AP: e001355b-020a-4fd5-8d1a-5784a3e320a7
WSU coach Mike Leach denied former receiver Marquess Wilson's statement accusing the coaching staff of "physical, emotional and verbal abuse." (AP)
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Washington State football coach Mike Leach denied his players are subjected to any type of abuse, as alleged by star receiver Marquess Wilson.

Wilson made the allegations in a letter he released Saturday in which he quit the team and also complained that the coaching staff would "belittle, intimidate and humiliate us."

Leach said during his regular Monday meeting with reporters: "There is no truth about it at all." He described Wilson as a disgruntled player.

Asked if there had been any actions by coaches that could be construed as abuse, Leach replied: "No, no, no. Next question."

Wilson issued a statement on Saturday saying he had quit the team as a protest to "physical, emotional and verbal abuse" by the coaching staff. He did not provide examples and has not been available for comment.

Wilson is WSU's career leader with 3,207 receiving yards, but has been a regular target of criticism from Leach and his assistants since spring drills. More recently he was demoted to backup receiver, although he continued to lead the team in receptions and yards.

Washington State President Elson Floyd on Sunday asked the school's athletic department and the Pac-12 Conference to conduct separate investigations into Wilson's allegations.

"Together, both reports should get to the bottom of the matter," Floyd said in a press release.

Leach said he had no problem with the two investigations, which he expected would "dispel all the falsehoods that surround this."

Wilson was suspended after walking out of a tough conditioning drill on Nov. 4.

"Sixty five people went through that workout, and he left after 15 minutes and nobody went after him," Leach said. "That says more about him than anybody or anything else."

At first, athletic department officials said there was a chance Wilson could return, but the player put an end to that on Saturday.

"I believe coaches have a chance to mold players, to shape men, to create greatness," Wilson's statement said. "However, the new regime of coaches has preferred to belittle, intimidate and humiliate us."

Several players asked if they have witnessed abuse either declined to comment or denied seeing any abuse.

"Staying away from all that is the smart thing to do," said quarterback Jeff Tuel, a close friend of Wilson, on Monday.

"I haven't seen any sort of physical abuse at all," center Elliott Bosch said.

Leach was fired from Texas Tech after the 2009 season for an incident in which he was alleged to have ordered a player with a concussion to sit in a storage shed during practice. Leach disputed the allegation and it was not proven. Leach has sued Texas Tech, contending he was fired so the school could avoid a large payment due him at the end of the year.

Washington State hired Leach late last year to revive a moribund program, paying him more than $2 million a year. The hire energized the fan base, but it has been a tough initial season, as the Cougars are 2-8 with two games left.

Leach has raised eyebrows with his comments lambasting his team after some games. He has said some of the seniors display an "empty corpse quality," said the team's performance in a loss at Utah resembled a zombie convention, and said the play of his offensive and defensive lines in that game "bordered on cowardice."


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • Newton wrote...
    I believe Marquess Wilson untill proven otherwise..
    November 12, 2012 7:03 pm
    I will hear both side's of this story. First the whole team that was involved must stand up for themselfs say how they felt. Any hurtfull yelling or name calling, pushing or even touching a player is over the line.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cashm wrote...
    You would
    November 13, 2012 9:12 am
    Seriously.... kids need to be put in stressfull positions to perform, why do you think the cougs hired this guy.. Now he's yelling at your players.. OHHH NOOOO NOT YELLING!!! HE PHYSICALLY ABUSED ME WITH A HARD HARD HARD WORKOUT DURING PRACTICE!!! You just found out where the rubber meets the road is where Wilson flips the bird and walks out on his team. Enjoy your year of uneligibility princess... probably going out for the draft anyway.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    Fig Newton...just shut your pie hole
    November 13, 2012 3:54 pm
    you're an idiot and know nothing about sports or athletics. "Oh no...hurtful name calling....oh no, I'm not getting my props...oh no, I tripped on my gangsta pants and fell down...oh no, I'm at the back of the line for the handouts". MW was a disgruntled, unhappy player who was forced to WORK for a change - and just didn't like it. It's that simple. Now go back to your voting block, and stay out of the sports issues you know nothing about.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    Is it a case of a whiney 'star' who didn't get the 'star treatment' he demanded' or is it a case of a bad coach?
    November 12, 2012 10:45 pm
    Only time will tell. I'm waiting to find out the truth before deciding (yeah - I know. Waiting for the facts before one makes up thier mind is rare these days)...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sled_dawg wrote...
    Changing the attitude of a team isn't easy
    November 12, 2012 11:59 pm
    The Coug's need to go through some painful times if they are going to change their ways. Just like in anything in life, changes aren't always comfortable and they usually come with hard times. It's difficult to look at the way you do things, despite how hard you work, and realize its wrong. I feel for the kid, but to make an omelet, you need to break some eggs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 0623 wrote...
    Leach may not be guilty of player abuse
    November 13, 2012 7:55 am
    It's the entire Cougar Family that's being abused. This man's rudeness and complete disregard for the loyal Cougs who are paying his salary are unprecedented. He and AD Moos say they want to "change the culture". Fine. Let them change the "culture" of the football team. But if, in so doing, they disrupt the personality of the whole Cougar Family, they need to be replaced. Again and again Bill Moos's accomplishments of "culture change" at the University of Oregon are cited as justification for all this uproar. Well, who is more hated conference-wide than the U of O and its obnoxious fans? No, thanks. We prefer to preserve our identity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cashm wrote...
    Congrats 0623..
    November 13, 2012 9:16 am
    your identity is as a college that loses almost every game it plays in. Your AD (an SEC guy), is trying to do what he can to turn the program around. But if you're conivinced that they're destroying "Cougar Family" values. Then enjoy that label of a school that loses... a lot.. like ALWAYS. Maybe you should apply for the WAC and let Boise State move over to the PAC12.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AFCoug07 wrote...
    0623
    November 13, 2012 9:23 am
    Please do not speak for the entire Cougar Family. I am part of this family and I don't feel abused. I was insulted the last couple of years with the attitude around the program. It felt like they didn't want to win at all. The problem with the Cougar Family is that we accept mediocrity just as long as we're happy and getting along. This is why we're winless in the Pac-12 and the doormat of the conference. I think Leach needs to be in complete control of this team. He'll get his type of players in the next couple of years while weeding out the weak.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 0623 wrote...
    WSU: internal investigation
    November 13, 2012 9:15 am
    Other reports (see Tacoma News Tribune) indicate that AD Moos has already made up his mind about Mike Leach. (This is consistent with the message Moos sent in reply to my protests two weeks ago....before the Wilson Eruption.) What sort of investigation is that? I like Bill Moos. I knew his parents before he was born! But I'm very concerned about his approach to this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wheatfarmer wrote...
    On TV
    November 13, 2012 10:18 am
    On TV, Wilson came across as a malcontented princess. Whining to the refs, to the coaches and the other players. "Throw to me. Throw to me" seemed to be his only thought. Me,me,me. T.O. in the making. Good ridance.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Keep cleaning house Leach!
    November 13, 2012 12:43 pm
    No more primma donnas in Pullman. Good riddance Wilson! What a crybaby. Keep 'em tough, keep 'em strong. It's called the gridiron for a reason. Is a football player worried about his feelings when there's a 250 pound linebacker trying to drive him into the turf? I hope not.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tonic99 wrote...
    I Believe Leach
    November 13, 2012 12:43 pm
    Why would he want to beat a bunch of dead corpses anyways? Seems pointless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    Tonic..
    November 13, 2012 5:37 pm
    so....if you kick a dead corpse in the palouse, and there's no one around to hear it...is it actually abuse?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 0623 wrote...
    @AFCoug07
    November 13, 2012 5:55 pm
    I think you misunderstand me. If you truly graduated in 2007, you are about 50 years younger than I. When you are a very old person, I'm sure you'll appreciate the overall WSU Experience as much as you currently do the football program. They aren't the same thing. My point is that I fear the latter is jeopardizing the former.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }








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