Bobby Petrino will not return to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks football team next season.
Following a week-long investigation examining to what extent Petrino had violated school rules in the recent past, athletic director Jeff Long decided that it would be best to terminate Petrino and move on.
While that are some legitimate doubts surrounding the actual reasoning behind Arkansas making this decision, here is just a brief rundown of why Long said that he wound up giving Petrino the boot: for covering up and lying about an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, workplace favoritism, unauthorized spending of funds and just being a general nuisance throughout this entire process.
In response, Petrino offered this lengthy statement (via ArkansasSports360):
I was informed in writing today at 5:45 p.m. that I was being terminated as head football coach at the University of Arkansas.
The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry. These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart. All I have been able to think about is the number of people I’ve let down by making selfish decisions. 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 chose to engage in an improper relationship. 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.
I’m sure you heard Jeff Long’s reasons for termination. There was a lot of information shared. Given the decision that has been made, this is not the place to debate Jeff’s view of what happened. In the end, I put him in the position of having to sort through my mistakes and that is my fault.
I have hurt my wife Becky and our four children. I’ve let down the University of Arkansas, my team, coaching staff and everyone associated with the Razorback football program. As a result of my personal mistakes, we will not get to finish our goal of building a championship program. I wish that I had been given the opportunity to meet with the players and staff prior to this evening’s press conference and hope that I will be given the opportunity to give my apologies and say my goodbyes in person. We have left the program in better shape than we found it and I want the Razorback Nation to know that it is my hope that the program achieves the success it deserves.
My sole focus at this point is trying to repair the damage I’ve done to my family. They did not ask for any of this and deserve better. I am committed to being a better husband, father and human being as a result of this and will work each and every day to prove that to my family, friends and others.
I love football. I love coaching. I of course hope I can find my way back to the profession I love. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to heal the wounds I have created.
I want to thank Chancellor Gearhart, Jeff Long, the Board of Trustees, the University administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and fans for the opportunity to serve as the head football coach at the University of Arkansas for the past 4 years. I was not given an opportunity to continue in that position. I wish that had been the case, but that was not my decision. I wish nothing but the best for the Razorback football program, the University and the entire Razorback Nation.
Pretty standard stuff. Coach makes mistake. Coach apologizes for mistake. Coach prepares for next job. As sad as it is, this sort of mess unfolding is hardly breaking news anymore.
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I wonder who was on the back of his motorcycle when he wrote that half-assed apology.