ESPN OTL Exposes Sparty’s
Most Serious Allegations
Things are just getting worse for Sparty:
ESPN’s OTL crew has more or less written a complete
and utterly unflattering version of everything that’s happened in Spartyland over
the last 12-15 years. It’s not a good
read if you’re a Sparty, or anyone, for that matter, that cares about the
safety and general welfare for students and student athletes alike.
Again, this is ALL OLD NEWS. The problem is there’s just so much of it
that it easily reads like a pattern of repeated sexual assault that has taken
place under both the Basketball and Football programs current coaches. A very easy to identify pattern of players
abusing women and the programs continuous cover-up or handling the complaints “internally”,
or the AD (Hollis) handling the investigation himself, which is totally against
Title IX requirements.
Where the story really starts to go off the
rails is when some of the players began to relate how they “interpreted their
sexual assault training” and it’s important to keep the “Branded a Spartan”
image alive and well with the subtle, unspoken message being: Don’t talk about or report sexual assault
by players and student athletes if the issue arises.
This came out on Friday and over the weekend,
things have been rocky for Izzo (and to a certain extent, Dantoninin). Based on what Simon is getting to resign
(full salary and benefits plus perks), resigning and getting another gig
elsewhere might be easier for each of these guys. The press will continue to be relentless in their
attack and there will be a “#MeToo” mentality with each press conference that
Izzo conducts (especially Izzo) as he moves through the last 7-8 games of the
season, the B1G Tourney and finally the NCAA’s.
Each and every reporter/journalist looking to make a name for themselves
is going to grill Izzo on the topic of assault, rape and his role and actions
in those investigations as a result.
It happened Sunday when Izzo was grilled
about his assistant Travis Walton who was accused of rape with two players and was
investigated (by Hollis ONLY) and was dismissed from the coaching staff (while he was living in Izzo's basement). Izzo did
okay answering the question, but will face the same question after every game
or during every press conference he has as time marches on through this season.
Izzo can probably field that question 100 times
before he ultimately snaps.
And then his response will be similar to what
Woody Hayes did against Clemson’s Charlie Bauman in the Gator Bowl. It won’t be a statement on Izzo’s stellar
career, it will be a one-time Izzo will lash out in frustration at someone and
forever paint himself as someone that defends players who’ve committed sexual
assault.
And I think we all know that’s not who he is,
but that’s where were going.
Lord knows it would be easy for either of them
to land something else while all this blows over, either in the pro sports of
their field or in the ESPN booth for a season while they evaluate
possibilities.
Speaking of Which…
Why are the same, uh idiots, in particular, The
MSU Board of Trustees, making the decision to hire a new President at MSU? And why are they so adamant about hiring an “MSU Grad”
into the role?
Not to compare, but I will, The
University of Michigan hasn’t had a Michigan Grad as a sitting/acting president
since 1951. The reason being is
that there is a nepotism factor whenever a grad is put into a position of power at any
level. Sure, when it’s a football
coach trying to carry on a tradition, then maybe that’s not necessarily a
problem. But when it’s a role
that needs to “clean up” something that has been going on for 20 plus years and
start turning rocks over to find everything and everyone that stinks, I’m not
sure looking inside is the answer.
And that person should be incredibly squeaky clean and above any and all
MSU politics that are still working behind the scenes.
It’s exactly what Penn State and Baylor have done.
And it’s exactly what MSU needs to do now.
And it certainly should NOT be a decision that’s made by
the same people that buried their collective heads in the sand for over 20
years as this crisis developed. (and at
this point, it’s not just the Nassar Crisis)
The Board of Trustees should be usurped of this task and it
should be handed to whoever acts in their place in the event of a crisis.
After a quick internet search, Per the State of
Michigan Constitution, the sitting Governor for the State of
Michigan (Snyder) can boot the entire board and the board can be replaced, via
election and the usual rules for instating the Board of Trustees. Here’s an excerpt from the Freep as to the
status of that action:
Republican consultant Dennis Lennox filed a
lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims on Thursday seeking to order Snyder into
calling inquiries into removal of all members of the MSU Board of Trustees.
"Today, the members
of the MSU Board of Trustees admitted their inaction contributed to the
university's failure to safeguard," Lennox said in an e-mail. "It is
time for the governor to convene an inquiry, pursuant to the constitution, and
consider removal for gross neglect of duty, malfeasance and misfeasance."
Under the state
Constitution, the governor has the power to remove elected and appointed
officials, after conducting an inquiry.
Legal experts voiced
differing views on whether Snyder could hold an inquiry aimed at removing
Simon, since universities have some constitutional autonomy and she was
appointed by the MSU board, not by Snyder. That question is now moot with
respect to Simon, following her resignation. But Michigan constitutional experts
generally agree Snyder could take such action against the MSU trustees, since
they are elected officials.
The constitution says the
governor, after an inquiry, may remove or suspend from office any elected
or appointed officer "for gross neglect of duty or for corrupt conduct in
office, or for any other misfeasance or malfeasance," except for officials
in the legislative or judicial branches of government.
I believe that last sentence applies in this
case. And the Governor ousting the Board
should be considered in this case. That’s
how serious the Governor and anyone associated with this crisis needs to take
this.
It will be interesting to see how all of this
plays out in the coming days.
Games
– Dates – Time – Result - Record
Illinois(H) January
6th Noon WON 79-69 14-3
Purdue
(H) January 9th 9:00 PM Lost 70-69 14-4
Sparty (A) January
13th Noon WON 82-72 15-4
Maryland (H) January
15th 6:30 PM WON 68-67 16-4
Nebraska (A) January 18th 8:00 PM LOST 72-52 16-5
Rutgers
(H) January 21st Noon WON
62-47 17-5
Purdue (A) January 25th 7:00 PM LOST 92-88 17-6
Northwestern
(H) January 29th 7:00 PM
Minnesota
(H) February 3rd 2:30 PM
Northwestern (A) February 6th 6:00PM
Wiscy (A) February 11th Noon
Iowa (H) February
14th 6:30 PM
Suckeyes
(H) February 18th 1:00 PM
PSU (A) February 21st 7:00 PM
Maryland (A) February 24th Noon
REMINDER!!!!
Tune in to Michigan taking on the
Purple Kitties tonight. Late in the B1G
season and every game should be appointment viewing.
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