firm in his expectations.

"The one thing about coaching is it's still about the ability to confront and demand," Petrino said. "So, we can't let little things go. We have to make sure that we're confronting technique and effort and demanding that they're they're doing it the right way."

While many athletes come in these past five years or so unable to handle old school mental demands, Petrino said it's one area he can't back off. If they want to be Razorbacks, they're going to not only have to be physically tough, but mentally tough as well.

"Now the demand has changed a little bit, the communication and, you know, how you how you do that, but it's still the same," Petrino said. "The ability to get someone to get to their full potential and to excel and do the things that that they're capable of doing, you've got to push them mentally and physically."

While Petrino is working on putting his past self behind, he's also asking the players to put last season behind them also. It's a cultural shift he finds essential.

"Well, the first thing that I've always believed is not looking behind us," Petrino said. "We need to get everybody to just look forward and have a great attitude and positive. Everything else is in the past."

However, spoken with the voice of an experienced head coach, Petrino made clear it isn't just on his offense. The entire team needs to step up together, which has been an issue the past couple of seasons.

"We got to all do it, you know," Petrino said. "Our offensive staff, we got to move the ball, we got to be explosive, go score points. We've got to do a great job on defense and continue to improve. Take over from what they did last year and get better at that, and then excel in special teams. To win games in football, all three sides of the ball. We got to do it."

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