University of Tennessee wide receiver Drae Bowles during a workout at Haslam Field, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. (Amy Smotherman Burgess/News Sentinel)More allegations were released from the Federal lawsuit filed in Nashville against the University of Tennessee athletic department.
In a shocking revelation - one that moved this story to the early parts of national sports shows Thursday morning - former UT football player Drae Bowles in a sworn declaration claims that UT football coach Butch Jones told him "betrayed" the team for helping a woman who claims she was raped by two Vols teammates.
Bowles said Jones told him that and then called him to apologize.
Jones strongly denied the claim, releasing a statement that reads as follows:
"The assertion that I ever attempted to belittle or demean a young man for taking action to help another person is absolutely false. To the contrary, I did all I could to assist the former student in question. During the course of the judicial process, campus officials, as well as the young man's own words, will clearly establish that I have done nothing wrong.
"I will fight all of these false attacks on my character, and I know that once this process has been completed, my reputation will be affirmed."
Here's the part of the lawsuit that weas released Wednesday that included Bowles.
The questions here are numerous.
First, though, the discussion disclaimer that a) the accusations in a plaintiff's lawsuit are going to be incredibly one-sided; b) UT's response, also is going to be from a distinct and biased point go view; c) Bowles gave a different version in earlier testimony; d) Naturally, Jones is going all-in to deny this, because if this is true, well, wow.
That takes us to the myriad of questions before us. And let's spend some time on them, since all that's really happening is NFL combine and Steph Curry doing Steph Curry things. (He had 42 last night because he's really good at full-court basketball; Side question: Is there an absolute, sure-fire sports certainty than Curry being the No. 1 seed in the non-dunk H-O-R-S-E game? We say no, but Usain Bolt being the first pick for Field Day would be close.)
Before we get to some questions - both about the latest turn in this and today's festivities - here are some meaningful links for more information on the issue.
The coverage from TFP UT beat ace Downtown Patrick Brown is here (and there are several links connected to previous TFP coverage).
TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer's take is here.
Some interesting takes from the Knoxville News Sentinel, including catching up with Kathy Redmond Brown, a former college athlete who started National Coalition Against Violent Athletes after she claimed to be sexually assault by a Nebraska football player, can be found at govols.com. (Side note: Kathy Redmond Brown, according to KNS writer Dustin Dopirak, came to speak to the UT football program twice last August and September. On Wednesday, she texted Dopirak: "Drae Bowles is nothing short of a hero and exemplifies what a real man is."
Here's what the national websites are writing at AP (via ESPN.com), at CBSSports.com, the Huffington Post, and Deadspin.com.
Here's an interesting legal breakdown of the latest allegations involving Bowles from Sports Illustrated.
FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2015 file photo, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones points to the scoreboard during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Tennessee head coaches will hold a rare joint press conference Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, 2016, two weeks after a group of unidentified women sued the school over its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes. Athletic department spokesman Ryan Robinson said Monday night the coaches decided they wanted to make themselves available to answer questions on a variety of issues. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File) UT ethical question 1
Before we move into the potential fall-out questions, let's pose some hypotheticals.
Yes, this is a supremely emotionally charged issue, but let's follow these discussion points to start:
* If the allegations involving Bowles are true, would UT fire Butch Jones heading into a season that 10 wins seems like a baseline and the Vols are on the shortlist of teams in Vegas' eye to win it all?
Quick take: We think no. We think there are a couple of outs for Jones and the Vols if everything Bowles claims in the civil suit is true. UT could say the 'betrayal' accusation was more about the fight with Curt Maggitt than the alleged rape. Is that splitting hairs? Certainly, but in legal matters as delicate and intricate as this, splitting hairs can make all the difference. That said, if the Vols were coming off a five-win season and hoping just to compete for a bowl game rather than the lofty expectations that are in place, we think Butch's job security would be much more tenuous.
* If the Bowles allegations are true, should UT fire Jones?
Quick take: Yes. Absolutely, yes. In the KNS story linked above, Kathy Redmond Brown says UT has a chance to change its culture - key word being 'chance' here. Here's here quote from the KNS: "I think the opportunity is there to make a change. I see it as a big opportunity all the way around. Other schools, when they've had this opportunity, have punted. Tennessee has an opportunity to do something different."
If the Bowles allegation against Jones is true - and UT holds any hope of changing that culture - well UT would be hard-pressed to keep Jones.
* What would it take for Alabama to fire Nick Saban?
Quick take: Interesting question, right? What, this side of a hard felony against Saban, would be cause to get him fired in Tuscaloosa? And, let's say Saban committed a murder, how many Alabama fans would be willing to take the wrap for him? I say at least 1,000 hard-core Bama fans would like up to be that key of a part of the program and make it safe for Coach. (And we may be low on that estimate.)
Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart speaks to reporters at a news conference on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Knoxville, Tenn., after it was announced that head football coach Derek Dooley would be replaced by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney for the final SEC regular season game against Kentucky. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)What's next at UT
Well, Tennessee AD Dave Hart speaks to the media today.
Remember he was not at the 16-seat coaches' full-court press conference in which they collectively did the Kevin Bacon scene from "Animal House" in which he loses it saying, "Stay calm. All is well."
Man, bet he wishes he was at that one instead.
OK, let's start there. Look at the time line of events: Jones met with the media on Saturday (and did not directly answer verbally a question about Bowles, justing shaking his head and leaving some plauisble deniability each way) and talked with national media on Sunday. It was a bold and needed step - and one we called for late last week.
Then, as word started to spread about the culture of the program, the head coaches of the 16 varsity sports at UT came together and delivered a river of testimonies about how good the culture there is.
Was that a choreographed show to get out in front of this bomb, which also has overshadowed that two more Jane Does have been added to the lawsuit accusing Von Pearson and Alexis Johnson of sexual assault? Maybe. The answers, in retrospect, seem pretty well rehearsed and focused on a particular theme.
There's nothing wrong with that or illegal about that. Heck, this is an eight- or nine-figure lawsuit here, and with recruiting implications, all of the coaches have a vested interest in fighting this lawsuit in the court of law and the court of public opinion.
Still, this next wave makes that 16-coach thing look kind of farcical. And if it was not choreographed, and you are a Holly Warlick or a Karen Weekley and you vouch for the program, then an allegation this potentially damning comes out, well, you'd have to feel kind of blindsided, no?
That 16-person conference also looks more and more self-serving with each added allegation.
So what's next?
For the most part, it will be waiting. Unless Tennessee settles the lawsuit - which would be a wise move in our view, a settlement without the admission of wrongdoing and claiming that the distraction and cost of a lengthy legal battle was worth the price, and then seal that thing in Al Capone's vault at the bottom of the Titanic wreckage - this will be a process that drags out over at least a year and maybe longer.
Add all of these allegations will be revisited in almost every story or discussion about UT football and off-the-field incidents while the lawsuit is still in play.
With that knowledge, what does Hart need to cover today:
Expect a full and total support of Jones. Hart's job security is much lower than Jones' and the AD's future is in a lot of ways connected to this, too.
Expect to hear, "we can't speak about on going legal actions" or some variation of that a lot.
We'd like to hear - and maybe this is a question for Jones - that while the coach refutes the Bowles' claims, were Maggitt, George Orta and Marlin Lane - the three players who allegedly attacked Bowles - ever disciplined?
We'd love for someone to ask if he expects more Jane Does and more allegations on the horizon. There are fair discussion points from the pro-UT side of this wondering why the recent accuser against Alexis Johnson allegedly did not want to press charges but was happy to join the civil suit.
The layers of this are deep, for sure, and we'd love to hear Hart's plan and/steps to fight the problem. (And that problem - with close to 10 current or former athletes involved in allegations of crimes that are sexual in nature - is not the lawsuit.)
This and that
- NASCAR Hall of Fame finalists for the 2017 class were released Wednesday. Here's some more details.
- Rickie Fowler says playing Michael Jordan is like playing in Phil Mickelson. We're willing to bet each is pretty dog-gone nerve-wracking.
- Speaking of Steph being Steph, here's the recap, and Curry was 6-of-12 from 3 and went for 42 points, seven boards and seven assists. He has now made at least one 3 in 127 straight games to tie an NBA mark. Wow. Seriously, if we put the over/under on that streak at 300, we'd lean toward the over.
Interesting back-and-forth here from Tony Romo saying the NFL's double-standard is unfair since he was forced to cancel a 'fantasy' convention with fellow NFLers in Vegas and fans last summer while the league did nothing about the Gronk Party Ship.
- TFP sports editor Stephen Hargis had the scoop on Grant Reynolds leaving Boyd-Buchanan. May we be the next in line to wish Reynolds the best on his new gig in Alabama. Dude is truly one of the good ones.
- We promise more combine news in the mailbag Friday. Deal? Deal.
Today's question
Well, feel free to chime in on any of the above ethical questions involving the UT allegations and how it could potentially affect Butch Jones. (Side note: When typing 'B-U-T-C-H' quickly, a minor slip on the vowel gives you a completely different word.)
Some birthdays of note: Ric Flair turns 67 today; Sean Astin (aka Rudy) is 45.
If you need another avenue (and here's believing Jomo and a few others will not) let's go here:
Tennessee Williams died on this day in 1983. Rushmore of people with a state in their name.
Go, and remember the mailbag.