Dogs With Hog Ties

One of the best things Fayetteville High School has going for it is the University of Arkansas. At least in terms of inheriting football talent when the University hires new coaches who often have sons and/or daughters who are talented and are well-schooled in sports. This season, the Fayetteville football team has four players with Hog ties including a pair that line up beside each other on both sides of the ball in seniors Bobby Petrino and Franco Broyles. Other Bulldogs with Razorback bloodlines are Bobby Bannister and Brandon Allen. "These kids right now definitely know football," said Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton. "The best thing is the (UA) football staff has been very supportive and are not there to interfere. They have never come across like they know more than we do or that we should be doing this or that and that's a great relationship to have." Petrino is the son of first-year Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino while Broyles is the grandson of former UA athletic director Frank Broyles. With that one link in common, Petrino and Broyles have hit it off as friends off the field. "We both know where we've come from," said Petrino, who prefers not having 'Jr.' attached to his name. "We both know what it's like and how tough it is to have your family out there and your name out there." Frank Broyles is a big Bulldogs' fan and regularly attends practices and games. He offers his grandson advice on football and much more. "He watches us and gives me an opinion of what can make me a better football player, but more importantly than that, he helps me with things in my life as far as how to be a better person," Franco Broyles said. "He's taught me just to be a leader and to always motivate the team and make sure everyone is ready. He's taught me not to be selfish and to focus on the team." Coach Petrino has attended a few games and even got to watch his son make the game-winning interception in a win at Jefferson City, Mo. "That was a good play," Coach Petrino said, sporting a wide smile. "That was a great game that went back and forth and a father is always glad to see a son making plays like that." Coach Petrino said he tries to attend every Fayetteville home game that he can when the Razorbacks are playing in town. He usually arrives around the end of the first quarter after wrapping up team meetings. As far as dad doing any coaching, that usually comes on Thursday nights when father and son get to breakdown Fayetteville's film form the previous week. "I always critique him and he loves that," Coach Petrino said. "This is his third team in three years and I'm very, very proud of him. He plays to game very tough and very hard-nosed. I really enjoy watching him play." Growing up with a legendary coach in his family, Franco Broyles said he hopes to be a coach some day. He plans to play baseball in college, though. "I'd like to go into coaching college baseball and then one day follow in my grandfather's footsteps as an athletic director," Franco Broyles said. "I always thought that would be pretty cool and I know coaching would be really fun." Interestingly enough, Petrino doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps. He hopes to play football in college, just not at Arkansas. "It would be hard playing for my dad. It would be a lot of pressure, for both of us," Petrino said. "But no coaching for me. I want to go to college to become a doctor." Whatever the future holds, the duo will continue starring together on Friday nights and watching football games and movies on the weekends. "Franco is really outgoing so we kind of balance each other out because I'm more of the quiet type," Petrino said. "But we've really become good friends in a short time together and both really enjoy hanging out with each other."