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 (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    Wahh Wahh Wahhh
    November 10, 2012 7:36 pm
    Wait till you get to the real world buddy...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cidewayz wrote...
    You now have a REP!
    November 11, 2012 12:03 am
    not a good one. You were suppose to be a leader; someone others could look to for leadership. You failed. Now the rest of the team can see you for what you are not...a leader. Thanks Mike for getting rid of waste and negetivity. Let WSU rise up from here on out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Its always abuse when you dont get your way, or handed to you.
    November 11, 2012 6:08 am
    Just ask the entilted society when they dont get their way. Just search up the word abuse in the news headlines. Just saying
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Old Timer wrote...
    Wilson says he has quit Washington State team
    November 11, 2012 11:54 am
    Good Riddance!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    Just consider maybe Wilson is telling the truth.
    November 11, 2012 1:26 pm
    Then approach it that way. Just think, everyone thought Jerry Sandusky would never abuse anyone. Now there is no doubt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Wilson Quits Football Team.............
    November 11, 2012 3:27 pm
    TRANSLATION: Lawsuit will be filed Monday morning.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    Who's right?
    November 12, 2012 6:04 am
    Who should we believe? A first year coach with a losing record, or a 3rd year star athlete with an amazing record? I'll go with the winner every time. I guarantee the coach won't be back next season. Alumni,(myself included) don't give money to teams with coaches who run off their best players. That's some seriously bad coaching.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    @Hectic
    November 12, 2012 7:39 am
    you've Coug'd it here I'm afraid to say. Wilson may be a good player (He put up good receiving numbers on a horrible team that had to pass almost every down for 2 years) - but he wasn't a team player or leader for certain. Just look at the players that have stepped in ... putting up great numbers also. His attitude and body language were obvious from day 1...that he didn't like not being the pampered star. I say See Ya...bring me guys who want to be team players. I'd bet you a WHOLE bunch Leach is not only back next year, but has a great recruiting class to go with him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }








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