June 1
2013
Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long described remarks made by Ohio State President Gordon Gee that were critical of first-year Arkansas football Coach Bret Bielema as “slanderous” in a news release.
Gee, speaking to the Ohio State athletics council Dec. 5, the day after Bielema left Wisconsin to take the Arkansas job, said Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez thought Bielema was “a thug” and that Bielema left “just ahead of the sheriff.” The remarks became public several months later when The Associated Press obtained a recording of the meeting.
Gee apologized directly to Bielema, who posted the apology letter on social media.