Petrino said he missed the college game

HOOVER | Sometimes you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Essentially that's what first-year Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said about leaving the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons to come back to the college game and the Razorbacks.

It's a similiar refrain repeated by Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban, who both left SEC programs for the NFL only to return to SEC programs.

"I like college football," Petrino said. "I like everything about it. I like the different seasons that you have in college. After your season you get ready for the bowl game. Then you have recruiting. And then there's the season where it's meeting with boosters. Being out on the road with the boosters and raising money. Then there's spring ball. Summer camps and working with young men."

Petrino inherits a Razorbacks team that lost Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Petrino said Arkansas will rely on freshmen at the running back and wide receiver positions.

Arkansas was picked to finish last in the SEC West. Petrino said that's to be expected after losing talented players.

"Preseason rankings are based on the previous year," he said. "It will help to motivate us. It's not 'gonna help us win or lose any games. You have to line up and play."