Middle Tennessee denies allegation of player mistreatment
A Tennessee fan who runs a Vols Facebook account came forward Friday with allegations from a former Middle Tennessee offensive lineman who said then-Blue Raiders offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens got into a physical altercation with the player.
According to the player, Mike Williams, Stephens punched him "three to four times" in the face and attempted to choke him out.
Additionally, the Tennessee fan posted audio of MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill head coach purportedly admitting to falsifying drug tests. However, the 20-second clip doesn't reveal much of anything.
MTSU released a statement calling the allegations "unfounded."
"Middle Tennessee State University received information related to taped conversations between head football coach Rick Stockstill and a former student athlete. We take all such matters seriously and, as such, a review outside of Athletics was conducted, which determined the allegations were unfounded," the statement read.
Said Stockstill: “It appears I did not reach this former player of almost 10 years ago, and it eats at my heart. These audio clips are short excerpts from a much longer conversation and they leave an impression that is misleading, inaccurate and false.
“This is not an accurate description of me, my coaches or the program I run – and I am pleased that was reaffirmed by the review, which was done outside of MT Athletics.”
