Jeff Long issued a statement, taking one last dig at the rest of the state

Sounds pretty classy and grateful to me?

Dude even commits a chunk of his statement to thanking the janitors and maintenance guys for doing a good job. All class.

Jeff Long is truly blessed to be getting away from miserable human beings like you.

Classy

But this makes the situation look weird as hell.

Does this not sound like a retirement statement or something in that accord to settling down? To me I don't think he is going to pursue another job. He kissed the University's arse and he got a lot of money. Not bad Jeffrey

I have been very fortunate to have the support of my incredible Executive and Senior Staffs made up of assistant, associate and senior associate athletic directors as well as my executive assistant. I cannot adequately express my deep appreciation for their efforts on behalf of our student-athletes and coaches. Their intelligence, energy and commitment motivated me to be the best I could be on a daily basis. These dedicated professionals were not just a part of the reason we have transformed our program, they are the reason! Thank you is not nearly enough to express my gratitude but it is the best I can offer at this time.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve under four Chancellors during my 10 years of service and to participate on their executive staffs. I wish to thank Chancellor White, Chancellor Gearhart, President Sugg and Trustee Reed for believing that I could fill the formidable shoes of Coach Broyles and Bev Lewis. I will always be grateful for the incredible opportunity to come to the University of Arkansas; it has been a 10-year labor of love.

I would also like to thank Chancellor Steinmetz and President Bobbitt for their support during their tenures and especially over the past several weeks. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you and wish you the best as you lead the Flagship Institution and the UA System.

Most of all, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to the incredible student-athletes that I have had the sincere honor and privilege to support over my 10 years as Athletic Director. You truly are the most important piece of our program. Your success academically and athletically is beyond all else, the reason we have athletics in the University setting. Most people will never know the sacrifices you make to wear the cardinal and white. You literally push your bodies and minds to greater heights to achieve success for the Razorbacks! You have inspired me and lifted me up with your successes in and out of competition! The greatest gift an athletic administrator is given is watching as student-athletes arrive on campus and the growth that happens over the course of their education career. Four to five short years later, we all watch with abundant joy as they walk across the Graduation stage, diploma in hand and prepared to take on whatever in life comes their way!

And finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Razorback fans throughout our state and around the world. Your passion for this university and for this athletics program makes the University of Arkansas a very special place. I have said it on numerous occasions the Razorbacks need the entire State behind us to be successful in the SEC and nationally. I wish nothing but continued success for this program and this institution.

With regard to the media, I have always appreciated the job you do and understand your interest in speaking with me. However, I would like to take some time with my family to collect my thoughts before reflecting on my tenure here at the University of Arkansas.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve our University the last 10 years. It has been a true honor.

Sincerely,

Jeff Long


Pretty petty of you not to post the rest of his statement.

It was expected from me anyway.

Maybe the football team will win a game or two in his honor.

Lol

or take a knee in protest.

Wow. Wonderful letter. Thank you Jeff personally I’d rather have seen Bert go. Best wishes to him.

I feel sorry for Mike and the basketball team and all the other coaches/teams too. We just seemed to get our mojo going in b-ball and this has to feel like the rugs been pulled out under them a bit. I realize shite happens to everyone but doesn’t mean shite is fun.

quote:

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Confirmed Jeff reads this board

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Actually he started using tFlagship in statements and it then made its way here via Sao.

Agree with this.

No ill will to Long. He did a lot of good things and only a few questionable which in hindsight, could have worked out either way.

He creamed himself a little prematurely with the buyout but you're a liar if you're telling me you weren't pretty pumped about our future after that Texas game and how close many of the games were that season.

Shame it didn't work out but I'll never feel sorry for someone losing a million dollar job. Assuming he's not an idiot, he's set financially and will also have no problem landing another high profile gig.

He's probably a better fit in a larger state without such microscopic focus surrounding him.