FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas officials say they did not request that Renee Gork be fired from a radio station after she wore a Florida Gators hat to a news conference Saturday.
Gork was fired by management at KAKS based in Springdale on Monday. Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino called her out during a news conference Saturday, when he answered a question posed by the University of Florida graduate concerning a Razorbacks scrimmage.
"And that will be the last question I answer with that hat on," Petrino said.
Arkansas officials recommended to Gork that she not attend practice Monday "to allow additional time to pass," according to a statement released Tuesday by Arkansas.
"The university wishes to be very clear that it did not request any employment action with regard to the reporter," the statement read.
RELATED: Watch the exchange between Renee Gork and Bobby Petrino
The exchange between Petrino and Gork made national headlines this week. Gork also appeared on national radio shows Tuesday, offering apologies to Petrino and the university. Gork said she was not attempting to garner attention by wearing the hat.
Many Arkansas fans viewed the video clip online, prompting heated discussions concerning Gork’s fashion choice. Some fans called for Gork’s job, while others were simply not happy with her choice of school colors. Fans also scoured the Internet for more information about Gork and discovered her Facebook page, which revealed messages of her being a fan of the Florida athletics program.
Less than two hours before Gork was scheduled to take the airwaves Monday, she tweeted that she had been fired.
“Was hoping to publicly apologize to coach Petrino and UA fans on the show today, but I won’t get that chance now … I’ve been fired.”
Gork said she wrote a letter of apology addressed to Petrino.
“I am truly sorry for disrespecting him and his team,” she tweeted.
The station’s general manager, Dan Storrs, would not elaborate on the decision to fire Gork on Monday.
"This radio station is Hog Sports Radio," Storrs told the Associated Press. "We are very biased. We support the Razorbacks 100 percent."