By Brent Dougherty 2/24/16
The Tennessean released more allegations today that are included in a Title IX lawsuit against the University of Tennessee. The federal lawsuit was filed against the University of Tennessee on February 9th by six women alleging the University has created a student culture that enables sexual assaults by student-athletes. The lawsuit claims that the University of Tennessee violated Title IX laws which protect students from gender discrimination. You can read that Tennessean piece here.
The Tennessean released new information today alleging University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones told one of his players, Drae Bowles, that he “betrayed the team” after the wide receiver helped a woman who said she was raped by two other football players, according to a new legal filing in a sweeping lawsuit filed by six women against Tennessee. You can read the story here:
This story came out while we were on air. The challenge in presenting a story like this as it comes out while you are on air is to read through it quickly, decipher what it means and come up with a quick opinion that you need to communicate professionally and completely. My initial take was that if the allegation that Butch Jones told a player that tried to help an alleged rape victim that he was a traitor to the team and that he betrayed the team were true, he would lose his job as head coach at the University of Tennessee and that his career as a college football coach would be over. Then, I thought, he needs to release a statement as quickly as possible. This is a severe allegation and if untrue, Butch Jones needs to fight it, publicly. And, quickly. I understood that any attorney would tell him to remain silent, but this was too serious. If untrue, he needed to say it. I will say this. I know Butch Jones rather well. I’d be shocked if he called a player a “traitor” for helping an alleged rape victim. Shocked.
Tonight, Butch Jones did just that. He released a statement of denial to Michael Spencer with WATE-TV in Knoxville,
We’ll see how it all plays out. I think it was smart on Butch Jones’ part to release a denial. It gives the media comments from the other side. A two-sided narrative. And, we’ll see what else the attorneys that are presenting this lawsuit release today. If they have proof that Butch Jones did say those things to Drae Bowles, it could jeopardize Jones’ career. Butch Jones, however, appears willing to fight this to the end.
