Lawsuit Alleges Butch Jones Called Player a Traitor for Helping Woman Who Accused Teammates of Rape

Earlier this month, we relayed word that a federal lawsuit against the University of Tennessee alleged that football players from the school “assaulted former wide receiver Drae Bowles after he helped a woman who accused fellow teammates A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams of rape in November of 2014.”

Today, the Tennesseean reports on a new filing that takes those harrowing allegations much higher up the institutional totem pole:

"University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones told one of his players 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 UT. Sophomore Drae Bowles “broke down and cried” after speaking with his coach, the lawsuit said. Jones later called Bowles back to apologize for calling him “a traitor to the team,” according to the suit. "

These phone calls allegedly took place after Bowles, who ultimately transferred to UT-Chattanooga, was assaulted by teammate Curt Maggitt in the team’s locker room. Bowles was also allegedly confronted by teammates Geraldo Orta and Marlin Lane.

We highly advise heading over to The Tennessean for more details and background on this harrowing story.