Roy Exum
There have been at least seven sexual assaults reported to the University of Tennessee police in Knoxville this academic year. That doesn’t include the case against two Volunteer football players, who last week were indicted on charges of aggravated rape, because the alleged crime did not occur on campus and was handled by the Knoxville Police Department.
In a chilling story that appeared in Sunday’s Nashville Tennessean, it was revealed that of 19 sexual assaults that allegedly took place at UT between 2011 and 2013, only two resulted in a completed disciplinary hearing and, while three students were suspended, not one student was expelled or went to jail.
A.J. Johnson, who was indicted with teammate Michael Williams, was also arrested earlier this month when nine UT football players were busted after a house party given by former Vol Dontavis Sapp went from bad to worse.
According to a report on TMZ’s website, Sapp was “clearly wasted” when he was approached by police and, when they tried to take him into custody, Johnson grabbed a police officer’s shoulder in an attempt to keep Sapp from being arrested.
Johnson, a star linebacker before the rape charges were made, was tackled by a police officer and, according to the report, “continued to resist arrest by pulling away and rolling around.” Johnson and Sapp were charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search, and alcoholic beverage purchase violations (enticing or purchasing for person under 21).
Danny O’Brien, a 20-year-old offensive lineman, was also allegedly intoxicated and combative but calmed down “after a brief struggle.” O’Brien was charged with criminal impersonation, along with a resisting arrest and underage consumption.
Three UT linebackers – Curt Maggitt, Jakob Johnson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin -- were cited for supplying alcohol and marijuana to underage party guests, including lineman Dontavius Blair, lineman Dimarya Mixon, linebacker Justin Coleman and lineman Malik Brown, all of whom were cited for underage drinking.
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Over 15,000 people have now signed a petition to keep the “Lady Vols” instead of a gender neutral “Volunteers.” There is even a website, bringbacktheladyvols.com, where past and present female athletes are urging the school not to change the women’s branding with a “power-T” currently used by the men’s teams.
On the website, change.org, the comments are heated, many aimed at athletic director Dave Hart. One writer called removing the “Lady Vols T” the dumbest decision since Lane Kiffin.
Joseph Debity of Madisonville wrote, “The Ladies that have represented the University of Tennessee have been wonderful examples of what Collegiate athletics are all about. We all know that they are all Vols, but they deserve to have the distinction as Lady Vols. They have earned it through the blood, sweat, and sacrifice that any college athlete can pay their chosen school. To remove their brand is to say that the efforts of Pat Summit, Holly Warlick, and Joan Cronin to gain respect and recognition for female athletes was in vain. I am a graduate of the university and I do not approve of this slap in the face of our ladies.”
Tom Guthrie of Virginia didn’t mince words, “The name of the AD is what needs to change.”
LaVonna Martin-Floreal, a Lady Vol track star who was the silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1992 Olympics, wrote: “Being a Lady Vol is synonymous with success. This alone evokes pride and a unique club membership with other female athletes at UT and abroad. I'm appalled that our many years of contributions are no longer valued by the university and athletic department. Lady Vol 4 Life!!”
Cally Hightower in Cornersville, Tenn., wrote: “Keep the tradition! What next, changing school colors?”
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