And you thought Dave Brandon as an ass. See SI article on Dave Hart and U of Tenn
I'm sure this happens elsewhere but Tennesse seems to have perfected being violent and dismissive to women. A "rape culture" is not something I would want my university be known for. When will this stop? I'm guessing the NCAA is too busy looking into Michigan's trip to Florida to be bothered with Tenn.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
There's always someone worse, just not being Hitler doesn't validate one's lack of assholeishness. After reading BLL, it's difficult to find much to like about Brandon. Good riddance, let's move on.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
He meant it puts the arguments about spring trips to Florida into perspective, for all parties involved (yes, that means us, too).
February 25th, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
My wife works as an investigator at a Big Ten U in the Title IX office investigating rape and domestic violence allegations. It happens way too much and way too often at every university. It usually doesn't get broadcast unless it involves big instances like this. It's sad all around and this culture of objectification of women must change.
February 25th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
Thank you to your wife for what she does.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
Well, that is horrible. But Brandon is still an ass, just not a criminal.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:13 AM ^
The whole Brendan Gibbons thing got really big under Brandon's watch, but I'm pretty sure it was because he and Hoke are out of touch morons who couldn't be bothered.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
The way Gibbons was eventually kicked off the team (family matter, etc.) was very poorly handled/communicated/etc. However in general I think Michigan tried to do right in most of the situation. Sexual assaults are often tricky with layers of gray - for example (as a blackhawks fan) Did Patrick Kane rape someone? Who knows? something bad/awful happened and that's all we know.
When it comes to protecting female students (and male students!) and sexual assault, the rules have recently changed regarding what is "guilty". We know that in criminal courts in the US the rules are innocent until proven guilty, and guilt is "beyond a reasonable doubt." In other aspects/faux courts (like University proceedings) often it's a preponderance of evidence, or more-likely-than-not as opposed to a reasonable doubt. It's not out of the question to think that the same facts lead to different outcomes when different rules are applied - OJ was famously "not guilty" in criminal court but "guilty" in civil court, where the burden of proof is smaller.
It seems like part of the problem at UT is that the rules for the faux-University-court proceedings are heavily weighted against alleged victims. Title IX doesn't allow the rules to be that way.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^
IIRC, Michigan did change their own rules so they could kick Gibbons out of school. Remember that Gibbons was never charged in 2009. Michigan changed their sexual misconduct policy in 2013, nearly four years after Gibbons' incident and kicked him out of school. They had no way to kick him out until they changed the policy.
Hoke, however, could have kicked him off the team at any time for "breaking team rules." Instead, he pulled a Tom Izzo and kept him on the team. At least Michigan got it right in 2013, even if it was nearly four years too late.
I am guessing they believed his side of the story. I really hope they did, because I would be utterly disgusted if they didn't and kept him around anyway. As much as I detest David Brandon, I would hope that even he isn't capable of that kind of behavior.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:55 PM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
Jones took over for Brian Kelly who has his own highly shady practices especially at Central Michigan. Not that this matter in the context of the article but criminally things that happened two decades ago are well over the statute of limitiations (barring murder).
February 25th, 2016 at 10:13 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
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February 25th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^
Without going into whether there was a reason for them to quit, a discussion which will devolve rapidly, they both resigned, so their grounds for any suit would be super dubious.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
It's not the Mizzou's students' fault that Tennessee's students apparently don't care enough to stage a walk out or protest over what appears to be much worse than Mizzou's "racist culture."
You would think UT's students would do something considering how much worse this sounds than Mizzou's situation and given what college kids usually cry about these days.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
Bill Cosby is changing his college allegiance from TU to UT.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
I think this is awful and there should be stiff penalties. While it is impossible to stop rape completely the actions of Tennesee definitlely create a culture that if not encouraging rape by covering it up, certainly does nothing to stop it.
The weird thing is that this seems to be how politics work with any issue. Whilstle blowers almost always get blow back. People who try to stand up for what is right are viewed as troublemakers. Is there a positive way Rodgers or any of these people could have solved these issues without getting shut down?
February 25th, 2016 at 7:49 PM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
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February 25th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
But there is a difference between winning, and winning at any cost. There's a lot of smoke here, and smoke usually leads to fire. Even if you catch the smoldering before it flames out of control, there's still a problem. I have a mother, sisters, and a wife, and I just don't think I could stand by idly and watch them be abused without trying to do something to stop it. I get that Hart would want a thorough investigation, but when allegations of rape are involved, you don't get to interfere with that investigation. I have no other information to go on other than the linked SI story, but Hart seems like a first class scumbag. Are there no women in his life that he deems worth protecting, or ensuring they get a fair shot at life? Long ago I realized that, to be successful leading others, I need to rely on the best people for any given job. Skin color and gender have precious little to do with determining who does the best job. You would think that someone as successful as Dave Hart would understand that...
February 25th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
Can't disagree with that...
February 25th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
Where there is an out of control tire fire there is a mound of old gross tires(UT admins)?
February 25th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
Dave Hart before he went to UT, was at FSU as the AD, well things make even more sense now.
February 25th, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
Most recently canned Rutgers AD also came from Tenn via Louisville. Looking big picture is it any wonder Rutgers is a mess?
February 25th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
Well, the good news for Dave Hart is that with early intervention, that face can be cured at birth now, I believe. That's about where the good news stops for him though.
Then, you read this regarding his lack of concern for being consistently named in lawsuits citing discrimination:
On Monday, Hart said of Graf: “We agreed to disagree on some things.” When asked if he was bothered in general by the lawsuits naming him, Hart responded: “They do not. I know who I am and what I stand for.”
The fact that he must know that numerous lawsuits would indicate a pattern of behavior on his part and he seems as if he can't be bothered to even care is actually rather frightening in and of itself.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
UT took the Fulmer Cup too seriously.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
I will always think Dave Brandon was an ass. But I get the point you're making. Could be worse
February 25th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
I trust the OP wasn't suggesting that Brandon somehow is any less an ass.
February 25th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
I think Dave Brandon is a jackass of epic proportions, but Dave Hart is playing in another league altogether. Screwing your fanbase vs allowing a culture of rape are vastly different.
February 25th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
I agree they're both asses, it's just a matter of size. One is J Lo & the other Kim Kardashian. Both still pretty big.
February 25th, 2016 at 8:57 PM ^
but, of course, I didn't say or infer he was as bad or a worse ass. I just said Brandon was also an ass.
February 25th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
but dude sounds like a straight up hero.
February 25th, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
They're just focused on returning to their former glory days when they were an annual shoo-in for the Fulmer Cup. You don't win that award with half-Harted measures—you have to cover up rape allegations with an enthusiasm unknown to sociopathic knuckledragging mankind.
February 25th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
Can't they BOTH be asses?
February 25th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^
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February 25th, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^
Read transcript of Peyton Manning law suit hearing covering the same type of activity of football players and athletic dept.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
is just an "unfortunate" incident. Last week I went to kroger and my sack just fell on a lady stocking the shelves. These things happen.