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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. Colorado Rockies Shirts .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Rockies Jerseys 2019 . 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LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska coach Mike Riley says quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. is going through the concussion protocol and is listed day-to-day for this weekends home game against Minnesota.Riley said Monday that he is encouraged because Armstrong has said he feels good.Riley said he expects to make a decision on Armstrongs availability for the Minnesota game by Thursday.This is out of our hands, which is a good thing, the coach said. That decision will be made medically.Armstrongs head hit the turf hard when he was tackled along the Ohio State sideline by safety Malik Hooker in the second quarter of Saturday nights 62-3 loss in Columbus, Ohio.Medics tended to Armstrong on the field for about 10 minutes before he was taken to a hospital to be evaluated. Armstrong returned to Ohio Stadium in the second half and was with his teammates on the sideline.Riiley said Ryker Fyfe would start if Armstrong cant play.dddddddddddd He would be backed up by Zack Darlington.Armstrong has started 42 games at Nebraska and set the career record for total offense last week before he suffered the injury. He holds the career record for passing yardage at Nebraska and is the only active FBS player with 8,000 yards passing and 1,500 rushing.If he is unable to play this week, Armstrong will remain an asset to his teammates, Riley said.There will be no problem having Tommy be there for this team, Riley said. Thats been who he is and who they expect him to be. He will be there for this team. He will be there to play if he can.ESPNs Mitch Sherman and The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '