They really had no choice.
Even if you were ready to forgive Bobby Petrino for his moral failings in what is now all too often referred to as an "inappropriate relationship," and for his failure to tell the truth after crashing his Harley-Davidson, the fact that the woman at the center of the scandal, Jessica Dorrell, was hired by Petrino without either party divulging their relationship made this an easy call.
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long had to fire him for cause, which he did on Tuesday night. As Long put it, "Coach Petrino abused his authority and engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior…This was reckless and unacceptable behavior."
Equally reckless and unacceptable, Petrino paid the 25-year-old Dorrell a $20,000 "gift" prior to hiring her as a football recruiting coordinator. Long also said that 159 people applied for Dorrell's job, and Petrino's undisclosed relationship gave her an "unfair advantage." The combined total of those actions made the AD's job very easy.
Now, without a coach and with the specter of defections looming, Arkansas has gone from SEC powerhouse to tabloid fodder in a single week.
This could not have come at a worse time. Signees now have the option of backing out (and certainly some, maybe a lot, will) and existing student-athletes might choose to transfer, especially since Razorbacks assistant coach Taver Johnson will lead the program throughout the rest of spring practice.
"It's a difficult time of year to hire a head football coach, no question," Long said. "But we can command a high level football coach and we're not going to compromise that."
All in all, it is an inevitable ending to a sorry tale, and a tearful time to be in Fayetteville.
These were to be the months when optimism was at an all-time high. Arkansas had its first 11-win season last year. The Razorbacks beat defending Eastern Division winner South Carolina 44-28, and then thumped Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl 29-16.
Expectations for this fall couldn't have been better. With quarterback Tyler Wilson returning for his senior year after throwing for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns, and talented receivers fighting for staring jobs, every day should have brought news of who was standing out in practice, who was separating himself in the backfield, and who was likely to shore up the defensive secondary that still has to stop Alabama and LSU to win the SEC West.
Instead, more people have been talking about Dorrell and State Police Captain Lance King, who transported a road-rashed Petrino to the hospital, than are asking about players like Knile Davis, Cobi Hamilton or Marquel Wade.
What makes it especially difficult for Razorback fans is fact that their team had finally found greatness after years as an also-ran, first to Texas, Texas A&M, and SMU in the old Southwest Conference, and then to Alabama, LSU, Florida and Auburn in the SEC.
They were to enter the 2012 season as one of the game's elite, having gone 21-5 in the past two seasons. But nobody will be talking about past records or the team's chances in the coming year. Every bit of news out of Fayetteville will be about $20,000 gifts, 158 applicants who were not hired, and how a proud program goes about picking up the pieces.
Long made the only decision he could. As emotional as he was at his press conference — and he had to stop a couple of times to compose himself — the decision was as close to a no-brainer as you will ever find.
Unfortunately, his swift actions don't really matter. The damage already has been done.
