Missouri Title IX Office: No, It's Not Illegal to Upset a Softball Player

You may recall that back in May, the University of Missouri softball team threw some kind of fit. Players announced they were playing a game “in protest” of what they considered an “unjust investigation” — interesting phrase — of coach Ehren Earleywine by Missouri’s administration.

Missouri’s investigation of Earleywine was based on player complaints about emotional abuse by the coach.

So to re-cap: Members of the Missouri softball team complained to the university that the coach was abusive. The university, including the athletic department and Title IX office, looked into it. And then the softball team collectively protested that investigation.

"“There’s a couple of kids on the team that probably have things, exchanges between myself and them or different scenarios, that they would have liked to see handled differently,” Earleywine told The Kansas City Star in May. “ … I’m tough on kids. I make them accountable and there’s discipline in our program. I’m a throwback. If that’s demeaning, maybe, but it’s not about them, the person, it’s about their performance as a player.” "

Well, we now have a resolution to that investigation and, as far as Missouri’s Title IX office can tell, upsetting softball players is not against the law.

"Missouri has concluded its Title IX investigation into softball coach Ehren Earleywine with no finding that he violated federal non-discrimination statutes. Still, Earleywine apparently hasn’t been cleared of all wrongdoing — at least not yet — according to a statement provided to The Star on Friday from MU interim chancellor Hank Foley."