University of Montana officials have steadfastly refused to answer questions in the wake of the arrest of football player Jimmy Wilson on charges he murdered a man in the Los Angeles area. It was more of the same last Thursday when the Missoulian learned from California law enforcement officials that teammate Qwenton Freeman is suspected of witnessing the murder.
No one expects athletic director Jim O'Day or football coach Bobby Hauck to answer questions pertaining to the particulars of the murder investigation. But there are plenty of questions the two need to answer about the conduct of their student-athletes and the department's recruiting policies.
- When members of the community and Missoula Chief of Police Rusty Wickman voiced concerns to the UM coaching staff about inappropriate conduct by Wilson, what was done? Was Wilson disciplined, offered counseling, referred to a mentor? Did anyone speak to Wilson at all?
The people of Montana, who foot the bill for athletic scholarships, have a right to know whether UM student-athletes are being held accountable for their actions.
- What kind of background checks do UM coaches perform on prospective recruits?
That Freeman, who has two active warrants for his arrest in Arizona, was allowed to join the UM football team last fall is mind-boggling. One call from a reporter to the sports information department at Arizona was all it took to reveal Freeman's criminal past. Certainly a Griz coach must've made a similar call to a member of the Arizona coaching staff.
As of Friday, there was still no word on whether Freeman, like Wilson, had been suspended from the team.
Perhaps the athletic department needs to take a closer look at the Division I-A drop-downs it accepts. Currently on the roster are running back Greg Coleman, who was found guilty of assaulting a police officer in Iowa City, Iowa, in 2003 while on the Iowa State football team; and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, who was kicked off the Oklahoma football team for accepting cash for hours he never worked at an auto dealership.
Quinn said just this spring that he felt the punishment was unfair because, “All I did was take cash.” Hardly an expression of remorse.
- How is the university's “Student-athlete conduct code” enforced?
It's a four-page document that defines standards of conduct along with disciplinary sanctions.
But the athletic department refuses to provide basic information to the media regarding sanctions when, or if, they occur.
Jason Washington, the Grizzlies' starting quarterback when the 2005 season began, was recently booted off the team by Hauck. There was no press release and the news would probably still be under wraps if not for a phone call to the Missoulian by an angry Griz fan.
Hauck refused to explain his reasons for dismissing Washington to Griz fans, who will continue to pay for Washington's education at UM.
- Were Griz football players encouraged to cooperate with L.A. County sheriff's detectives who were in Missoula last week? If not, why not?
“It left a bad taste in our mouth that the players wouldn't cooperate with us,” Sgt. Steve Rubino told the Missoulian.
Ours, too.
UM football players are representatives of Missoula and the state of Montana. Refusing to cooperate in a murder investigation does not reflect the values of Montanans.
Those are just some of the questions this newspaper has posed to university officials.
It's high time for some answers.
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.
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