Details of alleged abuse added to lawsuit vs. Gary Patterson and TCU

A_Slab_of_Bacon

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http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article201447729.html


Some of the allegations are pretty terrible if they're true.

- In 2002, former TCU running back Lonta Hobbs was involved in a car accident in which he suffered a concussion and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The TCU coaching and training staff persuaded Hobbs to return to Fort Worth from his hometown to obtain medical treatment. However, the lawsuit claims, Hobbs was never referred to a psychiatrist or radiologist. For the two months after the accident, Hobbs was "belligerent" and emotionally unstable. Despite showing signs of this instability, Hobbs was informed that his job would be given to a freshman if he did not return. Hobbs' premature return caused additional emotional instability and "physical unbalance."

- In 2010, former TCU running back Ed Wesley was concussed in a game against SMU. Then team physician Dr. Samuel Haraldson refused to allow Wesley to return to the game because of the concussion. "Any loss of consciousness is automatically considered a concussion," Haraldson said to the media about Wesley’s incident. "He had an unsteady gait and a few memory problems." The suit claims that Patterson "verbally accosted" Haraldson for not clearing Wesley to return to play. Later, Patterson told the Star-Telegram of Wesley: "He’s fine. As far as I’m concerned he was fine 10 minutes after he got hurt. But it was good that we protected him." The lawsuit claims the incident reveals Patterson’s insistence that players return to play despite their serious injuries. "Despite the audacity and publicity of the event, TCU, TCU Board of Trustees, and Del Conte supported Patterson and his actions."

- In the 2011 season, former TCU football player David Johnson sprained his ankle. When he expressed concern about not being able to play because of the injury, the position coach stated: "In your career, you will never play at 100 percent. You will always be hurt. And if you can’t do that, we don’t have a place for you here." The player noticed this became a "common thread" at TCU, the lawsuit alleges: "Players being informed by coaches that 'if you don’t play this year, we have no use for you. Future potential means very little, and we may very well not have a spot for you next year if you sit out.' "

- After the 2012 season, former TCU star defensive specialist Stansley Maponga was deciding whether to leave TCU and enter the NFL Draft before his senior year season. Patterson made it clear to the entire team that if Maponga left early, Maponga would not be allowed to come back to TCU to complete his degree, would not be allowed to use TCU's facilities to work out, and that NFL scouts and coaches would be informed that Maponga had a poor work ethic and was soft.

- During the 2013 season, former TCU wide receiver Cameron White was concussed in a violent collision during the second game against Southeastern Louisiana. White told the training staff that he didn't feel right. "Despite this information, the TCU trainers, including head trainer David Gable, cleared White to return to play. "Upon information and belief, the TCU trainers were pressured by Patterson to clear known injured players." After the game, TCU officials told White that his concussion was the last one he could suffer before becoming medically disqualified to play football again, the lawsuit alleges. White attempted to transfer to another school near his hometown but was blocked by Patterson, according to Listenbee's lawsuit.
 

Whoa...if this is half true...not looking good for Patterson.
 

I wondered what happened to Listenbee. He looked better then Doctson the first year we played them. Dude could fly.
 

It definitely paints Patterson as a real ***hole. How much of it is true, exaggerated, or totally made up is obviously unknown. Some of it is old school motivational technique and tough love dad stuff. Some of the medical stuff eg the concussion issue is totally unacceptable if true. He can’t overrule the medical staff especially on concussion protocol.

Coming back early from injury is never a good idea yet it happens all the time. These guys are often pressured to accelerate their rehabs. If the evidence supports it the kid should get some money to help end the practice of bringing players back way too early. OTOH it takes two to tango and part of me wonders how much of this is sour grapes. The anecdotal stories on the other players - are these legitimate or anecdotes about anecdotes?

Patterson’s results speak for themselves and he’s obviously getting a lot out of his team. Hopefully he isn’t as big of an ***hole as alleged. But let’s face it - some of these guys are. The dirty side.
 

In this lawsuit, is it a deal where former players are suing the university for financial compensation for how the university treated them? That's potentially a huge legal area for lawyers to chase -- a client with deep pockets (e.g., a university versus say an individual) so the settlement can be very large, a hostile "employer" (the coaching staff), threats of both a personal (intimidation and verbal abuse) and financial (we'll pull your scholarship) nature, and lots of witnesses that'd be happy to join the band wagon and get a cash payment from the lawsuit.
 



If it is only half true, there’s a lot of lying going on here...

A couple of things I question. Even if Patterson was Kills best man at his wedding, he comes across as a real jerk. However I question the Doctors. Can't imagine a Doc. releasing a player to play if there is any chance of further injury. Plus, does anyone else question the time line? Why would a player wait 16 years, 10 years, "any" years to receive compensation for an injustice against them? Hard to believe
 

A couple of things I question. Even if Patterson was Kills best man at his wedding, he comes across as a real jerk. However I question the Doctors. Can't imagine a Doc. releasing a player to play if there is any chance of further injury. Plus, does anyone else question the time line? Why would a player wait 16 years, 10 years, "any" years to receive compensation for an injustice against them? Hard to believe

Considering the emphasis on player safety now... it would seem like a better time to address it.
 

A couple of things I question. Even if Patterson was Kills best man at his wedding, he comes across as a real jerk. However I question the Doctors. Can't imagine a Doc. releasing a player to play if there is any chance of further injury. Plus, does anyone else question the time line? Why would a player wait 16 years, 10 years, "any" years to receive compensation for an injustice against them? Hard to believe

The only time a doctor was specifically mentioned above, the player was held from playing. All the other scenarios were either team trainers (not doctors) clearing the players, or situations where the decision to return to playing was the player's choice and they were pressured to come back.
 



Football is a brutal sport. Motivation can feel like pressure. Gary Patterson is well respected and not a jerk. These are 20 year old kids that thought they were going to make millions playing in the NFL. They didn't take advantage of a great TCU education and now have only few options. You are getting the snowflakes point of view. I am not buying this at all.
 

Football is a brutal sport. Motivation can feel like pressure. Gary Patterson is well respected and not a jerk. These are 20 year old kids that thought they were going to make millions playing in the NFL. They didn't take advantage of a great TCU education and now have only few options. You are getting the snowflakes point of view. I am not buying this at all.

My point exactly. If you can’t hit the NFL lottery, why not the jury jackpot?
 

Football is a brutal sport. Motivation can feel like pressure. Gary Patterson is well respected and not a jerk. These are 20 year old kids that thought they were going to make millions playing in the NFL. They didn't take advantage of a great TCU education and now have only few options. You are getting the snowflakes point of view. I am not buying this at all.

Why would you have a strong opinion one way or the other? Has any more evidence come out?

If these allegations are true, Patterson should be fired.
If the allegations aren't true, yep, I agree with you.

It's hard to know which scenario is more likely at this point.
 

So we shouldn't blindly believe everything someone says? Huh.


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Why would you have a strong opinion one way or the other? Has any more evidence come out?

If these allegations are true, Patterson should be fired.
If the allegations aren't true, yep, I agree with you.

It's hard to know which scenario is more likely at this point.

For many reasons! As long as Patterson has been coaching and this is now coming out? I have a couple very close friends that are alumnus and boosters at TCU, they have played golf with Gary, they have had many beers with Gary, this is so blown out of proportion. Remember, Mike Leach and the accusations against him, bull****. Coaches are hard ass dudes, but I don't think they knowingly put theses kids in career ending situations. I aint buying it!
 

For many reasons! As long as Patterson has been coaching and this is now coming out? I have a couple very close friends that are alumnus and boosters at TCU, they have played golf with Gary, they have had many beers with Gary, this is so blown out of proportion. Remember, Mike Leach and the accusations against him, bull****. Coaches are hard ass dudes, but I don't think they knowingly put theses kids in career ending situations. I aint buying it!

"As long as Patterson has been coaching and this is now coming out?"
IMO, this is a really bad point. I'm not saying I know anything one way or the other, but there are certainly cover-ups, especially around successful athletic programs (US Gymnastics, Baylor football, UNC academic scandal, etc.) or successful endeavors in general (Harvey Weinstein, Enron, etc.).

"I have a couple very close friends that are alumnus and boosters at TCU, they have played golf with Gary, they have had beers with Gary."
Yeah, I guess this is a piece of evidence that you have that I do not. So I don't blame you for having it impact your opinion.

Remember, Mike Leach and the accusations against him, bull****. Coaches are hard ass dudes, but I don't think they knowingly put theses kids in career ending situations. I aint buying it

Yeah, that's an example of one that got blown out of proportion - agreed.

You don't think any coach has put the success of his program over the long term health of his players? Ever?
 




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