Petrino embraces rebuilding project at Missouri State

Johnson's goal of Missouri State proving it can be the best in FCS college football appears unrealistic, but Petrino has a history of raising programs, so there's reason for optimism in Springfield. "I feel like it's a challenge and something I'm looking forward to," the 59-year-old Petrino said. Missouri State's hiring of Petrino in January was one of the splash moves of the college football offseason – a successful coach back to his smaller-school roots, although bringing with him a controversial past.