Quote from Coach Thigpen regarding AJ

[VOLorNuttin]

I would have thought that if the police suspected there was clear evidence of a rape, then the offending parties would have already been arrested and posted bond.

Something in the investigation probably doesn't add up (with her account). Maybe they are just being ultra-cautious, but typically Police don't wait around to arrest someone when serious charges like this are being made.

 

[Bope]

From another national rape case involving football players:

“The victim in this case, although never wavering from her insistence that the defendants sexually assaulted her against her will, did not believe it would be in her best interest to have to undergo the type of questioning [and] cross-examination that would essentially amount to an attack on her character should the case go to trial,” Adams wrote in a final memo on the case. “She very much wanted to put this matter behind her, and focus on her life as a college student-athlete.”

At this point, the UT victim seems 100% committed to seeing this play out.

Read more here: Ex-UM players in campus rape case allowed to enter program for first-time offenders | The Miami Herald​

They are obviously still attempting to gather evidence. It means that, more than likely, they have not found any yet.

I also don't see Thig attaching AJ to UT like that with his "great ambassador" comment if it didn't look like this was going away.

No coach is going to speak out that strongly if they did not feel like it was going to turn out well.

Thig is close to this situation - itd be wise to take note of comments like this.

 

[Volstylexx]

YOU seem really invested in this...hope the outcome doesn't affect your chemical balance. :crazy:

I'm just tired of TN fans looking like FSU fans.

 

[Bope]

I would have thought that if the police suspected there was clear evidence of a rape, then the offending parties would have already been arrested and posted bond.

Something in the investigation probably doesn't add up (with her account). Maybe they are just being ultra-cautious, but typically Police don't wait around to arrest someone when serious charges like this are being made.

You are exactly right - they would have.

They are still trying to find some evidence of rape it would seem. If they had DNA evidence or such, they would be in jail already.

 

[loggervol]

I want aj to be able to play his last games as a vol but if he is innocent and he is found to be not guilty of any these accusations. that is all I care about. I want him to be able to play but that is not the most important thing.

I know aj has made some mistakes but I believe what coach thig is saying when he says aj is a high character guy.

 

[Biopsyman]

Meaning- play at Vandy and bowl game

 

[dyllisvol42]

I'm thinking this is going to blow over. I mean it didn't get the national attention like you think it would have. No arrest yet. I think they are doing there due diligence here. This isn't somethi anyone wants to mess up.

 

[VOLorNuttin]

I suspect that it's somewhere in the gray area of "Yeah, it was consensual up to a point, but...".

And for those who say the woman's identity shouldn't be made known...WHY NOT?! It's a he said/she said incident. AJ doesn't get the privilege of privacy or non-disclosure. Why should she? I mean it's patently unfair for the public to judge one party while having the other protected...until all the facts can be hashed out.

I say it's only fair...so she can feel as much public scrutiny as AJ is. No, rape is not a light matter...nor is falsely accusing one of it!

So, if you are a forum moderator threatening to ban anyone who reveals her name.....SHAME ON YOU! You are imposing a double standard.

 

[UNGVol]

I'm just tired of TN fans looking like FSU fans.

That's a real d**k thing to say. Nobody is happy with all of this, but it is not your job to jump around every thread in the FF telling everyone the "gospel truth". Also, never associate anything about me with an FSU fan. That hurts.

 

[Volstylexx]

I suspect that it's somewhere in the gray area of "Yeah, it was consensual up to a point, but...".

And for those who say the woman's identity shouldn't be made known...WHY NOT?! It's a he said/she said incident. AJ doesn't get the privilege of privacy or non-disclosure. Why should she? I mean it's patently unfair for the public to judge one party while having the other protected...until all the facts can be hashed out.

I say it's only fair...so she can feel as much public scrutiny as AJ is. No, rape is not a light matter...nor is falsely accusing one of it!

So, if you are a forum moderator threatening to ban anyone who reveals her name.....SHAME ON YOU! You are imposing a double standard.

The shame is on you. Releasing her name would be reprehensible at this point.

 

[Fijivol72]

Simply coach speak for someone trying to protect his player in a time of uncertainty. Nothing more to see here. AJ won't be back this season.

What did you want Thig to say, "Aj's a horrible person?"

I couldn't disagree more with this drivel! Troll all you want but the last time I looked we live in a country with the presumption of innocence. Every post from you on this subject is guilty until proven otherwise. If you can't take the coach at his word then preach your righteousness elsewhere.

 

[DownTheField]

Hey, I looked up today and, if you squinted your eyes just right, you could pretend that the clouds formed 'A' and 'J.' He's definitely playing Saturday.

 

[Volstylexx]

That's a real d**k thing to say. Nobody is happy with all of this, but it is not your job to jump around every thread in the FF telling everyone the "gospel truth". Also, never associate anything about me with an FSU fan. That hurts.

Have you read some of the things Vol fans are saying online and on twitter?? You could copy and paste from the FSU forum.

Shamelessly defending our players, while calling the victim "Ho," "slut," etc. is no different than what FSU fans have been doing with Winston.

 

[govols24]

As calculated as all of these coaches are in interviews, you have to believe that there's no way Thigpen calls AJ a "great ambassador of the program" if the allegations are true.

 

[Stephen Gray]

I suspect that it's somewhere in the gray area of "Yeah, it was consensual up to a point, but...".

Based on what, speculation on a message board and a few tweets?

And for those who say the woman's identity shouldn't be made known...WHY NOT?! It's a he said/she said incident. AJ doesn't get the privilege of privacy or non-disclosure. Why should she?

Why not? How about because we might have a rape victim on our hands. A possible victim. If you seriously think we should name possible rape victims, I don't know what to tell you.

I mean it's patently unfair for the public to judge one party while having the other protected...until all the facts can be hashed out.

I agree, so let's not judge either of them and wait for the professionals (the people paid to investigate) to get to the bottom of things. From most of the posts I've read, people aren't saying "AJ and Michael, what scumbags!!!!" We are waiting to find out what happened, and hoping that a rape didn't occur.

I say it's only fair...so she can feel as much public scrutiny as AJ is. No, rape is not a light matter...nor is falsely accusing one of it!

Rape IS very serious, and we have a person that MIGHT have been raped. Outing her does nothing but discourage other people from reporting rapes. There's a reason credible statistics imply that a large number of women are raped, most of them don't report it, and most rapists rape many times.

Accusations of rape are also serious, and when they are found to be false, they should be handled at that point... again, by the professionals.

So, if you are a forum moderator threatening to ban anyone who reveals her name.....SHAME ON YOU! You are imposing a double standard.

Shame on you for not understanding why we shouldn't name potential victims of violent sexual crime.

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

Imo this type of thing is calculated. Thigpen is definitely our best recruiter. You know recruits follow his tweets. Just a subtle way he can show those young men if you come to Tennessee he will support you. As for the meaning of the text itself I doubt he has inside knowledge.

 

[KoachKletus]

Have you read some of the things Vol fans are saying online and on twitter?? You could copy and paste from the FSU forum.

Shamelessly defending our players, while calling the victim "Ho," "slut," etc. is no different than what FSU fans have been doing with Winston.

I have one question for you - but before I ask, I will admit that rape is a crime and the rapist should be punished. Now the question - Who is the guilty party if two people had consensual sex, but after the consensual sex, one partner decided to cry rape? Who is the guilty party?

 

[volfanbill]

Imo this type of thing is calculated. Thigpen is definitely our best recruiter. You know recruits follow his tweets. Just a subtle way he can show those young men if you come to Tennessee he will support you. As for the meaning of the text itself I doubt he has inside knowledge.

If we have a coach backing an accused rapist just to get recruits, I will actually turn in my fan card, no joking aside. As mentioned somewhere else, there's only two acceptable outcomes. The biggest gaffe in coaching history, or he knows something we don't.

 

[butchna]

I'm just tired of TN fans looking like FSU fans.

How can you "tired " of something that hasn't happened?

 

[BeecherVol]

Imo this type of thing is calculated. Thigpen is definitely our best recruiter. You know recruits follow his tweets. Just a subtle way he can show those young men if you come to Tennessee he will support you. As for the meaning of the text itself I doubt he has inside knowledge.

Huh

 

[mreorange]

We're is the quote?. Listened to the interview
And heard no such thing!

 

[therealitytheory]

Have you read some of the things Vol fans are saying online and on twitter?? You could copy and paste from the FSU forum.

Shamelessly defending our players, while calling the victim "Ho," "slut," etc. is no different than what FSU fans have been doing with Winston.

Nobody here calling the alleged victims (plural) ho's or sluts. Why not take the the actual offenders to task, tough guy.

 

[alwaysvol]

If we have a coach backing an accused rapist just to get recruits, I will actually turn in my fan card, no joking aside. As mentioned somewhere else, there's only two acceptable outcomes. The biggest gaffe in coaching history, or he knows something we don't.

biggest gaffe ever? all he would have to say to fix it would be "I couldn't believe A.J. was capable of something like this.

I think people are making to much of the Thig statment.

 

[Fijivol72]

If we have a coach backing an accused rapist just to get recruits, I will actually turn in my fan card, no joking aside. As mentioned somewhere else, there's only two acceptable outcomes. The biggest gaffe in coaching history, or he knows something we don't.

I am sure there is a trash bin somewhere close to make your deposit.

 

[finn]

Earlier this season, T Paulk hit his girlfriend early Sunday morning and he was gone the next day. No charges were pressed but CBJ was judge, jury, and executioner. End of story.

AJ and Williams also have an incident involving women and they have been suspended until further notice but not officially dismissed.

This is only speculation but I have to believe CBJ sat both sets of players down and asked just what the hell happened. Paulk admitted he hit her and was gone. AJ and Williams also told the truth or at least their interpretation of what happened.

Sure, you can assume they just lied but obviously whatever they said was enough for CBJ to merely suspend vs permanently kick them off the team. You can also assume Paulk didn't matter since he was on IR and a 3* to boot but I personally think Jones has more integrity than that.

There are probably a lot of grey areas in this case. I don't doubt something happened but I do believe there are probably a couple different interpretations of just how it went down. Thig's comments seem to suggest AJ's version has some credibility.

Ultimately the case will play out but everybody was ready to hang Treon Harris too earlier in the season until charges were dropped and, at face value, that seemed to be a fairly similar case.