FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt said in an open letter Tuesday that Razorback fans who obtained records regarding his school-issued cell phone and suggested he had an improper relationship with a woman were spreading "unfounded gossip" that had hurt his wife.

Cell-phone records obtained by fans and media under Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act showed that Nutt exchanged text messages with the cell phone of a female television news anchor more than 1,000 times over a six-week period, including once just 19 minutes before the start of the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.

Nutt said his correspondence was appropriate communication with a friend and colleague, some of it about her work for a nonprofit organization with which he is involved. "Any allegation or suggestion that our professional and personal friendship or involvement goes beyond that is false, careless, and purposefully vindictive," Nutt wrote.

The material obtained has not indicated what any of the text messages said. The coach, under fire after the departures of a popular assistant coach and freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain, said he would have released the texts but that the phone company had informed his lawyer they were not available.

Other information obtained under the FOI law reportedly noted contact among Houston Nutt, his brother and running backs coach Danny Nutt and family friend Teresa Prewett on the day Mustain received a harsh e-mail. The head coach gave Prewett an official reprimand and barred her from the sidelines during games after the letter was traced to her.

"Once again, for the record, I had no prior knowledge of that e-mail and promptly reprimanded Ms. Prewett when I learned of the correspondence," Nutt wrote Tuesday. "I have respect for Mitch Mustain and wish him the very best in the future."

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Tuesday that Mustain was among those who requested Nutt's telephone records, along with those of Danny Nutt and athletic director Frank Broyles.

Nutt's letter was delivered by e-mail by Arkansas sports information director Kevin Trainor.