LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bobby Petrino was simply too good at what he does best to remain a college football outcast for long.Question his honesty. Question his integrity. Question his loyalty. Question whether he has changed his ways. The reality is only the people closest to Petrino are the ones who are truly owed an answer to the question of whether he is a better person now.This is the reason hes gone so quickly from outcast to coach of the year candidate: Bobbys always been an outstanding football coach, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said. I dont think theres ever been a question about his football coaching ability.Four and a half years after being fired by Long at Arkansas, Petrino is rising again. His Louisville team is No. 3 in the country heading into a showdown at No. 5 Clemson and his quarterback has gone from three-star prospect to Heisman Trophy front-runner in little more than one season of college football.The infamous motorcycle accident and scandal that cost Petrino his job at Arkansas could end up being the backstory on the way to a national championship.I thought he could take it to another level, Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. But he has rounded himself out as a fantastic human being this time around. Its just great to watch. You can see hes at peace.Jurich was one of the people who needed convincing about Petrino the person. Jurich has hired Petrino twice and both times he has guided Louisville to national prominence.The relationship between Petrino and Jurich was far from perfect the first time around. Petrinos penchant for eyeing other jobs in a less-than-up-front way during his first stint coaching the Cardinals annoyed Jurich. Still, Petrino reached out to his former boss after being fired by Arkansas for lying to Long about the motorcycle accident that involved Petrino and his mistress, who also was an Arkansas football staffer.Jurich suggested to Petrino that he own up to the embarrassing judgment lapse, and show remorse if he hoped to ever coach again. Petrino was out of college football for one season, though he returned on a much smaller stage.I looked at it from the standpoint ... when will Western Kentucky ever have a chance to hire somebody in the prime of their career with the resume that he has? WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said. Somebody thats had top 10 team finishes. Been to the Orange Bowl. Been to the Sugar Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. I felt from a football standpoint, wed never be able to hire somebody with a resume like that.Petrino led the Hilltoppers to an 8-4 mark in 2013, but the prospect of Petrino returning to Louisville didnt enter Jurichs mind until coach Charlie Strong abruptly left for Texas in January 2014. The surprising turn of events ended several days later with Petrino getting a second chance with the program he led to a 41-9 record from 2003-06.Jurich knew what he was getting in a coach and was comfortable with the man.Did I expect to beat (then-No. 2) Florida State 63-20? No, I sure didnt, Jurich said. But I expected us to be very competitive.Louisvilles statement victory on Sept. 17 against the Seminoles has Petrino and the Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) poised to take another big leap Saturday night at Clemson (4-0, 1-0). A second top five win in three weeks puts the Cardinals on track toward winning the Atlantic Division and firmly in the national title discussion.This spring, Jurich gave Petrino a seven-year contract extension that pays a base annual salary of $3.875 million. The way this season is going, Petrino can expect another raise. And the speculation has already begun about whether that will be at Louisville or LSU.Petrino pledged his allegiance to Louisville this week the way coaches do when asked about other jobs.I did believe our goal was to win a national championship. Weve been saying that since we got here. It was that way when I was here before, Petrino said.Some may never forgive Petrino for his indiscretions, no matter how many games he wins -- and not just how it ended at Arkansas. He ended up leaving Louisville for the NFL in 2007, but quit during his first season with the Atlanta Falcons struggling at 3-10 to take the Razorbacks job.Everybody makes mistakes, said former Louisville offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, now at Illinois. As long as they look them in the eye, accept responsibility and dont let them happen again, you are supposed to be forgiven. ... In team meetings, when hes talking about making mistakes and coming back from them, he can use himself as an example.Stewart said Petrino was demanding of coaches, players and staff, but there were no complaints about his behavior at WKU.Petrino kept Stewart in the loop as he went through the interview process with Louisville. The AD hoped to have Petrino for more than one season but understood the reality.I knew that he was going to have other opportunities, Stewart said.Louisville is 21-9 under Petrino, success that another former Cardinals coach, John L. Smith, expected.The difference this time is Petrino seems to be enjoying it more. Jurich and Smith credit Petrinos love of family for allowing him to savor this second chapter of success.The father of four -- including Nick, the Cardinals quarterbacks coach -- and grandfather of three talked about celebrating the FSU win with family. Hes an active participant in the foundation he and his wife, Becky, run and interacts with fans, who seem to have forgiven him.Hes letting his true personality show, said Smith, who was Petrinos boss at Louisville in 1998 and his assistant and interim successor at Arkansas. He has a gruff exterior, not that he wants to show it, but hes showing his other side now. Hes being himself.---College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo in New York and AP Sports Writer Kurt Voigt in Arkansas contributed to this report. Wholesale Jerseys . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. 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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri coach Barry Odom considers his role to be that of a teacher. He is still learning things in his inaugural season at the helm of his alma mater.Saturdays game against Kentucky will be his latest test.The Tigers (2-5, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) have dramatically improved their offense from a year ago, when they finished second to last in the nation in offensive efficiency. Missouri leads the SEC in yards per game with 505, but that has not always led to wins. Last week, Missouri lost its homecoming game 51-45 to Middle Tennessee, surrendering 584 yards, including 300 on the ground. The Tigers also piled up penalties that allowed MTSU to extend multiple drives.Odom is reevaluating his level of involvement with all sides of the ball, including his area of expertise -- defense.Ive got an opportunity to go help that side out and Im going to do it, Odom said. Ive been trying to balance both sides along with some of the other things and I need to spend my focus there.Odom was Missouris defensive coordinator last season, and discussed the fine line between aiding and interfering.If theres a call I really dont like, or I dont think its the right tine or fit for it, Ill say something, Odom said. But also, as a head coach, I recall being a coordinator not that long ago and I want those guys to feel comfortable doing their work too, not overlooking all the time, `Whats the head coach thinking?Kentucky (4-3, 3-2) will look to capitalize on Missouris recent struggles. The Wildcats seek their third consecutive SEC victory after defeating Vanderbilt 20-13 on Oct. 8 and Mississippi State 40-38 last Saturday. It would be the first three-game conference win streak for the Wildcats since 1999.They put a lot of stress on you, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said of Missouris offense. They go extremely fast and theyve got somme very dynamic players, so its going to be a real challenge.dddddddddddd.Here are some things to watch Saturday:INJURY BUGMissouri has been hit with a string of injuries, four of which occurred in the loss to Middle Tennessee. Linebacker Michael Scherer tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee, effectively ending his college career with five games to play. Additionally, Terry Beckner Jr. tore his ACL in his left knee after the same injury to his right knee cut his 2015 season short. Scherer led Missouri with 53 tackles in seven starts. Beckner had 24 tackles, including two for loss, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.Everybody in America is banged up at this point, Odom said. Its week seven or eight or nine for some. Thats the game. Youve got to have your next guys ready to go play.MAKING STRIDESWith a win Saturday, Kentucky would secure its fourth conference win, something it hasnt accomplished since 2006 under Rich Brooks. Additionally, the Wildcats have won their last three home games, something they last accomplished in 1996.I was proud of our team this past week in finding a way to win and showing some toughness and some resiliency against Mississippi State, but theres a lot of things that we can do better, Stoops said.FOUNTAIN OF YOUTHMissouri has just 16 seniors on its roster, including Scherer, while Kentucky has 11, the fewest in the nation. Missouri senior cornerback John Gibson was also injured against Middle Tennessee, and is still not a guarantee for Saturday.It does present a real challenge, Stoops said of his lack of seniors. Youre starting to see our team grow up a little bit. We wouldnt have been able to win some close games and some tough games without their leadership. ' ' '