Grace for Bobby Petrino

Scrolling Instagram recently, I came across a quote that intrigued me. With a picture of Bobby Petrino in the background, these are the words I read on my screen:

“The amount of grace extended to Bobby Petrino is dumbfounding. Second chances are all fine and good, but he’s gotten enough to deserve a classification all to himself.” (C. L. Brown, writing for the Courier Journal)

My first thought? “I am Bobby Petrino.”

Bobby Petrino took over head coaching responsibilities for the Arkansas Razorbacks early last week when Sam Pittman was fired for such a horrific start to the season. Petrino was the offensive coordinator on Pittman’s staff. Many, like C. L. Brown, believe giving Petrino the keys to the car (or should I say, motorcycle?) again is not a good idea.

That’s right. Again. This isn’t Petrino’s first head coaching stint at Arkansas. He led the Hogs from 2008–2012 before being abruptly let go.

I am familiar with the significance of Brown’s comments about Petrino on several levels. Though I have never met the man, I have had a personal interest in his football coaching ability and career. His reputation has been one of unique and unfortunate intrigue.

I was living in Razorback land when Petrino’s head coaching job came crashing down in April of 2012. And I do mean “crashing down.” Ironically, on April Fool’s Day, news reports flooded the sports world that Petrino had been severely injured in a bad motorcycle accident. He tried, unsuccessfully, to cover up what was going on that led to the incident. It wasn’t long until the world knew he was with his mistress and had been lying to everyone about his actions and whereabouts. His girlfriend, by the way, was a staffer for the university. Hog Nation was, understandably, not happy.

Before that, Petrino had been rumored to have conversations with the bigwigs at my alma mater about replacing head coach Tommy Tuberville in 2004. That’s not surprising or immoral. The interesting thing is that offers were supposedly being made, and glad-handing was happening behind Tuberville’s back and prohibited closed doors. In other words, shady stuff was happening that involved Bobby Petrino.

A couple of years later, Petrino was back in the news amid sketchy headlines. After coaching in the NFL (Atlanta Falcons) for only thirteen games, he left in the middle in the night for the Arkansas job. Didn’t tell the team. Didn’t tell the front office. Didn’t tell a soul. Just he and God left Atlanta for Fayetteville. “Coward.” “Hypocrite.” “Quitter.” A few of the non-Rated-R words used to describe him.

Perhaps you can see why C. L. Brown for the Courier Journal and others are shocked to see the amount of grace offered to Bobby Petrino. He made shady arrangements with the big guns at Auburn; he ghosted the entire Atlanta Falcons organization; and he lied, covered up, and blamed others for a long-term affair he had been having with a staffer for the University of Arkansas. Not to mention his reputation for just being an all-out jerk of a coach.

So when I read, “The amount of grace extended to Bobby Petrino is dumbfounding. Second chances are all fine and good, but he’s gotten enough to deserve a classification all to himself,” I was struck.

Or maybe I should say I was stuck.

Stuck because I was caught. I believe in and preach grace. But … for over 20 years of my life, I have internally judged Bobby Petrino. In my mind and heart, I have labeled him an unregenerate pagan who has very little (if any) hope of transformation. I, too, was dumbfounded when I learned Arkansas hired him to be the offensive coordinator after what had happened just over a decade ago. I was living among the Razorback faithful when the horrible and heartbreaking news broke. And then to promote him to being the interim head coach? Shocking. The Hogs may go on to win the remainder of their games, but for right now the decision makers look remarkably foolish.

And to be quite honest, this move by the Razorback organization gives off a sense of the Spirit of Jesus. Oh, I know their ultimate goal is for wins and more money for the institution. I get that. But still. Think about it. Their foolish actions feel scandalously biblical, giving Petrino “a second chance from his second chances, for the ten thousandth time” (John Van Deusen). Wasn’t it Peter, that Rock of the Church, who failed on the job three spectacular times? Then there’s Zacchaeus, who embezzled money and was given the honor of dinner with Jesus. Jesus was often labeled a fool for who he would hang around, welcome, pardon, and offer a second chance. Welcome a prodigal home? Carry on a conversation with a Samaritan woman? Allow a sinful woman to wet and wash his feet with her tears and hair? Leave ninety-nine sheep to go after one? Preposterous!

Not to mention that I see myself in Bobby Petrino.

No, I’ve never coached football, made a shady deal with rich people, abandoned an NFL franchise, or raced out of town on a motorcycle with a woman who isn’t my wife. But in the game of comparative righteousness, everyone loses. I have been welcomed back by the Father after falling — again and again and again and again and again. I have made the Father look foolish for taking me back. In fact, like Paul, I am the chief of sinners. I’ve gotten enough grace to deserve a classification all to myself!

I think the reason I was struck by the Instagram post with the quote by C. L. Brown is because it resonated within me. “The amount of grace extended to Matt Pearson is dumbfounding. Second chances are all fine and good, but he’s gotten enough to deserve a classification all to himself.” To many, the power people at the University of Arkansas look foolish. Giving another chance to such a disgraced soul doesn’t make sense. But at the end of the day, though apples and oranges, I love how Petrino’s promotion points me to the reality of God the Father’s love for me.

It almost makes me want to call the Hogs. I won’t, mind you. I said “almost.” I think I’ll just sing “Amazing Grace” instead.