Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long confirmed the firing of football head coach Bobby Petrino at a press conference Tuesday night.

Long said Petrino deceived the school both before and after his April 1 motorcycle crash, which included 25-year-old athletic department employee Jessica Dorrell. Long said Petrino gave Dorrell $20,000 and hired her over 158 other applicants for her position because of their previous relationship, which lasted " a significant amount of time." Asked about Dorrell's current job status, Long said it was a personnel matter and wouldn't talk about it.

Long said associate head coach Taver Johnson will be in charge of the football program until the end of spring football. Long will begin a search for a potential new head coach, but will assess the interim label for Johnson after spring football.

Long choked up a little bit when describing what he told the football team after making the decision to fire Petrino. Long said Petrino was fired with cause, so he will not get any buyout money.

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