Arkansas Football: New Info in Bobby Petrino Accident Removes Benefit of Doubt

What have we learned from Tiger Woods, Jim Tressel, Penn State and other sordid scandals involving high-profile athletes or programs?  

Don't lie. It only makes it worse.

It's not a hard mantra to live by, but sometimes fear gets the best of everybody.  That fear can range anywhere from fear of public embarrassment to fear of termination.

New details revealed in the Arkansas State Police accident report state that 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell—who works in the athletic department with on-campus recruiting—was with Bobby Petrino at the time of the accident, according to ArkansasSports360.com.

The big problem: Arkansas said in its press release on April 2 that the incident involved "no other individuals."

"

Coach Petrino was involved in a motorcycle accident on Sunday evening that involved no other individuals. He is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. Our family appreciates respect for our privacy during the recovery and we are grateful for the thoughts of Razorback fans at this time.

"

Somebody isn't telling the truth.  

Clearly the Arkansas State Police knew.  It's in the report.  So did Bobby Petrino lie to the University of Arkansas or did the University of Arkansas lie to the public?

If Petrino lied, then it's on him and he's going to have to deal with whatever consequences Arkansas decides upon.  One of those consequences should be the possibility of termination.  

You can't publicly embarrass your employer like that.  Ask Jim Tressel how that worked out for him. 

If Arkansas lied to the public, that's called a cover-up and it's an even bigger problem for everybody involved.  For better or for worse, it's the university's job to get accurate information out at the appropriate time.  

"Appropriate time" is certainly a subjective term, and can be molded and bent in many ways to fit an agenda—but accuracy is not.  

People are going to jump to conclusions and assume the worst about this situation now, and they should.  The fact that Arkansas released inaccurate information followed up with a press conference in which Petrino followed suit has stripped away the benefit of the doubt from both parties until they answer why they released wrong information.

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