When Will We Hear More About the Allegations that Butch Jones Called Player a Traitor for Helping Report Sexual Assault?

Art Briles did not survive the Pepper Hamilton report looking into Baylor University and the handling of sexual assault cases. The report described the football program as being perceived of being “above the rules,” improperly involving itself in criminal investigations, dispensing its own justice, and fostering an environment hostile to victims.

Other coaches should be nervous. A campus-wide problem with inadequate and poor handling of sexual assault claims, coupled with high-profile football player cases that went to trial and resulted in convictions, focused the magnifying glass on Briles’ program. It did not withstand that scrutiny.

How many others would be exposed for similar things–improper backroom contact with authorities, conducting internal investigations and keeping things within the team, dismissing players accused of serious crimes and helping them get out of town–if it focused on them?

Tennessee’s Butch Jones will likely be the next coach to receive a similar focus. Back in November of 2014, Jones dismissed A.J. Johnson and Mike Williams, who were charged with sexual assault.

In February, allegations came out as part of a Title IX lawsuit filed against the University, that Jones had talked to Drae Bowles, and accused him of betraying the team, before later apologizing. Bowles’ friend was one of the victims of the alleged sexual assault, and he encouraged the reporting, and was confronted by other members of the football team the next day.

Jones denied referring to Bowles, who transferred from the football program, as a traitor.

While the contents of the conversation may be “he said, he said,” the context will certainly play a role in any fact-finder deciding the truth. In April, reports came out that Jones’ cell phone records show several relevant calls, including two with Bowles, as Bowles alleged. The first happened early in the afternoon. That evening, Jones placed calls to both Bowles’ father and Bowles.

Just as pertinent, and undeniable, is that Jones got a call from a detective with the Knoxville Police Department, as a heads-up that two of his players were under investigation based on the report from the night before.

Starting at 8:20 a.m. on November 16, 2014, Jones got that call from the detective, then called Johnson two minutes and six minutes later, before speaking to the police chief by 8:38 a.m. At the time Jones made those calls to the accused Johnson, the player had not been interviewed or questioned by police. He spoke with Johnson four more times that day, and the police chief three more times.

Jones also called Curt Maggitt, one of the players at the center of the claimed confrontations with Bowles, and talked to an attorney who would go on to represent Johnson, just six minutes before his first phone conversation with Bowles.

Even though the call between the police and Jones was described as a courtesy, several attorneys decried it as improper. Later, the police department announced a change and that would no longer occur.

At the time the lawsuit was filed, Jones said, “[a]nytime we have a disciplinary issue with a player, we have as many conversations as needed with players, parents, law enforcement, whomever until we can be sure that we are making the best decision possible. These are decisions that can be life-changing for these individuals. After taking into account all the information we could gather in this case, we made the decision to suspend two student-athletes from the team immediately.”

At his first weekly press conference after the suspension of those players back in 2014, Jones was asked, “Coach, do you have any update on A.J, and Mike, and what kind of dialogue do you keep with those two players right now?”

He responded, “I have not had any dialogue at all. Again we’re letting the investigation take care of itself. And that’s all I’ll say.” [emphasis ours]

The posturing of the situations is different. Tennessee is currently facing a lawsuit against the University, which means depositions are in the future. That may take a while. There has been no announced independent investigation a la Pepper Hamilton. (No doubt there have been internal reviews and questions asked). Maybe Butch Jones survives and is absolved. He claimed at the time, “[d]uring 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.”

Given the nature of the allegations, though, a finding or more evidence coming out puts Jones in a light similar to Baylor, showing a program where the football staff intermingled with local police in a way that is no doubt common but should be unacceptable. If the allegations of calling a player who helped a victim a traitor are accepted, then the culture itself would be under as much attack as that in Waco under Briles.