ATLANTA (Jan. 7, 2007) -- Louisville coach Bobby Petrino agreed Sunday to become the new coach of the Atlanta Falcons, moving to the NFL less than a week after Jim Mora's firing.
Kenny Klein, the sports information director at Louisville, said Petrino was leaving for Atlanta after guiding the Cardinals to a 12-1 season, capped by a 24-13 victory over Wake Forest on Tuesday night in the Orange Bowl.
Petrino met with his Louisville players Sunday night to let them know he was going to Atlanta. The Falcons planned a formal announcement Monday.
Petrino had a 41-9 record in four years at Louisville, leading the school to the Big East title and its first Bowl Championship Series victory in the Orange. He had just completed the first year of a 10-year, $25 million contract.....