Falcons Players React to Bobby Petrino’s Departure, Emmitt Thomas Takes Over Team

It was a sickening sight. Bobby Petrino quit as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons yesterday and today he was doing a Woo Pig Sooey cheer with his new team at the University of Arkansas. I don’t know how this guy can show his face in public let alone flaunt it at a press conference for the Razorbacks. You know my feelings on the situation. I expressed them yesterday. Members of the Falcons expressed them today when they got the news “officially” via a form letter on their lockers. And the words were not kind. Coward. Quitter. Hypocrite.

Ultimately, Coach Petrino’s departure was for the best. His “leadership” was under serious question before he quit. But walking out on his team after 13 games was unconscionable.

Taking over the team as interim head coach is Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary coach Emmitt Thomas. I know the Atlanta Falcons will play hard for Coach Thomas because they respect him. It won’t matter as much whether the team wins or loses these next three games. But it will matter how hard they play. Coach Thomas said:

“Like I told them, play well and then I’ll really know how you feel about the situation ….. I’m honored and excited and nervous and happy to have the opportunity. It’s an opportunity for myself and the other coaches and coordinators to try to rally these guys and get them going to play competitive football the rest of the season.”

Will Coach Thomas be a viable candidate once the season is over? Let me put it this way. I think he is more than a viable candidate, but I don’t think he’ll get the job. Certainly, some consideration will be given to how things go the next three weeks, but I think it will take a minor miracle for him to beat out coaching candidate favorites like Mike Singletary or Marty Schottenheimer to name just a couple.

Check out Allison’s take over at BCS Frenzy.