Tennessee football coach Butch Jones denied allegations that he labeled one of his players a traitor after the player came to the aid of a woman who said she was raped by two other players on the Volunteers football team.
According to a new filing in a lawsuit against the university's athletic department, Jones said that sophomore wide receiver Drae Bowles "betrayed the team" following the November 2014 incident. The suit alleges that after Bowles broke down crying, Jones later called back and apologized, the Tennessean reported.
Jones released a statement through the university Wednesday, saying, "The assertion that I ever attempted to belittle or demean a young man for taking action to help another person is absolutely false.
"To the contrary, I did all I could to assist the former student in question. During the course of the judicial process, campus officials, as well as the young man's own words, will clearly establish that I have done nothing wrong. I will fight all of these false attacks on my character, and I know that once this process has been completed, my reputation will be affirmed."
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Shortly after the incident, Bowles transferred to Tennessee-Chattanooga. He testified in an affidavit that, as retaliation for his help to the woman in the case, a then-Volunteers teammate, linebacker Curt Maggitt, punched him in the mouth in the locker room, drawing blood.
Bowles said two other teammates, defensive back Geraldo Orta and running back Marlin Lane, confronted him the following day at a campus dining hall.
Linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Michael Williams ultimately were charged with aggravated rape. Both are awaiting trial.
