OT-Major Applewhite "Inappropriate Behavior" with student in 2009

Submitted by clarkiefromcanada on

According to various media outlets Texas Longhorns OC Major Applewhite engaged in “inappropriate, consensual behavior with an adult student” while at the 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

It is unclear why this is currently coming to light in the media reporting. Nonetheless, it is currently in the cycle.

Applewhite:

"Several years ago, I made a regretful decision resulting in behavior that was totally inappropriate,” Applewhite said in a statement. “It was a one-time occurrence and was a personal matter.”

AD DeLoss Dodds: 

 

“Major Applewhite engaged in inappropriate, consensual behavior with an adult student one time during the 2009 Fiesta Bowl activities. After learning of his behavior later that month, I took immediate action to review the situation. We promptly initiated an inquiry with assistance from the university’s Legal Affairs office and other units outside of Athletics.

Major admitted his inappropriate conduct and he was disciplined. In determining appropriate discipline, we analyze the facts and circumstances surrounding the behavior and its relation to job responsibilities. Major fully accepted his discipline, including counseling.

We have high standards for behavior and expect our staff andcoaches to adhere to them in all aspects of their lives. I believe that the appropriate discipline was taken in this case.”

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/ut-ad-oc-major-applewhi…

Hook em?

 

 

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2013 at 8:06 AM ^

Applewhite just banged a student. And ADULT student. His problem is that he cheated on his wife. If he was single...I really wouldn't have an issue with it.

The track coach banged a student-ATHLETE. That's totally different. A coach can't be involved with a player, period. Just like a coach can't be involved with a secretary or support staff.

PM

February 2nd, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^

While I agree that it's not the same, isn't anyone aged 18 and up legally an adult?  Point being, virtually all college students are adults by the time a bowl game rolls around.  Banging an athlete when you're a coach compares to a prof banging a student in his class though... way different from some random student.

goblue20111

February 2nd, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^

The track coach could have brought about Title IX liablity for the school for his conduct.  There was an eerily similar out of the OSU track department back in 2000.  I believe it actually went to the Supreme Court.  This doesn't seem like that.  He couldn't have really a situation where he based job/educational benefits on the basis of submission to his sexual conduct.

MGoSoftball

February 3rd, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^

and the only person that should really give a shit whether it was a male or female is the preggo wife.  Why is this news?  If there was a subordinate relationship then the school should handle it.

Now let me say this, hell has no fury like a 9 month preggo wife.  I say lock them two in a room and let WIFEY take care of the problem.  I would rather go to jail than to piss off my 9 month preggo wife.  I mean if I forget to take out the trash, I catch hell; but cheating on a preggo wife?  MMA here we come.

Magnus

February 2nd, 2013 at 6:55 AM ^

As a leader of young men, it doesn't set a very good example when you're cheating on your wife and porking a student.

Morality isn't completely separate from your professional life.

Cubsfan1

February 2nd, 2013 at 2:06 AM ^

The issue might be that an employee of the university slept with a student. That is an abuse of power. Also, It is very similar to Texas women's track coach Bev Kearney who resigned in January as the school was in the process of firing her for having a relationship with one of her athletes in 2002. Even though Applewhite didn't sleep with a player he coached, he was still an authority figure of the university and should have been fired.

HelloHeisman91

February 2nd, 2013 at 3:20 AM ^

Not really. Major hooked up with a woman that happened to attend UT. Bev had a relationship with someone she had an obvious influence over. Imagine being the guy she was sleeping with and being afraid to end things because your scholarship is at stake. It's two completely different situations.

goblue20111

February 2nd, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

Austin is a fairly liberal place.  Actually, from my understanding it's really just the boonies and shit podunk small towns of Texas that make up the batshit insane social conservatism you're talking about.  San Antonio is supposedly solidly Democratic and from my understanding Dallas and its suburbs are fiscally conservative but relatively liberal when it comes to social policies.  I don't really think that's the case here.  As other posters have mentioned, the track coach had a position of power over the players.  That could have created Title IX sexual harassment hell for the university on a quid pro quo case.  If the school was shown to have been deliberately indifferent when the sex for benefits started, it could have been open to more liablity.  By firing the coach immediately, they covered their asses in the present and in the future. 

Sopwith

February 2nd, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^

It's fairly liberal... the mayor is openly lesbian and it's not much of a thing.  Suburbs, exurbs, and small towns are the real Texas the rest of the country has come to know and love in the news about said batshit-insanity.

(oddly, Austin is the home of the world's largest urban bat population, but the least batshit in my opinion)

HelloHeisman91

February 2nd, 2013 at 2:37 AM ^

Abuse of power? What could Major have held over her head? Unless she was taking a football 401 to satisfy a mandatory PE credit to graduate what "authority" was he abusing? It's not like he could have threatened to go to a prof. or the university president and have an influence without raising eyebrows. I will never condone cheating on his wife but the fact that it was with an adult student that he had no influence over doesn't bother me.

maizenbluedevil

February 2nd, 2013 at 3:00 AM ^

Dude there are like 70,000 UT students.  He wasn't this girl's prof. or coach.  He probably had no further interaction with her in the course of her education, or even with any of her profs. or anyone that knew her at all.  

Kearney had an affair with one of her athletes.  It's apples and oranges.

Mr Miggle

February 2nd, 2013 at 7:07 AM ^

You're making some assumptions that may not be based in reality. He was disciplined by the school after their Legal Affairs department was called in. The discipline included a pay freeze. That leads one to ask why. Would that be SOP if she was some random student? According to the school's written policy, that does not appear to be the case. http://policies.utexas.edu/policies/consensual-relationships