Tennessee Football: Butch Jones denies ‘false attacks’ on his character
Butch Jones and the University of Tennessee released statements in response to the latest amendments to a Title IX investigation and accusations Jones called a player a traitor after helping a victim of an alleged sexual assault.
More bad news continues to find it’s way to the University of Tennessee.
One day after a joint press conference with head coaches from every team addressing concerns about the program’s culture amid a Title IX lawsuit, two more plaintiffs added their name to the lawsuit on Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges the school created a culture that enables sexual assaults by student-athletes.
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Further, former Vols receiver Drae Bowles alleges in a sworn affidavit that head football coach Butch Jones called him a traitor and that he betrayed the team after helping an alleged victim of a sexual assault victim by teammates A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams.
Bowles says he was also punched in the mouth by Curt Maggitt and left his lip bloodied and was confronted by teammates Marlin Lane and Geraldo Orta at a campus dining hall. Jones reportedly called Bowles to apologize for calling him a traitor, according to the lawsuit, first reported by The Tennessean.
Jones issued a strong denial to the false attacks on his character and believes the process will see his character affirmed.
“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.
These are awfully damaging allegations that question the character, morals, integrity and ethics of Jones and this is the strong response you would expect from such an accusation. Saying “as well as the young man’s own words” refers to conflicting statements from Bowles made under oath vs. what he said to the paper.
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The University also released a statement in response to the amended complaint.
“The University has reviewed the amended complaint filed today by the plaintiffs and we continue to stand by our actions. The facts, as opposed to allegations in a complaint, will demonstrate that the university acted properly in the matters at issue. We have continuously worked hard to improve our processes and procedures to ensure that we are doing all that we can to prevent incidents of assault, to support victims of assault, and to pursue justice while enforcing due process for those accused. We will vigorously defend all claims in the amended complaint. The University is issuing this statement to lessen the potential harmful effects narrative the amended complaint has on the university’s continuing efforts to encourage survivors to come forward and report sexual assaults and its efforts to educate students about the issue of sexual assault. The University will not allow this lawsuit to detract from those efforts.”
As Jones said in response to his allegations, the facts will come to light as the investigations progress but this is more damage for Tennessee as the Title IX lawsuit continues alleging the school has created a culture enabling sexual assaults by student-athletes