OT: Washington State Player Leaves Program, Alleges Abuse by Staff

53 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
November 10th, 2012 at 9:55 PM
#1
Zone Left
Zone Left's picture
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 14004
OT: Washington State Player Leaves Program, Alleges Abuse by Staff

WSU receiver Marquess Wilson, who was suspended by the team for the standard "violation of team rules" is asserting this is a lie and that he has left the Cougars due to abuse by the coaching staff.

"My teammates and I have endured this treatment all season long. It is not “tough love.” It is abuse. This abuse cannot be allowed to continue. I feel it is my duty to stand up and shed light on this situation by sacrificing my drams(sic), my education and my pride. I resign from this team. I am deeply sorry to those I am letting down. I am not a quitter. I was raised by my family, and many previous coaches to exhibit dedication and embrace sacrifice, but there comes a time when one has to draw a line in the sand."

There are no specifics provided, but given similar allegations against Mike Leach in the past, the allegations will be examined closely.

Link.

It's all John Navarre's fault.

 

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
November 10th, 2012 at 9:59 PM | What does it say? (Score:5 Normal)
Blazefire
Blazefire's picture
Joined: 04/17/2009
MGoPoints: 15753

When I read it, it looks like it says, "Those mean men wanted me to lift weights and yelled at me when I didn't! WHAA!"

"This is the EMU game, not the emo game."
November 10th, 2012 at 9:59 PM | Big whoop. So the kid had a (Score:3 Normal)
NFG
NFG's picture
Joined: 04/24/2012
MGoPoints: 2251

Big whoop. So the kid had a concussion and was putin a tool shed. That's not half as bad as what my uncle from Georgia did to me when I dropped a screen pass in 7th grade.



/s

November 10th, 2012 at 10:00 PM | Given Mike Leach's alleged (Score:4 Normal)
Michael Scarn
Michael Scarn's picture
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 1230

Given Mike Leach's alleged past.*  

November 10th, 2012 at 10:02 PM | Fair enough, I've edited the (Score:2)
Zone Left
Zone Left's picture
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 14004

Fair enough, I've edited the post.

It's all John Navarre's fault.

 

November 10th, 2012 at 10:01 PM | Past? (Score:5 Normal)
Swazi
Swazi's picture
Joined: 08/13/2010
MGoPoints: 2580

Oh you mean a spoiled son of an ESPN analyst getting pissed off at lack of PT and making things up.

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

November 10th, 2012 at 11:32 PM | Is that the one (Score:1)
quiverfull
Joined: 12/21/2011
MGoPoints: 602

that killed all those hookers?  maybe a connection there somewhere...

Quiverfull

November 10th, 2012 at 10:02 PM | As a reminder (Score:5 Normal)
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 28081

Justin Boren left because of the "lack of family values," and Kurt Wermers left because of the thuggish players MIchigan was bringing in.

I am being Twitters

November 10th, 2012 at 10:06 PM | I'm not making a judgement (Score:5 Normal)
Zone Left
Zone Left's picture
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 14004

I'm not making a judgement either way, but it's going to be a news item this week. My wording in the last sentence was poor, so I've edited it.

It's all John Navarre's fault.

 

November 10th, 2012 at 10:16 PM | I figured (Score:4 Normal)
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 28081

I wasn't saying you were drawing judgments. I just wanted to remind people that there are often two sides to these stories... and the last thing people want is to end up on the Craig James side of things.

I am being Twitters

November 10th, 2012 at 11:12 PM | Especially (Score:5 Normal)
ppToilet
ppToilet's picture
Joined: 04/18/2011
MGoPoints: 783

If you are a hooker and value living?

November 11th, 2012 at 12:25 AM | Night made.  Thank you. (Score:0 Redundant)
November 10th, 2012 at 10:05 PM | Leach (Score:2 Normal)
virgilthechicken
virgilthechicken's picture
Joined: 11/12/2008
MGoPoints: 613

Leach does seem a little harsh this season, but his team is a massive disappointment and he was never the friendliest. I'm gonna chalk this up to a tough transition to an authoritarian coach unless some other evidence is brought forward.

"... bitterness is no fun, faith is rewarded, the kids on the field are more resilient than we are, and sometimes they can let us borrow some of that."

- Brian Cook

November 10th, 2012 at 10:10 PM | Maybe he should have played (Score:4 Normal)
ldoublee
Joined: 06/22/2009
MGoPoints: 2888

Maybe he should have played better if he didn't want to get yelled at.

November 10th, 2012 at 10:14 PM | CJK5H (Score:5 Normal)
Brown Bear
Brown Bear's picture
Joined: 01/10/2011
MGoPoints: 2731

CJK5H

I poop excellence
November 10th, 2012 at 10:18 PM | Washington State hasn't had a winning season since 2003 (Score:4 Normal)
markusr2007
markusr2007's picture
Joined: 10/21/2008
MGoPoints: 3448

I'm not buying Wilson's story.  He's a junior.  I liken him to the same dudes who quit on Rodriguez for swearing at them and dogging them in practice. None of the current players on this WSU team know about winning or practicing hard. Prior to Leach's arrive, WSU won 8 games over the previous 4 years.

 

November 10th, 2012 at 10:21 PM | I know he's much beloved by a (Score:1 Normal)
Yeoman
Joined: 06/08/2011
MGoPoints: 2279

I know he's much beloved by a large segment of fans, but there's a reason Mike Leach had to beg for interviews during his time at TTU and it has nothing to do with Craig James since the situation long pre-dated that incident.

November 10th, 2012 at 11:17 PM | The fact it took him so long (Score:1 Normal)
BlueGoM
BlueGoM's picture
Joined: 08/25/2009
MGoPoints: 2845

The fact it took him so long to get another job is very very telling.   He's a head case.

 

November 11th, 2012 at 12:04 AM | That's not what I mean--that (Score:3 Normal)
Yeoman
Joined: 06/08/2011
MGoPoints: 2279

That's not what I mean--that could be explained just by the fact that he'd threatened his former employer with a wrongful termination suit. That was bound to scare people off no matter what else might have been going on.

It's the weirdness in the years before that I'm referring to--the calls from his agent to other schools trying, rather desperately, to arrange interviews. With only one taker ever, apparently (Washington), even when the agent said Leach would pay his own expenses. The weird "interview" with Miami in a hotel lobby that he tried to use as leverage when his contract was coming up for renewal.

He went nearly a decade at TTU and was probably the most successful coach they ever had, yet he was never seriously considered for a job elsewhere even though his agent was aggressively approaching other schools, and even though the head job at his prior school, where he'd been OC, came open twice during that time.

Doesn't that strike anyone else as odd?

November 10th, 2012 at 10:24 PM | More info (Score:5 Normal)
cw51
Joined: 06/22/2011
MGoPoints: 17

This was a hot topic on Seattle sports radio this week. Apparently, Leach had the OL at the PC after last week's embarrassment in the name of accountability. I don't know the specifics but I heard one of the OL ended up crying. On Sunday WSU held conditioning instead of practice. Wilson left mid-practice and cleaned out his locker.



Leach has been pretty tough this year, calling his team "walking dead" & saying they play like zombies.



It's a tough job to change a losing culture like WSU. Leach is definitely raising the bar & splitting the fan base.



I find it funny that Wilson said he's not a quitter but quit the team. I was thinking he should transfer to UM. We could use another receiver.



After hearing more about it, I think Leach should get the benefit of the doubt.

November 10th, 2012 at 11:15 PM | Leach sounds like a Mangino (Score:5 Normal)
BlueGoM
BlueGoM's picture
Joined: 08/25/2009
MGoPoints: 2845

Leach sounds like a Mangino wanna be.  

Lots of people act like a-holes when they think they're being tough.  Sounds like Leach is one.

 

November 11th, 2012 at 3:02 AM | I find Mike Leach in general (Score:2 Normal)
michfan6060
michfan6060's picture
Joined: 01/22/2011
MGoPoints: 1247

I find Mike Leach in general odd. The guy has a pirate fetish for goodness sake. Listening to him talk is just kind of creepy. I wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't killed a few hookers himself to be honest with you, and I mean that with all due respect. He's the kind of guy you don't mind rooting for when he's coaching someone else because he's kind of quarky and nerdy like your weird uncle that you had when you were growing up, but you don't really want him running your football program.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

- Vince Lombardi

November 10th, 2012 at 10:27 PM | Regardless of the truth in (Score:2 Normal)
Hobbes217
Joined: 01/05/2012
MGoPoints: 188

Regardless of the truth in this situation, I think we should take this time to step back and remember the 5.

November 10th, 2012 at 10:39 PM | Poors off some champagne (Score:1)
Greg McMurtry
Greg McMurtry's picture
Joined: 02/25/2009
MGoPoints: 4063

for the late hookers.

...confidence is the stain they can't wipe off...

November 10th, 2012 at 10:53 PM | Pretty sure Leach is a (Score:3 Normal)
yoopergoblue
yoopergoblue's picture
Joined: 02/11/2010
MGoPoints: 1979

Pretty sure Leach is a nutjob.

"They will meet a dastardly fate here for that! There isn't a Michigan Man who wouldn't like go out and scalp those Buckeyes right now."

November 10th, 2012 at 11:19 PM | A terrifyingly wonderful genius nutjob (Score:4 Normal)
angry byrne
angry byrne's picture
Joined: 03/30/2011
MGoPoints: 262

November 10th, 2012 at 11:02 PM | Did he say he wanted to (Score:1)
Louie C
Joined: 11/16/2009
MGoPoints: 2035

Did he say he wanted to "shed" some light on the situation? Marquess, I see what you did there.

"It's the only place to get the inside story on Wolverine football, so blee bluhh tahh!" - Bo

November 10th, 2012 at 11:07 PM | I mean yes cjk5h and all but (Score:1)
cheesheadwolverine
cheesheadwolverine's picture
Joined: 10/25/2008
MGoPoints: 2167

I mean yes cjk5h and all but this is getting to be a pattern. If I were a recruits parent I wouldnt let my kid play for mike leach

"I just hope Tressel doesn't fire me"

-Gordon Gee

November 10th, 2012 at 11:20 PM | I'm not really buying the (Score:3 Normal)
Lionsfan
Lionsfan's picture
Joined: 06/03/2011
MGoPoints: 3945

I'm not really buying the whole thing. If he was really trying to protect his teammates or whatever, why would he drop this 2 hours before the game? It feels to me that he's quitting the team, and saying this to grab some attention

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

StraightDave owes me a steak dinner

November 10th, 2012 at 11:22 PM | Another Article... (Score:3 Normal)
LSAClassOf2000
LSAClassOf2000's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 8947

There was an article on Yahoo! Sports published just before  all this came into light about how ...well.... reportedly unsupportive Leach has been of the Cougars at times. Here is the link. CougFan.com has been keeping track of some of the comments apparently. Since it seems that some of the quotes were taken from  fansites in the article, obviously it is to be taken with some skepticism...

Regarding his offensive line, for example:

"Our five couldn't whip their two," Leach said, according to CougFan.com. "Sometimes they only brought two. Our five couldn't whip their two. Which means, if five of our guys went in an alley and got in a fight with two of theirs, we would have gotten massacred. That's just ridiculously inexcusable. It was one of the most heartless efforts up front I've seen; and our defensive line wasn't any better."

I will say, however, that Mike Leach is a radical departure from what Washington State has been and, if you're going from 20 years of .500-ish performance to the doldrums of Paul Wulff and then Mike Leach, dramatic departures were likely in order for a few people anyway. Without knowing much more, this seems like it is a multi-dimensional tale of cultural change on the surface. It will be interesting to see if the athletic department or school has any kind of statement in time. 

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3

November 11th, 2012 at 2:26 AM | I was going... (Score:2 Normal)
CoachBuczekFHS
CoachBuczekFHS's picture
Joined: 01/05/2012
MGoPoints: 146

I was going to post that link. It's a good article. Kind of tells the other side of the story. Lot's of people jump to conclusions when something like this comes out. 

Elite Athletics. Elite Academics. 
896-310-36, 53-42-6 vs. Ohio, 94-74  vs. Little Brother, 20-6-1 vs. SEC
Let them throw rocks...they still have to HAIL! 
November 10th, 2012 at 11:55 PM | Craig James was the best (Score:2 Normal)
Yeoman
Joined: 06/08/2011
MGoPoints: 2279

Craig James was the best thing that could have happened to Mike Leach. People are expected to take sides in a situation and it's impossible to be on the side of someone at the same time so offensive and so obviously in the wrong as James. That, I suppose, means you have to be on the side of Leach. If it's necessary to be on a side at all.

But what I remember from the various revelations at the time--remember the leaked e-mails about his contract negotations?--was that absolutely everyone involved looked terrible. The AD, Leach, the important boosters--it was an embarrassing clusterfuck of unprofessional behavior and seemed to have been for years, and that was before James stepped in and lowered the bar even further.

November 10th, 2012 at 11:55 PM | This is a weird story. (Score:1 Normal)
eamus_caeruli
Joined: 11/29/2010
MGoPoints: 578

This is a weird story. Player seems shady. Coach seems like he can't manage PR.



Maybe this, maybe that.



Too much bs drama nowadays. Hope this is what it seems at face value. Bitter player, no nonsense coach. Worst case, Leach has too much pirate in him after all.

"Everybody thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing himself."                  - Leo Tolstoy

November 10th, 2012 at 11:55 PM | Mike Leach is a good coach, (Score:2 Normal)
MichiganStudent
MichiganStudent's picture
Joined: 08/27/2008
MGoPoints: 2791

Mike Leach is a good coach, albeit unconventional. This just sounds like sour grapes to me. If I was a middling BCS program I'd love to have him as a coach because he doesn't need top flight talent to succeed. His upside for WSU is big and I expect them to shake the PAC 12 up in 2 years time. 

November 11th, 2012 at 12:23 AM | I think its true. Why would (Score:1)
Slim_Hype
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 189

I think its true. Why would Marquess lie about this? He has to much to lose. He's a first round draft pick, and thought of as the greatest thing sense Ryan Leaf to Cougar fans. Leach has had these allegations before also .

Meh....

November 11th, 2012 at 12:28 AM | Possibly because he's a whiny (Score:2)
bluetell
bluetell's picture
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 4770

Possibly because he's a whiny quitter and Leach had halfway booted him to the curb already and Wilson is a vengeful 20 year old? Seems more likely he'd want to take a parting shot than it is that Leach is abusing people.

Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick

 

November 11th, 2012 at 12:35 AM | If he was a whiny quitter I (Score:1)
Slim_Hype
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 189

If he was a whiny quitter I have a feeling he would of quit way before his junior year, and like I said he has to much to lose and when you pile that in with leach already having allegations against him , I have no reason to believe he's lying.

Meh....

November 11th, 2012 at 12:53 AM | Why would you assume that? (Score:2 Normal)
SalvatoreQuattro
SalvatoreQuattro's picture
Joined: 11/30/2010
MGoPoints: 2865

This is Leach's first year at WSU. As far as you know Marquis's could be doing a Clemons and taking a potshot on the way out.

"The Ruhr will not be subjected to a single bomb. If an enemy bomber reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Hermann Göring: you can call me Urban Meyer!"

November 11th, 2012 at 1:05 AM | Your right he may be lying , (Score:1)
Slim_Hype
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 189

Your right he may be lying , I don't know him but he's played on a team that traditionally sucks and they have continued to suck into this season so why quit now? When to be honest this is his last year before he leaves for the NFL. He could of easily stuck out the rest of this year , suspended or not. But you could be right he could just be whiny and vengeful . All I know is he's a great talent and I would embrace him with open arms if he wanted to transfer here. Lol

Meh....

November 11th, 2012 at 8:48 AM | if this were to be his last (Score:1)
cbs650
Joined: 02/07/2011
MGoPoints: 241

if this were to be his last year before the NFL and he was suspended then that may be a redflag for NFL teams. One the flip side he alleges abuse and if true has a way out that doesnt hurt him draft wise. it would impact draft status if it were to be false. so i dont think he would lie.

November 11th, 2012 at 12:49 AM | What a money quote from (Score:3 Normal)
State Street
State Street's picture
Joined: 07/09/2011
MGoPoints: 1163

What a money quote from him..."I'm not a quitter."  Yeah dude, you are.  You are quitting the team and setting fire to it before you leave.

Not that Leach is innocent or anything.  This is just about to explode.

November 11th, 2012 at 12:49 AM | Washington State (Score:1)
BlueinLansing
BlueinLansing's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 4266

has sucked for most of my 40+ years of life.

 

 

November 11th, 2012 at 1:32 AM | New Regimes (Score:1)
Ron Utah
Joined: 02/28/2012
MGoPoints: 613

Michigan fans know that new regimes always have detractors, and that's part of the deal.  While this is an interesting story right now, that's all it is: a story.

Am I interested?  I guess.  But only if there's proof that something that's illegal, unethical, or out-of-line has been done.

 

Thank you, Coach Hoke, for bringing Michigan back.

November 11th, 2012 at 1:32 AM | New Regimes (Score:1)
Ron Utah
Joined: 02/28/2012
MGoPoints: 613

Michigan fans know that new regimes always have detractors, and that's part of the deal.  While this is an interesting story right now, that's all it is: a story.

Am I interested?  I guess.  But only if there's proof that something that's illegal, unethical, or out-of-line has been done.

 

Thank you, Coach Hoke, for bringing Michigan back.

November 11th, 2012 at 2:06 AM | What a wussy... (Score:1)
Tater
Tater's picture
Joined: 08/13/2008
MGoPoints: 10491

There is no way Leach would actually do anything that could be interpreted as "abuse," becuase of what was done to him by the James family.  OTOH, if somebody is too lazy and entitled to take being coached, he might as well throw something like this against the wall and hope it sticks.  

I mean, that is how things are done in this era, correct?  Fire off accusations and hope for a viral pity party?

Here's part of his "statement:"

 

I realize the school is saying that I am suspended for violating team policies and may return next week, but this is a lie. This is an attempt by the athletic department to cover up what is really happening in that locker room.

 

 

 

November 11th, 2012 at 2:32 AM | Interesting counter-arguement (Score:1)
CoachBuczekFHS
CoachBuczekFHS's picture
Joined: 01/05/2012
MGoPoints: 146

If you're interested in this story...have a look at this article by a WSU beat writer. 

 

http://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-football/2012/11/10/3629290/marque...

Elite Athletics. Elite Academics. 
896-310-36, 53-42-6 vs. Ohio, 94-74  vs. Little Brother, 20-6-1 vs. SEC
Let them throw rocks...they still have to HAIL! 
November 11th, 2012 at 8:16 AM | Just because Craig James is a dumbass (Score:3 Normal)
MGlobules
Joined: 11/17/2008
MGoPoints: 5176

doesn't mean Leach isn't a dumbass, too. Glad we've got a coach who would never denigrate our kids like that. I don't really see that it makes your d*ck bigger to come on and shout that the kids are p*ssies every time charges like this come up. We all know there's a fair amount of abuse out there. 

November 11th, 2012 at 8:52 AM | i'm surprised (Score:3 Normal)
Coach Schiano
Coach Schiano's picture
Joined: 10/05/2008
MGoPoints: 3057

Seems like everybody on this thread, with VERY little info, is already jumping to conclusions, with most leaning against the student and pro Mike Leach. Usually you get more thoughtful commentary on mgoblog...

 

 

I am not really Coach Schiano. -Coach Schiano on Mgoblog

November 11th, 2012 at 10:24 AM | abuse? (Score:1)
BumpNRun
Joined: 08/09/2012
MGoPoints: -10000

I read Leach's book, and i think the dude is brilliant. He certainly pushes his players, and there are certainly ones that don't like or want the push. He is building a culture of toughness. That requires discipline and work. That is never pleasant at the time, but pays off down the line.

My guess is that things got a little too hot for Wilson. Abuse though? Thats offensive to those that had suffered or experienced real abuse.

November 11th, 2012 at 11:44 AM | I'm sure Leach is a bit of a (Score:1)
bronxblue
Joined: 11/22/2008
MGoPoints: 12618

I'm sure Leach is a bit of a jerk, but one of the two parties involved here turned Texas Tech into a top-15 team with minimal recruiting or talent.  The other is a good receiver on a crappy team.  Wilson is definitely a good player, but Leach is trying to turn this team into a winning program, and unless he's beating you with a hose or threatening your life, you may need to trust him in his methods.

November 11th, 2012 at 1:00 PM | Mike Leach is a jackass of (Score:2)
FrankMurphy
FrankMurphy's picture
Joined: 08/19/2008
MGoPoints: 2527

Mike Leach is a jackass of the highest order. Smart guy, toxic personality. 

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.