Apologetic Pelphrey sends fans a letter.

Arkansas fans weren't happy with the way the basketball season ended. That's something the UA athletic department and coach John Pelphrey apparently realize.

Pelphrey's signature was on a two-page letter sent to season ticket holders last month that included details of the season--from the good of starting 12-1 to the bad of going 2-14 in the SEC and losing in the first round of the conference tournament.

Arkansas also endured numerous off-court issues with its players, something Pelphrey acknowledged in the letter.

Pelphrey suspended three players and booted another one off the team by midterm. Courtney Fortson and Jason Henry were suspended multiple times. There was also the highly publicized departure of Marcus Monk, who left the team after it was discovered he wasn't eligible because of an NCAA violation.

"We also had some growing pains off the court as well. Some of our young men learned what it means to represent the University of Arkansas. I want you to know I will never compromise our program for the sake off winning a game. Our student-athletes must understand that discipline is part of our program and that conduct on and off the court is important as well as class attendance."

Pelphrey pointed out that youth and depth were issues in 2008-09. Arkansas had no seniors on the team and only two juniors, neither of whom were full-time starters before the year.

In fact, the Razorbacks had lost six seniors and a junior-to-be who anchored the team in previous years.

"While we will continue to be a young team next season, I believe the lessons learned this season and the added depth of some incoming student-athletes will be a significant step in returning our program to the level where we can compete for an SEC Championship and regularly advance in the NCAA Tournament, and ultimately compete for an NCAA Championship once again."

Interesting.

Long and Pelphrey declined to comment by press time (and we suspect at all), but we like the idea behind the letter. It's not often the athletic department acknowledges negatives, and while this didn't exactly hit the problem head-on and doesn't guarantee success in 2009-10, it is a start.