Former Tennessee Player "Coach Butch Jones Called Me a Traitor For Helping Rape Victim"

[Stuart G]

Source: Deadspin

In a sworn affidavit, then-Volunteers football player Drae Bowles says he was attacked and threatened by teammates for helping a woman who told him she had been raped by players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams, and told by head coach Butch Jones that he had “betrayed the team.”


The Tennessean first reported the affidavit, executed two days ago, which was included in an lawsuit filed by eight women against the University of Tennessee. The suit was filed earlier this month, with the amended complaint, featuring new information like Bowles’s affidavit, was filed today. Bowles’s account can be read in full below.

Bowles said he had discovered the woman, referred to here as Jane Doe IV, in her car in a parking lot “hyperventilating and crying” in the early morning hours of Nov. 16, 2014. She told him she had been raped by Johnson and Williams, according to the lawsuit, and Bowles drove her and her friends to the hospital. Later that day, Bowles was approached by linebacker Curt Maggitt. From the complaint:


Maggitt, who had heard that rape had been reported, asked accusing questions to Bowles about the events the night before. Bowles told Maggitt what had happened. Maggitt became violently upset, said that Bowles was trying to “fuck up AJ” and suddenly punched Bowles in the mouth with great force, causing Bowles’s lip to bleed. Bowles fought back and threw punches before the fight and assault was broken up by teammates. Bowles said that he called head coach Butch Jones to tell him what had happened.


Coach Jones stated to Bowles he was very disappointed in Bowles and that he had “betrayed the team.” Bowles became extremely upset, broke down and cried.


Read more: http://deadspin.com/former-tennessee-player-butch-jones-called-me-traitor-1761125356

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Later in the story, it says Jones apologized for calling him a traitor, with a call later. In my opinion, Jones needs to be fired.

Imagine being called a "traitor" for helping someone. Later, members of the team attacked Bowles twice for helping the woman and suggesting she report the rape. See link below for the denial by Jones of this .. which was made late last night..

______________________________________________________________________________________

another link , same story,,(here.. Jones denies ever saying that to Bowles)....from.. CNN

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14839413/butch-jones-told-tennessee-wr-betrayed-team-helping-alleged-assault-victim

______________________________________________________________________________________

so...who is telling the truth??

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Sports team mentality is gang mentality.

Competitive sports has gone over to the dark side in stressing winning at all costs and 'team unity'. From football to lacrosse, every 'competitive team sport' suffers this dysfunction.

[Bad Dog]

4. "From football to lacrosse, every 'competitive team sport' suffers this dysfunction."

You're right there mate. This is what's been going on over here.

England footballer Adam Johnson continued playing for Sunderland, despite the club being aware he had kissed a schoolgirl, a court has heard.

Bradford Crown Court was told the club's chief executive, Margaret Byrne, met with Mr Johnson and his barrister in May 2015.

She was also issued with a copy of his police interview transcript and that of his alleged victim.

Mr Johnson, 28, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard that at this meeting the footballer was to accept that he had kissed the 15-year-old girl and messages had been exchanged.

In court, his barrister, Orlando Pownall QC, asked: "Was there any discussion of being summarily dismissed by the club? Was there any such discussion in the days that followed?"

Mr Johnson replied to each question: "No."

Mr Pownall asked if he had been present at any decision made by the club with regard to his future, but the footballer said he had not.

He told the court that his father received a phone call telling him his son's playing contract was being ended after, on the first day of his trial, he pleaded guilty to one charge of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child.

The winger also told the jury he "showed a complete lack of integrity" towards his girlfriend Stacey Flounders.

He told his partner to "stop being paranoid" when she asked him who he was sending messages to, the court heard.

Mr Johnson, who has 12 England caps, said he set up a new Snapchat account so that the girl could message him.


The court heard that he sent the words "it was class" in a text to the teenager. Asked by prosecutor Kate Blackwell, QC, what he meant, he replied "the kiss".

Mr Johnson told the jury that during the kiss with the girl he "came to his senses" thinking about his partner and daughter.

He then admitted he was "trying to keep the girl on side" so that she did not tell anyone what had happened.

The player told the court he did flirt with the girl after their second meeting and told her "we'll have to go in the back next time".

He admitted he was referring to "further sexual activity", but added that there was no third meeting.
It is understood that players including Steven Fletcher had been due to give evidence on his behalf in the trial.

Mr Pownall QC asked him: "Since you pleaded guilty how has their approach been to you?"

Mr Johnson replied: "They took a step back."
Earlier, in cross-examination, Miss Blackwell said: "Some people may feel sorry for you because you have thrown away your glittering career. The position you are in now was a direct result of your excessive arrogance."

Mr Johnson replied: "I would say more stupidity."

He went on to state he felt remorse for his actions and added his arrest was the worst day of his life.

When asked by his barrister why, he replied: "Because I had been arrested for sexual activity with a child."

In her evidence to the court, a friend of the alleged victim said the girl had been "bragging" about what had happened between her and the star.

The witness said she had told the girl she thought it had been wrong, but "she didn't care because he was a footballer".
A second young witness said the teenager told her Mr Johnson had performed a sex act on her and likewise, she on him.

Born in Sunderland, he began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then on to Sunderland for £10m in 2012.

The footballer has previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming. He was sacked by Sunderland as a result.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35648397

[gregcrawford]

2. And what do you bet...

... Coach Jones makes more money than all the rest of the faculty combined? There can be NO forgiveness for such an evil man. Jones is the one who "betrayed the team" by protecting a couple of malignant psychopaths instead of their victim. He should never be allowed to work as a coach again for the rest of his worthless life.

[xocet]

13. He's #23 on the list of NCAA football coaches...

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/

[gregcrawford]

14. "ONLY" $7,087,481/yr...

... plus beaucoup bennies, I'm sure. That's an obscenity. Thanks for the info.

The French used to make a surface-to-air missile called the Excocet. Any relation?

[xocet]

16. Sorry...$7,087,481 is Saban's (Alabama)...Jones' (Tennessee) salary is a "mere" $3,633,000....

Interesting...

Exocet (n.)

1970, proprietary name of a rocket-propelled short-range guided missile, trademarked 1970 by Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, from French exocet "flying fish" (16c.), from Latin exocoetus, from Greek exokoitos "sleeping fish, fish that sleeps upon the beach," from exo "outside" (see exo-) + koitos "bed."

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Exocet

[gregcrawford]

17. No matter...

... it's STILL to damned much money for a college coach.

Love the extra info on the Exocet!

[xocet]

18. No kidding...it IS way, way too much money.

[stonecutter357]

3. wow!

[RandiFan1290]

5. Very typical in football culture

They usually defend rapists

[Stuart G]

6. Here are two links from October 2015, that says Jones hit football players at another coaching job

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/10/8/9483351/butch-jones-incident-mack-crowder-cincinnati

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football-news/4657630-butch-jones-allegations-hit-multiple-players-cincinnati-john-lloyd-tennessee-college-football

Of course, this was all denied, and not brought up again..

[Botany]

7. Gotta protect "the program" ... screw the victims .... see below

[Bluenorthwest]

8. This is sports culture. Also part of sports culture is the way the fans affect shock at one horrible

thing after the other in their sport.

[FLPanhandle]

9. Hell, the FSU coach actually interfered/intimidated with witnesses in the Winston rapist case.

Can't have a winning QB sidelined because of a little thing like rape. He has never apologized AND is still coaching at the school.

[iandhr]

10. Given the state of things...

Last edited Thu Feb 25, 2016, 11:50 AM - Edit history (1)

...Mr. Bowles actions are probably accurate. To protect athletes there are cover ups and victims are treated horribly. Unfortunately it's not a stretch to imagine that in this culture there would be repercussions against someone who had the decency to try and help a victim.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Way too much weight given by society to football and sports teams. nt

[SwankyXomb]

12. Footbal uber alles

Gotta keep those dollars rolling in, regardless of the human cost.

[Blasphemer]

15. Thank goodness Drae Bowles found this young woman

The reality is that in countless other cases the victims aren't helped, are further victimized if they dare to tell the truth, and the perpetrators continue to be treated like heroes. If there can be a silver lining in such a story it is that it is possible for someone like Mr. Bowles to survive athletic culture with his conscience in tact. I am thankful that he was not killed and that the victim in this case was able to pursue some measure of justice for the crimes against her.