I never thought I would agree with PR about much, but I have to kind of agree with him here. Equating a DUI or assaulting a police officer with an ACCUSATION of rape is not even close to fair. It is possible to prove a DUI true or false very quickly. Assault on police officers have witnesses and some facts are known. An accusation of rape I would think in most cases has no witnesses, and if the accuser waits a month to do the accusing, I doubt there is even any evidence. The consequences of this are devastating. If it turns out the accused is falsely accused, the mud has already been slung, the practices and games have already been missed, and the reputation is already tarnished in a lot of peoples minds. If it turns out to be true, the damage caused to the victim lasts a lifetime. I believe the paper has been kind of close to being out of line the way they have reported this, linking the JJ story in with articles about the whole Martz investigation and using his name. And although it doesn't matter really what we say on this message board, I think believing in punishing someone because of an accusation only because of who they are is a little bit scary.
I was reading another thread this morning where the discussion became about holding the players to a higher standard. I believe they are, and I also believe they should be. But just because someone is accused doesn't mean they did it. Take the Trumaine and Canada thing last fall. I don't care how the whole thing ended up being resolved, I think they both deserved more punishment than they got because they were stupid to be in that situation. Loud, middle of the night party after returning from a long road trip, neighbors complaints about noise, etc.. was just plain dumb. Jimmy Wilson even being in the situation with the girl who said he bit her was more than stupid, after the chance he was given. This is the kind of thing that can be prevented and shows bad judgement and no pride in the image of the team and University. I agree with that 100% But an ACCUSATION of rape? No witnesses, probably zero evidence, and we should suspend him from the team and drag his name through the papers? I disagree, anyone can be accused. Let me use an extreme example. One of my favorite Griz players of all time, and without a doubt among the finest human beings I've ever met, Vince Huntzberger. What if he was accused back in the day? Would you have believed it, and said he wasn't keeping his nose clean? Should he be suspended and treated as guilty because he wasn't living up the the higher standards? That sounds ludicrous, but I believe some of you would. It is impossible to prove innocence, that is why the courts must prove guilt instead. Unfortunately, the court of public opinion can cause a lot of damage all on its own.
