FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long says he is "deeply troubled" by comments made by Ohio State President Gordon Gee about Razorbacks football coach Bret Bielema.
Long says in a statement that he recognizes Gee's apology to Bielema, who Gee called a "thug" in a meeting of Ohio State's Athletic Council in December, but that the remarks were "unfounded and slanderous."
Gee also said Bielema, who was hired by Arkansas in December, left Wisconsin before he could be fired by the Badgers and athletic director Barry Alvarez.
Bielema posted a copy of a written apology from Gee on Twitter late Friday night, tweeting that "it's a start," and that he would "take (Gee's) apology and phone call soon."
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