After hat flap, Arkansas station hires former Hog

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A northwest Arkansas radio station has hired former Razorbacks running back Michael Smith to replace a reporter who was fired after she wore a Florida Gators hat to a Razorbacks' football news conference.

KAKS general manager Dan Storrs confirmed Wednesday that his station had hired Smith, who rushed for 2,018 yards for Arkansas between 2006-09.

Storrs says Smith did some work for the station at the Razorbacks' spring game this year, and would now be reporting from practice.

Reporter Renee Gork was fired amid a brouhaha that began when she wore a Florida hat to an Aug. 14 news conference with Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

Storrs has maintained the hat was not the main reason for her dismissal.