Current UT players address sexual assault controversy

#6
#6
RollerVol said:
Why?

GO VOLS!
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My first gut reaction when I read it was that they are saying they think at least some of it is true.

I get the big picture of rallying the team, I'm sure there is an element of that in there. But the take away for me, as an outsider, was that they think there have in fact been some bad things.
 
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#8
#8
Hart or someone needs to put a media lock down with the coaches and players on this matter.

I get wanting to defend themselves and stick up for teammates but the road to Hell ( and lawsuit settlements) is paved with good intentions. I can't imagine the lawyers are OK with any of these folk getting in front of a camera and discussing this mess.
 
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#9
#9
lawgator1 said:
That's not good.
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Dammit.

I hate that the most reasonable person in this whole mess has been a gator. I scroll through these posts dumbfounded and you seem to be the only one, willing to speak up, who 'gets it.'

Please keep it up. I'm too dumbfounded by most of what I read here to formulate a cogent response.
 
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#10
#10
lawgator1 said:
My first gut reaction when I read it was that they are saying they think at least some of it is true.

I get the big picture of rallying the team, I'm sure there is an element of that in there. But the take away for me, as an outsider, was that they think there have in fact been some bad things.
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I don't think anyone is saying that NOTHING bad has happened......I think it is widely thought that some players have made very poor decisions, possibly even criminal decisions.....some have been arrested and awaiting trial.....there is no dispute there.....I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE GUILTY OF A CRIME OR NOT.....that will play out. What is being disputed is the lawsuit allegations and the wild and bizarre assertions that UT is harboring, condoning, or even encouraging criminal behavior is appalling.

BUT, I THINK THE CURRENT PLAYERS MAKING THESE STATEMENTS ARE STANDING UP FOR THE COACH, PROGRAM AND ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT BY SAYING THERE IS NO "CULTURE PROBLEM". IN FACT, THEY ARE SAYING THE CONTRARY! THEY ARE MENTIONING THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON THEM, BUT SOME HAVE CHOSEN TO POSSIBLY MAKE POOR/BAD DECISIONS.
 
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#12
#12
JonGrudensAgent said:
Hart or someone needs to put a media lock down with the coaches and players on this matter.

I get wanting to defend themselves and stick up for teammates but the road to Hell ( and lawsuit settlements) is paved with good intentions. I can't imagine the lawyers are OK with any of these folk getting in front of a camera and discussing this mess.
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Exactly this. If I'm the plaintiff's lawyer I'm deposing each of these guys as soon as I can and asking what they meant by their comments and why they felt the need to say that people have made mistakes and that they hope the women can find peace.

They are making it worse, not better.



daj2576 said:
Dammit.

I hate that the most reasonable person in this whole mess has been a gator. I scroll through these posts dumbfounded and you seem to be the only one, willing to speak up, who 'gets it.'

Please keep it up. I'm too dumbfounded by most of what I read here to formulate a cogent response.
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Thanks, but my guess is most of the people who say they are chomping at the bit to fight it tooth and nail are going to come around to the reality of the situation soon and realize that an objective, step back and let's make some good business decisions approach, is what is needed here.
 
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#13
#13
lawgator1 said:
My first gut reaction when I read it was that they are saying they think at least some of it is true.

I get the big picture of rallying the team, I'm sure there is an element of that in there. But the take away for me, as an outsider, was that they think there have in fact been some bad things.
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So..Did the accused players not get suspended or booted from the team when all of this mess started? I think your putting words in the mouths of these players. They are saying that some of their teammates have made mistakes, but that will happen no matter where you are, and they don't feel the culture they have built is the same one the media is portraying.
 
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#14
#14
lawgator1 said:
Exactly this. If I'm the plaintiff's lawyer I'm deposing each of these guys as soon as I can and asking what they meant by their comments and why they felt the need to say that people have made mistakes and that they hope the women can find peace.

They are making it worse, not better.






Thanks, but my guess is most of the people who say they are chomping at the bit to fight it tooth and nail are going to come around to the reality of the situation soon and realize that an objective, step back and let's make some good business decisions approach, is what is needed here.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is saying that NOTHING bad has happened......I think it is widely thought that some players have made very poor decisions, possibly even criminal decisions.....some have been arrested and awaiting trial.....there is no dispute there.....I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE GUILTY OF A CRIME OR NOT.....that will play out. What is being disputed is the lawsuit allegations and the wild and bizarre assertions that UT is harboring, condoning, or even encouraging criminal behavior is appalling.

BUT, I THINK THE CURRENT PLAYERS MAKING THESE STATEMENTS ARE STANDING UP FOR THE COACH, PROGRAM AND ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT BY SAYING THERE IS NO "CULTURE PROBLEM". IN FACT, THEY ARE SAYING THE CONTRARY! THEY ARE MENTIONING THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON THEM, BUT SOME HAVE CHOSEN TO POSSIBLY MAKE POOR/BAD DECISIONS.
 
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#15
#15
I guess you can read into their comments what you want. I'm just telling you how I perceived them.

I'm very familiar with the circle the wagons mentality. I've been dealing with it for 20 years. In my experience, it feels great for the first 1/3rd of the time you are dealing with it, "its us against the world!"; lousy the second 1/3rd, "how could you do this to us?"!; and then pretty empty the last 1/3rd, "should have nipped this in the bud when we had the chance."
 
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#16
#16
JonGrudensAgent said:
Hart or someone needs to put a media lock down with the coaches and players on this matter.
I get wanting to defend themselves and stick up for teammates but the road to Hell ( and lawsuit settlements) is paved with good intentions. I can't imagine the lawyers are OK with any of these folk getting in front of a camera and discussing this mess.
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Maybe, but I think I see what they are doing. If I understand correctly, the lawsuit is calling the culture into question. Hart, Jones, and now the players are coming out in defense of the culture. The plaintiffs have chosen at least initially to try this case in the court of public opinion throwing everything but the kitchen sink out there to try to gain leverage. IMO, they are trying to force UT into a quick settlement. Why? Because IMO the case is likely weak and they know it.
 
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#18
#18
I hope this is the one and only time players are allowed to speak on this matter. I didn't see any "mistakes" per se, but maybe they find another young man who slips up. I'd hope this is a one time thing, get the current team leaders out there in a united front,support the university, and let the players move on... Let the AD and the lawyers send out the messages, 1 voice speaks for all type thing. We don't need 85 different voices sending out 85 different messages in 85 directions...
 
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#19
#19
lawgator1 said:
I guess you can read into their comments what you want. I'm just telling you how I perceived them.

I'm very familiar with the circle the wagons mentality. I've been dealing with it for 20 years. In my experience, it feels great for the first 1/3rd of the time you are dealing with it, "its us against the world!"; lousy the second 1/3rd, "how could you do this to us?"!; and then pretty empty the last 1/3rd, "should have nipped this in the bud when we had the chance."
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Settling this will keep others from filing later?...or put a big ole $bullseye for others wanting to finance their college education...and starter home?
 
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#20
#20
I think the quotes here were reasoned and well articulated. The problem I have is that they are going to be diced, sliced, and twisted. These kids are not a match for attorneys and as such they should be counseled to not say anything. I understand their feelings that every player is being lumped together and they feel its patently unfair (and it is). However in the lawsuit culture it never matters how many people get unjustly hurt just that your side wins. Winning is worth a lot more to the attorneys than anyone else. The young lady at Florida State got a little over 200K and they attorneys got the rest of the million.
 
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#21
#21
lawgator1 said:
Exactly this. If I'm the plaintiff's lawyer I'm deposing each of these guys as soon as I can and asking what they meant by their comments and why they felt the need to say that people have made mistakes and that they hope the women can find peace.

They are making it worse, not better.






Thanks, but my guess is most of the people who say they are chomping at the bit to fight it tooth and nail are going to come around to the reality of the situation soon and realize that an objective, step back and let's make some good business decisions approach, is what is needed here.
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What else would they say? "Sorry chick should've kept your legs closed" or something to that nature?

I don't see anything wrong with what they said, they are being attacked for things they didn't do. To everyone right now every UT football player is a rapist waiting to happen, and that's not fair to the kids who are doing nothing wrong and just going about their day.

That I believe is what they are speaking to, and that just cause you have a few guys who made some bad choices/mistakes doesn't mean the rest are bad, which is what the lawsuit is implying.
 
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#22
#22
For those of you thinking this is bad I disagree.
Make no mistake that it was no accident that these were the players chosen to allow access to the media. They were prepped and did a fine job. Might they get deposed? Maybe but there's a chance some current players would have gotten deposed anyway. This is called controlling the message and making sure that the "right" players spoke. Very good move by UT defense.
 
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#24
#24
I got the sense this was a carefully orchestrated event with the full blessings of the AD. It also seemed to me the guys had spent at least a day or two preparing their "impromptu" remarks.

As to whether or not we should go ahead and settle this out of court, I am torn. I would say I need to sleep on it, but I have promised myself to never drink while I'm sleeping.
 
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