Coach Bobby Petrino speaking at a press conference after being released from hospital.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The following is a statement from University of Arkansas football head coach Bobby Petrino:
"The state police report today provides an accurate description of my accident, which includes details that had not publically come to light prior to the report being issued. I regret that I have not publically acknowledged a passenger on the vehicle. I have been in constant pain, medicated and the circumstances involving the wreck have come out in bits and pieces. That said I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell's name being revealed.
"In my press conference, I referred to her simply as 'a lady.' My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public. In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I've acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.
"I apologize to my wife, Becky, and our four children, Chancellor (David) Gearhart, Jeff Long, the Board of Trustees, University administration, my coaching staff, student-athletes and the entire state of Arkansas. I have been humbled by the outpouring of concern and get-well wishes.
"I apologize to the Razorback Nation for the attention my actions have brought to the University of Arkansas and our program. I will fully cooperate with the University throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my Athletic Director, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks."
Bobby Petrino accident report (PDF)
Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long met with the media Thursday night at about 10:00 to provide a status update on information released Thursday regarding head football coach Bobby Petrino's motorcycle accident.
In the press conference, Long said that he spoke to Petrino alone and has put Petrino on paid administrative leave pending his review. Long said that Petrino called him shortly before the accident report was made public. He said Petrino told him he had withheld that UA football staffer Jessica Dorrell was riding with him when he wrecked his motorcycle. Long said until this time, he had no knowledge that he was not alone.
Long says, "At about 8:30 I informed coach that given this information, the freshness of the information, and the short period of time that I've had the information that I was going to put him on administrative leave while I take the time necessary to review this personnel matter."
Long has asked assistant head coach Taver Johnson to assume administrative responsibilities of the program in his absence.
Long expects to move fast in his review of the situation and hopes to have a resolution soon.
He also expressed his dissapointment and said he would not speculate on what could happen, that he needed to review the information and had not met with Dorrell yet. Long said that he would come to a resolution as quickly as possible.
Stay with Today's THV and todaysthv.com for more on this developing story.