Athletic director Jeff Long announced his decision at an evening news conference and laid out a stunning laundry list of misdeeds by the man he hired away from the Atlanta Falcons four years ago. They included ignoring multiple chances over the past 10 days to come clean to Long about a relationship that had crossed the line from infidelity into workplace favoritism. He would not disclose details of the payment, or when the money changed hands, but said both parties confirmed the "gift.
Petrino, who was fired via a letter from Long, issued a lengthy apology and said he was focused on trying to heal his family. These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart," Petrino said in a statement. I've taken a lot of criticism in the past. Some deserved, some not deserved. This time, I have no one to blame but myself. I also made several poor decisions following the end of that relationship and in the aftermath of the accident.
I accept full responsibility for what has happened. Dorrell, a former Razorbacks volleyball player, worked for the Razorbacks Foundation before she was hired by Petrino on March 28, four days before their accident on a winding rural road. Long said she was one of three finalists out of applicants and got the job after a time frame he said was shorter than usual.
It was a shocking ending for Petrino, who has built Arkansas into a Southeastern Conference and national power over four seasons, including a record the past two years. But Long made it clear the success on the field was overshadowed by repeated deceptive acts and that no one was more important than the program itself.
A clause gave Long the right to suspend or fire the coach for conduct that "negatively or adversely affects the reputation of the university's athletics programs in any way. Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart called it a sad day for the university, but declined further comment because of the role he played in the review process.
