Team has mind on fired AD

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ defensive personnel in the postpractice media room Wednesday spoke fondly of Jeff Long, who was ousted as athletic director at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville earlier in the day.

“You know what, he’s a great guy to work for,” inside linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said. “It’s unfortunate, but obviously with business and everything else that goes on, things happen. We’ll miss him and wish him all the best.”

Defensive captain Kevin Richardson said Long “cared about everybody” in the athletic department.

“You saw it all across social media today,” Richardson said. “The guys were wishing him the best. Not just us, but basketball and soccer and everybody, gymnastics, all those different sports had some type of impact on him like he had on us, and it’s huge to see that everybody cares about him like he does us.”

Linebacker De’Jon Harris said Long was always respectful and uplifting, particularly after losses.

“He was around us a lot,” Harris said. “I’ve talked to him after the games on the plane, but I haven’t really spent that much time with him. I wish I had gotten to know him a little bit better than what I did.

“In bad situations he

was always trying to lift us up. So I feel bad for what happened to him, and I hope the best for him.”

Linebacker Jamario Bell said, “We’re just fighting the fight we’re in. We’re just putting our head down and working as hard as we can.”