Rape and on-going investigation: Vandy needs to take care of its front porch

[jbcarol]

As ad campaigns go, Vanderbilt's "Game Changer" pitch is top of the line, a stroke of marketing genius.

Well, folks, the events of the last few days at Vanderbilt are a game changer. And a perception changer.

Note, please, this is not a rush to judgment. That's not my place, nor is it yours. We'll allow the authorities to do their jobs and the legal system to run its course, if it comes to that.

But when four football players are dismissed from the team amid an investigation on campus by sex crimes detectives, the game has changed. So, too, have perceptions. There's no avoiding it.

Like it or not, Vanderbilt football has joined the long list of programs that are on trial in the court of public opinion...

2News has reported that six more players are under investigation.

[Pulled(PP)pork]

I remember the issue with our basketball players back in the 90's, we survived, image wise. 
Vandy isn't know for athletics, and even the brightest minds can go foul of the law.


PP

[jbcarol]

Local problem! We'll handle it!

Gaillard Sartain, Nashville area entertainer from "Mississippi Burning"

ESPiN: The first thing to keep in mind here is that these are only allegations at this point and no arrests have been made. The names of the dismissed players have not been released and Vanderbilt coach James Franklin isn't talking.

This is a university matter, and the release Friday that the players had been dismissed from the team and banned from campus came from Vanderbilt's vice chancellor for public affairs.

Police officials have said the case they're investigating stems from an incident at a Vanderbilt University dorm. Typically, it's freshmen and younger players who are living in the dorms.

But again, it's unfair to jump to any conclusions. We all remember what happened in the Duke lacrosse case...

[jbcarol]

Vanderbilt police say campus is safer than most
20% of women at colleges are at risk for rape, stats show

While Vanderbilt police asserted their campus is much safer than those national statistics indicate, Boyer said sexual assault victims frequently decide not to report the crime because they know their assailant or fear how the incident will look to others.

In the case involving the four football players, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now examining evidence and the Davidson County District Attorney's Office is collaborating with police.

Because a study shows it is a potentially frequent occurrence it must be A-OK for Vandy players would be the key message here.

[jbcarol]

Climer: Vandy's silence is deafening.

"The names of the four players that were first suspended and then dismissed from the football program are ..."

This is a tough one. On Saturday, Vanderbilt announced four players were dismissed for "violation of team rules" but did not release the names of the players. That's highly unusual. Under normal circumstances, the player or players are identified.

But these are not normal circumstances. Last week, a police spokesman confirmed the suspension of the players was related to the investigation by sex crimes detectives. If Vanderbilt names the players it has kicked off the team, it is effectively identifying those who are being investigated for a possible sex crime on campus.

While there is reported effort to try to reassure big donors that all is well, Vandy has to be somewhat thankful for Meyer and Hernandez on the national scene.

[jbcarol]

Image experts and media personalities contend that any hit football coach James Franklin's image takes from the current off-field scandal at Vanderbilt should be minimal, provided forthcoming details don't implicate mistakes on his part and there are no future embarrassments.

Four Vanderbilt football players have been dismissed from the team and suspended from school amid a sex-crimes investigation stemming from a June 23 on-campus incident.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab has been involved in the case, which could be taken to a grand jury, typically the situation in sexual-abuse cases.


East Stroudsburg University

[jbcarol]

Two recent Vanderbilt football graduates said coach James Franklin had several team meetings per year about players' behavior off the field and also brought in speakers to address the subject.

"It was something that was obviously discussed," said former defensive tackle Rob Lohr.

Four Vanderbilt football players were dismissed from the team and banned from campus on Saturday amid a Metro Police sex crimes investigation. None of the players' names have been released, and no arrests were made Sunday.

Nearly all of the football team, including incoming freshmen, is on campus during the summer taking classes and going through workouts led by strength coaches.

"We didn't have classes about it, but especially during preseason camp there were always a couple of guys that would come in and speak to us, talk about different situations and the do's and don'ts," said Stacy, the school's all-time leading rusher. "It's just a matter of guys getting that information and applying it to everyday life. Outside football, there are a lot of things going on in this world."

They said some of the topics included underage drinking, drinking and driving, managing money and sex.

Lohr said the team had "probably between three and five meetings" on those matters every year since Franklin was hired after the 2010 season. He added that the university held occasional seminars about athletes making good choices.

"This isn't a situation that reflects well on the university, but I don't think it was for a lack of conveying Coach Franklin's point," Lohr said.

"Treating women with respect, alcohol and women, and avoiding putting yourself in jeopardizing situations were all discussed regularly. Franklin would show us examples on a daily and weekly basis of student-athletes at universities who were getting into all kinds of trouble. ... Whatever is going on is a result of poor decisions made by the individual."

Franklin and AD David Williams declined to comment.

[jbcarol]

Coach James Franklin released a statement Monday saying defensive back Brandon Banks, safety Cory Batey, receiver Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie and tight end Brandon Vandenburg are no longer on the roster after violating team rules.

Vanderbilt dismissed the players June 29 and kicked them off campus for an incident being investigated by the Metro Nashville Police Department's sex crimes unit, but university officials had not identified them.

Vanderbilt will be releasing its 2013 media guide at SEC Media Days in Alabama this week. The players will be listed in the media guide, but have been removed from the team's official roster online, the school said.

Franklin had not commented on the incident or the dismissals until Monday when he said playing at Vanderbilt is a privilege and not a right...

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9480690/vanderbilt-names-4-dismissed-sex-crime-probe

None of them played last season. No wordyet if other players will be included.

[jbcarol]

Just because Vanderbilt has released the names of the players dismissed doesn't mean Franklin will avoid any tough questioning on the matter when the Commodores take their turn Thursday at the SEC media days.

He's an in-your-face, bite-back kind of guy. He doesn't back down, which has been a trademark of his first two teams at Vanderbilt.

In other words, Thursday could be interesting.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/66500/vanderbilt-made-right-call-in-releasing-names

His predecessor Robbie Caldwell won SEC Media Days but did not carry over that success to the field (didn't really get a chance, though not many at VU are complaining -- yet).

[jbcarol]

Sex crimes investigation at Vanderbilt nearing an end, police say

Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said Monday night that leads required two investigators to go to the West Coast last week. The officers have since returned, and police officials have remained in contact with the district attorney's office.

"This investigation has been active since the very day the police department learned of it," Aaron said.

The four players dismissed from the university were Cory Lamont Batey, 19, from Nashville; Brandon Eric Banks, 19, from Maryland; JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie, 18, from Mississippi; and Brandon Vandenburg, 20, from California.

Officials would not comment on whether the police travelled to talk with Vandenburg.

[cmiller01]

Four former Vanderbilt football players charged in rape of unconscious woman

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130809/NEWS03/308090129?sf15925001=1

[Hawgfan27]

Wow, I'm curious what they could have seen on a hallway security camera to come up with that charge.  Horrible, horrible thing.  I feel sorry for the girl and her family. 

[Vantage 8 dude]

I'll start by saying what I'm about to say is in poor taste: Too bad these clowns weren't going to LSU. Heck, their teammates would very likely vote to admit 'em back on the squad ala Jeremy Hill and Les "My Name is Serious Discipline" Miles.

[jbcarol]

Four former Vanderbilt University football players were charged Friday in the rape of an unconscious student in a Gillette Hall dormitory room in a case police described as "unsettling."

Brandon Vandenburg, 20, from California; Brandon Eric Banks, 19, from Maryland; JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie, 18 from Mississippi and Cory Batey, 19, of Nashville, were charged with five counts each of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also charged with one count of unlawful photography and tampering with evidence.

Police said the case came to light only after university officials saw something suspicious while reviewing surveillance camera footage in an unrelated matter.

A witness list accompanying Friday's indictments indicates police plan to subpoena the team's starting quarterback, Austyn Carta-Samuels, along with four other athletes, Mack Prioleau, De'Andre Woods, Jake Bernstein and Dillon van der Wal, as witnesses in the case.

Police picked up Batey Friday morning, forced him to undergo a state-mandated blood test for HIV at Nashville General Hospital at Meharry and then booked him into jail on a $350,000 bond.

Police said the three others know they are wanted.

"We have been in contact with law enforcement authorities out of state and made them aware of the persons being wanted," said Don Aaron, spokesman for Metro Police. "If they decide to surrender, that's on them. In the interim, if law enforcement runs into them... they'll be taken into custody."

[jbcarol]

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 15h
#Vandy AD David Williams making a somewhat rare appearance at practice this afternoon

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 15h
James Franklin spoke briefly about today's developments, said it "breaks his heart" when something not positive happens to #Vandy

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 14h
Franklin on if he's concerned about losing more #Vandy players w/ongoing investigation: "I can't speak on what the future holds." ...


It burns my heart when a woman is gang raped while unconscious.  When having viewed surveillance tape, local authorities allow players to get a head start out of state in case they would like to start over in, say, Canada. 

[jbcarol]

Beth Fortune: "We are shocked and saddened by the allegations that such an assault has taken place on our campus and that they include members of our football team... Because this is an ongoing matter for the criminal justice system and our own internal investigation remains ongoing, we will only comment further when appropriate."

[jbcarol]

Brandon Vandenburg, 20, of Indio, Calif., was booked into the Davidson County jail early Saturday morning with bail set at $350,000 for nine charges, including tampering with evidence and unlawful photography.

Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, 19, of Woodville, Miss., was booked and released Saturday on $50,000 bond.

Cory Batey, 19 of Nashville, was arrested Friday and bond set at $350,000. Brandon Banks, 19 of Brandywine, Md., has yet to be taken into custody late Saturday afternoon.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 3h
Been asked to stop tweeting scrimmage updates, so that's all for now. More after scrimmage along with story


Vandy beat writer for The Tennessean.

[jbcarol]

Former Vandy player Brandon Banks, 19, of Brandywine, Md., remains at large.

[jbcarol]

The front porch of the university.

It is a phrase often used, especially in the South. It references the athletics program, particularly the football program, of a given college.

Think about it: A glimpse of the football team on TV or mentions of it elsewhere in the media often provide the first impression of a school. You might never set foot in the house, but at least you've seen the front porch.

That's what Vanderbilt is fighting right now. The events of June 23 allegedly involving four football players and the charges of aggravated rape of an unconscious 21-year-old student filed on Friday are giving the university national attention for all the wrong reasons.

It is a story that is not going away anytime soon. Cases like this usually don't. The charges are heinous. There is the possibility of a trial or trials that could include sordid details and graphic testimony.

The potential for distraction is inescapable. Vanderbilt's presumptive starting quarterback, Austyn Carta-Samuels, is on the state's witness list. So are four other team members: reserve tight end Dillon van der Wal, offensive lineman Jake Bernstein, wide receiver De'Andre Woods and long snapper Mack Prioleau.

With the possibility of giving a deposition and making an appearance on the witness stand staring you in the face, it's difficult to maintain total focus on football.

Beyond that, college football teams do not operate in a vacuum. At Vanderbilt, more so than many colleges, football players are indeed student-athletes. They interact daily with other students. And charges of aggravated rape will be the talk of the campus for days and weeks to come.

[jbcarol]

Brandon Banks turned himself into police Sunday night.  The four ex-Vandy players have all turned themselves over to police custody.

[jbcarol]

Ex-Vandy player JaBorian McKenzie pleads not guilty in rape case

McKenzie entered the not guilty plea and waived his arraignment appearance which had been scheduled for Aug. 21.

He is free on $50,000 bond, which is a much lower bond than the one given to his former teammates (two of whom are jailed on $350,000 bond and a third at $250,000) which has led to some speculation that McKenzie is cooperating with prosecutors.

McKenzie, along with Brandon Vandenburg, Brandon Eric Banks and Cory Batey were charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery on Aug. 9.

The charges stem from an incident in Vanderbilt's Gilette Hall dormitory on June 23 in which the four former players are accused of raping an unconscious woman.

Mac faces five rape charges.

[jbcarol]

Ex-Vanderbilt football players in rape case could face 'The Thurmanator' in court

If the case ends up going to trial, four ex-Vanderbilt University football players accused of raping an unconscious woman may face a prosecutor known around the courthouse as "The Thurmanator."

Davidson County Deputy District Attorney Tom Thurman has taken up the case against the four former players, according to court files updated Wednesday. The longtime prosecutor personally handles all death penalty cases for the office and other high-profile cases...

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130814/NEWS/308140142/Ex-Vanderbilt-football-players-rape-case-could-face-Thurmanator-court

Academics? LSU or Florida are looking good right now.

[jbcarol]

Three more people — including a star wide receiver on Vanderbilt University's football team — were indicted Friday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the rape of an unconscious 21-year-old woman at a university dorm this summer.

Commodore wide receiver Chris Boyd, 21, is charged with one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. Vanderbilt University in a statement called the allegations "deeply troubling" and suspended Boyd from the football team.

Boyd is expected to surrender in the near future.

Also charged Friday were Miles Joseph Finley, 19, of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., and Joseph Dominick Quinzio, 20, of Palm Desert, Calif., both accused of tampering with evidence. They were high school teammates and friends of Brandon Vandenburg, one of the four former Vanderbilt players charged with multiple counts of rape.

Sheriff's deputies in Riverside County, Calif., arrested Finley on Friday afternoon. Finley tried to flee when he saw deputies outside his house. Quinzio was taken into custody later in the day.

[jbcarol]

"Today's indictment reflects the hundreds of law enforcement hours that have gone into this case thus far, and the absolute seriousness of this entire matter. We are looking at all persons who may have been involved in this event, before, during and after the fact. Additional charges cannot be ruled out."

-- Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson

[jbcarol]

Local paper in California reports on the arrest of former area high school stars

Vanderbilt rape case: 2 former Xavier Prep players indicted
Miles Finley and Joseph Quinzio accused of evidence tampering; Vanderbilt star Chris Boyd also indicted

A former Xavier College Prep student was arrested Friday in the Coachella Valley and a second is being sought locally in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place in Tennessee at Vanderbilt University, and involved a third former Xavier student.

Miles Joseph Finley, 19, of Bermuda Dunes, and Joseph Dominick Quinzio, 20, of Palm Desert, who were indicted Friday in Nashville, are accused of tampering "with certain electronic evidence" related to the June 23 incident, which took place in a Vanderbilt co-ed dormitory, the Metropolitan Nashville police said.

Finley, who was picked up Friday by members of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Gang Task Force, and Quinzio, who remains at large, are described as acquaintances of Brandon Vandenburg, a former Xavier student and College of the Desert football player, who was arrested Aug. 10 in connection with this incident.

Vandenburg, of Indio, is one of fournow-former (sic or sick?) Vanderbilt football players — they were dismissed June 29 from the teamafter the investigation was turned over to Nashville police — who are accused of raping an unconscious 21-year-old woman.

[jbcarol]

With tough admission standards, a small student population and a $61,112 annual attendance price tag, finding walk-ons for Vanderbilt's football program is no easy task.

Vanderbilt coach James Franklin has worked to improve depth beyond the 85 allowed scholarship players by allowing open tryouts and actively recruiting students on campus.

Vanderbilt has 23 non-scholarship players this fall, which is the most it has had recently.

"More important than the numbers is the quality," Franklin said.

"There are not too many guys walking around this campus that have a 1400 SAT, a 3.9 GPA, a 35 on the ACT and are also 6-foot-5, 250 pounds and want to play SEC football."

Franklin may need the walk-ons in the aftermath of the obstruction charges in relation to the rape case.

[Steef]

These guys need to be under the jail. And if any of their team mates protected them or withheld information, they should be disciplined also.

That's just vile.

[jbcarol]

Suspended Vanderbilt University football player Chris Boyd surrendered at Nashville police headquarters at 8:45 a.m. Saturday in connection to a campus rape investigation. Sheriff's Department officials confirm he's posted bond and exited the jail.

Boyd evaded a bank of cameras the way a fine SEC WR evades a head hunting DB. Or the way Da'Rick Rogers evaded a bank of cameras after being bailed out for the Bar Knoxville head stomping incident. Oh, wait.

[jbcarol]

Father of Vanderbilt WR Chris Boyd says prosecutors damaged son's integrity
Court hearing date said for suspended wide receiver

Joseph Quinzio, charged with tampering with evidence in a Vanderbilt University rape case, is resisting extradition to stand trial for charges in Tennessee.

The father of indicted Vanderbilt football player Chris Boyd is frustrated with the Nashville District Attorney's office over what he claims is irreparable damage to his son's character and integrity.

Meanwhile, a California man arrested in connection with the same Vanderbilt rape case is now fighting extradition to Tennessee.

Steven Boyd said his son, a 21-year-old starting wide receiver for the Commodores from Roswell, Ga., cooperated during "two or three meetings" with authorities. He said his son was shocked Friday afternoon to learn he was being charged as an accessory after the fact in the rape of an unconscious female student on June 23 in a campus dorm.

"Whatever they want, they could have gotten without indicting my son," Steven Boyd said on Monday while in Nashville to meet with Chris and their attorney, Roger May. "I don't know how he gets his name back. He's 21. I don't know how someone repairs their integrity and character after this. There is nothing bigger."

Former Vanderbilt players Brandon Vandenburg, 20, of California; Cory Batey, 19, of Nashville; Brandon Banks, 19, of Maryland; and JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie, 18, of Mississippi, are each charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg, who remains in jail, is also charged with one count of unlawful photography and tampering with evidence.

The indictment against Boyd states he aided Vandenburg in the three days after the alleged incident.

After the indictment Friday, the university [who had so much confidence in this story that despite being thin at WR they] suspended Boyd, who had 50 catches, 774 yards and five touchdowns in 2012, from the team, citing the athletic department's conduct policy. His initial court hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Aug. 28 — one day before the team's opening game against Ole Miss on ESPN.

"We're holding him together," Steven Boyd said of his son. "We're waiting to find out what the DA wants or needs to satisfy them. All three of my boys are Eagle Scouts and they have never been in trouble. It goes without saying that they tell the truth and he did."

Indicted along with Boyd last week were Miles Joseph Finley, 19, of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., and Joseph Dominick Quinzio, 20, of Palm Desert, Calif. Both were charged with tampering with evidence.

During a court hearing Monday in Riverside, Calif., Quinzio's attorney, Brett Greenfield, said his client was on the "outskirts of the case" and was only involved because he had received a text message from one of the Vanderbilt suspects. Greenfield said the text came from Banks, but the attorney declined to discuss its contents.

"He is just not part of this and he has not done anything wrong," Greenfield said.

Greenfield said the warrant for his client's arrest was based on outdated information collected by [backwoods] Tennessee law enforcement. Quinzio surrendered to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on Friday and has been cooperating, his attorney said.

"We believe that facts have come to light that completely change the dynamic and understanding of what, if any, involvement Mr. Quinzio had," Greenfield said.

Quinzio is due back in court for a bail hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Greenfield said he would attempt to get Tennessee authorities to withdraw the extradition request.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 21 Aug
Per @duanegang, #Vandy WR Chris Boyd's attorney Roger May says DA's office has been fair in dealing with his client and the Boyd family

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 21 Aug
Any other interpretation would be unfair to the DA's office and the Boyd family, May says

Jeff Lockridge ‏@jefflockridge 21 Aug
Franklin said when team loses a player (Chris Boyd), someone else must step up. And not just on offense. Defense, ST must pick up slack