Arkansas A.D. Jeff Long Proves There Are Still Good Men in This Game

It’s not easy being the executioner. It might be even harder being the messenger.

Arkansas AD Jeff Long served as both as he announced to the world that the school had “terminated” Bobby Petrino’s contract as head football coach. As he delivered the news, it became apparent that the only thing scripted about his press conference was the words on the paper in front of him.

The script was rather simple. Bobby Petrino was out and Traver Johnson was in for the time being as interim coach. The university conducted a review regarding Petrino and determined that his actions were severe enough to warrant being fired.

Long discussed Petrino’s relationship with Jessica Dorrell, the 25-year-old employee who he hired only a week prior to their crash on his motorcycle, and that Petrino kept the administration in the dark on critical details until it was already too late. He brought up the fact that the school received 159 applications for the position and somehow Dorrell magically got the job over the two other candidates that interviewed. He also revealed to the world that Petrino paid Dorrell $20,000 in his own money before hiring her.

As he moved through the details, the deception and stated his case for why the university had to make the move they did, it became clear that Long was struggling with this more than anyone. 

He got emotional, and he struggled to finish his sentences for the better part of a few minutes. He left himself totally exposed while the spotlight was on him. It was the first real emotion we saw throughout this grueling week, and although he was reading a statement crafted sometime that afternoon his body language said it all.

He spoke of “character” and “integrity,” and even provided classic coach speak saying that, “no single individual is bigger than the team.” And while he took long sips out of his water bottle in an effort to retain any sort of saliva that would likely never surface, he carved up Bobby Petrino like a surgeon.

Long was careful when discussing personal matters involving the parties involved, and he refused to answer questions that could have led down that path. He was respectful to Petrino despite the position he was in. It was clear that this was much more than a business decision for Long, who helped hire Petrino in 2007. 

His criticisms of his now former head coach were truths and accounts of things that actually took place. Long then moved on from what happened to what’s ahead, and discussed the coaching search that likely started before he hit the podium. “Expertise, leadership skills and character” were the traits Long directly alluded to as being critical in the next Arkansas football coach. The message here was quite clear, although the overall picture is far from it.

Long now has the pressure of replacing one of the nation’s brightest offensive minds at one of the most challenging times possible. This process is already underway, although it won’t be easy. Finances and recruiting hang in limbo as Arkansas will attempt to pick up where Petrino left off. At least on the field.

There’s no guarantee that Long will be able to follow up with such hire. And Arkansas, despite their high expectations in 2012, may tumble with Petrino out of the picture. This is what they are up against, and the question marks (outside a talented roster in 2012) are very real going forward. We learned, however, that a winning percentage can only take you so far if you are unable to play the complete part.

Jeff Long will make sure the next man in charge is able to do just that. He doesn’t want to be the center of attention again, regardless of the fact that he propped the integrity of the university above all for the world. His actions did this more than anything.

You don’t typically view an athletic director as the face of the university, but that’s what Jeff Long became overnight. Not by choice. He was a victim just like everyone else, and his public pain is soothing for the state of Arkansas in a sense that they can relate to what they saw. He made the tough decision, the right decision and made it clear why it had to be made.

A man with an integrity will do this, not because they have to but because it’s the only thing they know. In the case of Jeff Long, he was only doing his job, but we found out in this process that he’s damn good at it, too.