Louisville's Petrino hopes 'real close friend' Jurich retains job as AD

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich was put on paid administrative leave following reports of the university's involvement in college basketball's recent corruption scandal, and Bobby Petrino is hoping that leave comes to an end sooner rather than later.

Petrino offered his take on Jurich's implications in the scandal, saying he hopes his mate is able to keep his position as director of athletics following the federal investigation.

"I can't say enough about what he's meant to me and my family," Petrino said Saturday, according to Myron Medcalf of ESPN. "Besides being my boss, he's a real close friend, so we're hoping he'll be back."

Louisville interim president Gregory Postel announced Friday that he is planning to introduce an interim athletics director in the coming week, and the university's board of trustees must provide approval for Jurich's permanent removal for him to officially lose his position.

Petrino elected not to speculate on his future with the university should Jurich not retain his position, but did insist the plan has been to close out his career with the Cardinals.

"I haven't thought anything about that at all," Petrino said when asked about his future. "What I'm focused on is our football team. I love our football team. I love the university. I love the city of Louisville. We've made plans to spend the rest of our career here."