FALCONS FUMING OVER PETRINO’S HIGHTAILING TO HOGS: As Arkansas is overjoyed with finally finding a new head coach, members of the Atlanta Falcons are pretty p.o.’ed about Bobby Petrino’s departure.

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION runs down reactions from the team. Owner Arthur Blank began his Wednesday press conference by saying, “I think the best way to describe the way that we feel is betrayed and let down.”And the players themselves had some choice words for their now ex-coach:

Safety Lawyer Milloy: “I didn’t really realize we had a cancer on our team. And it was in the form of the head coach.”QB Joey Harrington: “He lied to us. After that Monday night game, he said we all need to go home and take a look in the mirror and see what we can do to make this organization better….And then he left.”

RB Warrick Dunn: “He put this organization last in his life….He’s selfish….He’s definitely a liar.”

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall: “If I saw him in the street I wouldn’t have anything to say to him. I don’t have any respect for him. He turned his back on the organization.”Petrino didn’t even say goodbye in person. On Tuesday, players were notified of Bobby’s bailout via a short, four-sentence letter.

Even ex-Falcons are perturbed with Petrino. Grady Jackson, a lineman who was suddenly cut by the coach earlier this season, said, “For him to quit like that, it just shows his true color, like a coward with a yellow stripe down his back.”

So, who can fill the Falcons’ coaching void? While Emmitt Thomas temporarily takes over, Mark Bradley of the AJC offers a chin-up for the downtrodden franchise: former Steelers boss Bill Cowher.

HOGS GET PETRINO; WAZZU, S. MISS, NAVY NAB COACHES: The college coaching carousel seems to be slowing down.

While the Michigan mess continues to spin out of control, Arkansas has finally landed a leader, as Bobby Petrino fled the Falcons for Fayetteville.The NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES reports the new coach signed a 5-year deal worth $2.8 million per season Tuesday night, a few hours after turning in his resignation to his Atlanta employers.

Petrino becomes the 4th ex-NFL coach to currently roam the SEC sidelines, joining South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier (Redskins), Alabama’s Nick Saban (Dolphins) and Kentucky’s Rich Brooks (Rams).All four also share the common trait of previously coaching successfully at college, only to poop out in the pros - Spurrier at Florida, Saban at LSU, Brooks at Oregon, and Petrino at Louisville.

Now other schools are also starting to fill in their coaching blanks. Washington State nabbed Eastern Washington coach & former Cougar player Paul Wulff to prowl around Pullman. Southern Miss will be tipping their hat to Oklahoma State coordinator Larry Fedora to lead the Golden Eagles program.

And Navy has promoted assistant Ken Niumatalolo to captain the Midshipmen in the wake of Paul Johnson’s departure. The hire is also a barrier-breaker, as Niumatalolo is believed to be the first-ever NCAA head coach of Polynesian ancestry.Checking the leaderboard, these teams still need a savior (or at least someone to send them to a bowl game):

• Colorado State
• Duke (Vandy coach Bobby Johnson declined the offer)
• Houston
• Michigan (Last report, Les Miles still saying no)
• Northern Illinois
• SMU
• UCLA

Oh, and there’s one more opportunity that’s just opened up. All interested parties should send their resumes and headshots, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to:Arthur Blank
Atlanta Falcons Football Club, Inc.
4400 Falcon Parkway
Flowery Branch, GA 30542

No postcards, please.