Butch Jones Phone Records Reveal Calls to Players, Police After Rape Accusations

Phone records from Tennessee head coach Butch Jones released Wednesday showed a number of calls made to Volunteers players, the police and his boss, athletics director Dave Hart, following a rape allegation a woman made Nov. 16 against two members of the football team, according to Anita Wadhwani and Nate Rau of the Tennessean. 

According to that report, "The phone records corroborate a timeline outlined by former UT player Drae Bowles in a sworn declaration submitted as part of a sweeping federal lawsuit brought against UT by eight unnamed women over the university's handling of sexual assaults by athletes, especially football players."   

As a part of the lawsuit brought against the school, the plaintiffs have alleged that Bowles was attacked by his teammates and was scolded by Jones after assisting the woman who said she was raped by former Tennessee players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). 

Johnson and Williams have since pleaded not guilty to rape charges, and both face trial.

The day after that incident, Bowles said he was punched in the face by teammate Curt Maggitt. He alleged that when he called Jones, the coach told him he had “betrayed the team."

Jones has vehemently denied those allegations. In late February, he said that the "assertion that I ever attempted to belittle or demean a young man for taking action to help another person is absolutely false," per Wadhwani and Rau.

He added to those comments in a statement the athletics department released Wednesday (via Wadhwani and Rau):

"

Regarding the calls to Drae Bowles and his father, I care about Drae as a person and as a player and have frequent communications with players or their parents. I am very comfortable with everything Drae, Mr. Bowles, and I discussed, and I wish him nothing but the very best. My intent was to support Drae and make sure he was OK. There’s nothing more important to me than the ultimate success in the life of our students.

"

Jones also said that talking frequently to football players, the authorities and the athletic director after disciplinary issues are raised is standard protocol.