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After seeing mixed success as a head coach for Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Kentucky, Bill Curry found a home at ESPN. The former NFL offensive lineman and longtime coach spent ten years with the Worldwide Leader, serving primarily as a college football game and studio analyst.

The itch to coach, however, has returned for the 65-year-old Curry, and he's going back. Curry will be named the first head football coach in Georgia State history Thursday. The Atlanta-based school is starting up a football program in 2010. They'll compete in Division I-AA (er, FCS) and play home games at the Georgia Dome. Similar to the Atlanta Falcons, GSU will probably fail to sell the place out most weekends.

Curry has a familiar face helping him start the program. Dan Reeves, the former NFL player and head coach, has helped raise over $1 million for the startup program. He has given his endorsement to the reported hire.

Reeves said he was not part of the selection process but said "I can tell you this, I think that is a heck of a choice, a great deal for Georgia State, if that is the case.

"I think Bill will do a super job. He's got a great reputation. You couldn't ask for anyone better to start Georgia State's program. He's got college experience, he has recruited and he lieves in Atlanta. I think that's fantastic."

Yesterday, I told you about the Falcons interest in USC coach Pete Carroll. So much so that they were working hard to secure an interview.

Today comes news that Carroll has talked to the Falcons and is interested in what they have to offer.

Southern California coach Pete Carroll is interested in the Falcons' head coach opening and spoke with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank via phone Wednesday, sources at the American Football Coaches Convention in Anaheim told ESPN's Joe Schad.

Blank, who has also been searching for a general mangager, was expected to offer full control of personnel decisions to Carroll, and the sources said that is what intrigues Carroll most. The coach is currently on vacation in Hawaii.

I know that the Falcons are reeling from their last coaching hire ... bringing in Louisville's Bobby Petrino who quickly bolted for Arkansas ... but this would be huge for the Falcons. This is a franchise that has lost their identity after all this Michael Vick mess. Bringing in not just a college coach ... but a name college coach ... would peak the interest of fans and bring some much needed positive buzz to the franchise.

According to ESPN.com, the Falcons are trying to secure an interview with Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll for their own head coaching vacancy:

Multiple sources told ESPN.com late Tuesday night that the Falcons are pursuing Pete Carroll for an interview. If Carroll agrees, and the logistics can be arranged, the Southern California coach could huddle with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank by the weekend.

But sources said the Falcons might be willing to grant Carroll far-reaching responsibilities and that the USC coach, who could assemble a very strong staff, could be intrigued by the challenge of resurrecting a franchise that has been through a turbulent year and has become all but irrelevant on the Atlanta sports scene.

This is very interesting, because Atlanta is coming off a bad experience with Bobby Petrino, the former Louisville coach who bolted the Dirty Birds for Arkansas a month ago. You'd think that Blank would be a bit gun shy about hiring another college coach ... even one with Carroll's pedigree. It's also interesting to speculate why Carroll would leave a gravy job at USC for a massive rebuilding project in Atlanta. Sorry, No Photos

Pretty much everyone who doesn't scream WOO PIG SOOIE for Arkansas football doesn't think too highly of Bobby Petrino (just click his name for all the recap).

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, all Petrino left behind was a letter taped up at the Falcons' Flowery Branch facility. Wanna see a pic of it? Go ahead.

"Atlanta Falcons players;

Out of my respect for you, I am letting you know, with a heavy heart, I resigned today as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons. This decision was not easy but was made in the best interest of me and my family. While my desire would have been to finish out what has been a difficult season for us all, circumstances did not allow me to do so. I appreciate your hard work and wish the best.

Sincerely,

Bobby Petrino"

Now look at the photo of the letter after DB Lawyer Milloy edited it. He crossed out Petrino's name and wrote the word "coward" instead. Excellent. You'd have the be a coward to not be able to face the guys that you demanded to fight for you.

Arkansas fans are all excited now that Bobby Petrino has replaced Houston Nutt as head coach. A journey to the Razorbacks message boards finds plenty of happy fans, including one guy who declares it 'the best moment of his life."

But Arkansas fans, and more importantly Arkansas potential recruits, should get an idea of who they'll be dealing with.

We all know that college football is full of coaches who say one thing before doing another. Heck, Petrino will be coaching every year against Alabama coach Nick Saban, a guy who has turned lying into an art form.

But when Bobby Petrino steps into a 17-year-old prospect's kitchen and tries to convince him to sign a letter of intent to Arkansas, the kid better have the motto of signer beware. Bobby Petrino has done very well for Bobby Petrino, but it's hard to say in recent years that he's had a lot of concern for his colleagues and bosses. And players who sign with Arkansas should know that Petrino has never stayed in one place more than four years. The chances of him being your coach for your senior day is pretty slim.