Petrino placed on paid administrative leave by Arkansas
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has been placed on paid administrative leave by athletic director Jeff Long, who said he made the decision to give himself time to review Petrino's recent actions.
Petrino issued a statement and apologized to his family and the university, admitting to having a "previous inappopriate relationship" after it was learned he had a female passenger with him when his motorcycle crashed Sunday.
According to a state police report released Thursday, Petrino, 51, was with former Arkansas volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, 25. Last month, Dorrell was named the student-athlete coordinator for the football team. Petrino said in his statement he was partially dishonest because of "concern about Jessica Dorrell's name being reveled."
Long said Thursday night at a press conference that he is assessing the situation and needs time to review the facts, and expressed disappointment in Petrino for withholding facts from him and others.
Taver Johnson, hired in January as linebackers coach and assistant head coach after spending the previous five seasons at Ohio State, will run the football program until further notice, Long said.
Petrino, who is married, did not mention a passenger at his news conference Tuesday to discuss the accident and said at the time he was the only person involved in the crash.
Dorrell, who apparently was unhurt in the crash, stopped a passing car to ask for assistance for Petrino, according to the report. The coach was taken to the hospital by state police and treated for four cracked ribs.
Long has not decided whether or not Dorrell would be suspended, he said.
Petrino told police that sun and wind caused him to veer off the road. He will not be cited.
