University of Idaho officials announced Tuesday they have initiated an investigation into allegations against football coach Paul Petrino and the Vandal football coaching staff. The allegations were laid out in an anonymous email sent out Monday to various news outlets, UI officials and UI athletes.
The anonymous email alleges verbal abuse, NCAA practice violations, unfair treatment and mismanagement of the team.
In a press conference Tuesday, Petrino said the team never broke NCAA rules.
“It”s someone that”s just trying to tear us apart, someone that”s trying to pull us apart, someone that has their own agenda,” Petrino said. “When you read the (original anonymous) letter close you can really tell it”s someone that”s never played football before.”
The anonymous email was sent from a “Joe Adams.” According to a statement from the Athletic Department, there is not a Joe Adams associated with the UI Athletic Department.
“The welfare of our students and student-athletes is our primary concern and as such, the university takes these allegations very seriously,” according to a university statement.
In a meeting with The Argonaut Editorial Board Wednesday, UI President Chuck Staben said he requested the investigation into the allegations.
“We feel that there are a couple of key aspects of this investigation – immediacy, regard for student well fair and objectivity,” Staben said.
The Internal Audit unit will oversee the investigation with help from the university”s NCAA compliance officer and the Department of Human Resources.
“It is one of the most independent offices at the university,” Staben said. “Therefore is not supposed to be, and is not really subject to my influence, or the influence of anyone else at the university.”
The NCAA compliance officer will look into allegations of NCAA practice violations, while Human Resources will investigate allegations of inappropriate interactions with football players, which include the use of vulgar language.
Usually the direct supervisor would investigate those allegations, but Staben said he decided to have Human Resources investigate the allegations to get an independent source outside of the Athletic Department.
Staben said both the compliance officer and the Human Resources department will report to the Internal Audit unit.
During the press conference, Petrino said he didn”t address the team Monday because it was the team”s day off, but the players had a team meeting.
“There were so many players that came in and out of my office (Monday),” Petrino said. “They know the love that I have for them.”
Following the anonymous email, UI football captain Dallas Sandberg sent an email Monday that included a letter in support of the coaching staff, which was signed by many members of the football team.
“In response to the previous letter sent out about our team, we players and captains want it to be known that we stand behind our coaches 100 percent,” according to the letter from Sandberg.
Petrino said he stands by what the team captains wrote and what the members of the team signed.
This has not been the only off-the-field distraction for the Vandal football program this season.
Last month, Vandal football players Dezmon Epps and Isaiah Taylor were identified as being involved in an alleged shoplifting incident at the VandalStore.
The VandalStore decided not to press charges and the two players were disciplined internally. Epps complied with the disciplinary measures and remains on the team, while Taylor chose not to comply and is no longer with the team.
The VandalStore decided not to press charges, but Staben said he was told VandalStore managers would have taken the same approach with any other student in the same situation.
Even though Epps has had multiple other run ins with the law, Staben said he made the decision to take formative approach – with a focus on forgiveness – in dealing with the situation.
“I realize that we would take criticism for taking that approach,” Staben said. “And I would take that approach with other students.”
In dealing with the situation, Staben said the university is trying to make better men of Epps and Taylor and give them an opportunity to improve themselves.
“Forgiveness is a pretty tough concept,” Staben said.
As for Petrino”s employment at UI, Staben said they will evaluate his position closer to the end of his contract, which ends in December 2016.
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