A lawyer representing former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain submitted a Freedom of Information Act request on Wednesday to the University of Arkansas seeking information about the university's investigation of an e-mail sent to Mustain when he was a student there.
Timothy Hutchinson, of the Rogers law firm Williams and Hutchinson, submitted the Freedom of Information Act letter Wednesday afternoon to Scott Varady, UA's associate general counsel.
"My hope is that press and fans do not read any more into this inquiry than should be read into it," Hutchinson said Wednesday night. "It is simply an FOI inquiry about records the pertain to Mitchell during his attendance at University of Arkansas.
"I will let the nature of the FOI speak for itself. But much of the request does deal with any findings and reports done with any investigation related to that e-mail."
The e-mail in question was sent to Mustain on Dec. 7, 2006, by Razorbacks booster Teresa Prewett. She is a close friend of Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt and was the physical therapist for former Arkansas running backs coach Danny Nutt.
The e-mail was filled with derogatory and disparaging remarks aimed at Mustain.
Mustain transferred to Southern California in January and said the e-mail contributed to the decision to ask for his release from Arkansas.
In the request, Hutchinson is asking for any records the university obtained during its investigation of "the incident of harassment" that occurred Dec. 7, 2006. Hutchinson also asked for any information that could determine when members of the coaching staff first learned of the e-mail to Mustain.
In particular, the request is seeking information from the investigation that indicates whether any university employee encouraged Prewett to send the e-mail and whether any member of Nutt's coaching staff participated in the writing of the e-mail.
Hutchinson said Wednesday that this was not the first step in an ongoing investigation, and he declined to comment on what will happen after Mustain learns the results of the FOI request.