The Nebraska Way

[cm husker]

Kate McEwen did not make a plea that Lawrence Philips should be allowed back on the team. The University offered her round-the-clock protection in the wake of Phillips' attack. She left Nebraska after we failed to honor her scholarship.

Because she "didn't show progress in her basketball abilities."

I wonder what circumstances might have gotten in the way of her succeeding...

That was an editorialization in the article you're referring to. Not a quote from the team. And, I thought that she finished her academic career at NU (will need to verify that). Personally, I think her schollie should have been renewed, because I don't believe in pulling a scholarship from any athlete who is academically eligible and has not broken team rules.

Quote from the article:

Angela Beck, the coach of the Nebraska women's team, said yesterday that she had told McEwen recently that her athletic scholarship would not continue because of a lack of progress in her play.

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1996/Assault-Victim-Kate-McEwen-Won-t-Play-at-Nebraska/id-98264b2c093e4e04d0678f27b53e9894

Here's a more complete article, with a quote from McEwen:

Kate McEwen, who gained national attention as the victim of football star Lawrence Phillips' assault last fall, said she will not return to the Nebraska women's basketball team, although she has two years of eligibility remaining.

McEwen, a 5-foot-8 guard, told Nebraska women's coach Angela Beck, however, that she will stay in school.

``She said she had no hard feelings with the basketball program,'' Beck told the Omaha World-Herald from Lincoln. ``She likes the program but she doesn't have any desire to play this year. She wants to focus on her degree and graduate in May.''

McEwen played in six games as a freshman after back surgery, was granted a medical hardship and played as a reserve in 22 games during the 1994-95 season, averaging less than a rebound and point per game.

Phillips admitted to assaulting McEwen last fall, resulting in a multi-game suspension from the Nebraska football team. Phillips returned for a standout performance in the Fiesta Bowl, and was a first-round NFL draft pick by the St. Louis Rams.

His probation sentence for the assault is scheduled to end Nov. 29.

Beck said McEwen had thought through the decision. ``She's looking forward to having a good year and getting her focus back on her grades,'' the coach said. ``She seems to be her old self.''

In a statement released through the sports information office, McEwen said, ``I have made a decision to remain at the University of Nebraska and complete my degree next season. And although I will no longer play basketball, I will continue to support the team and the program.''

And the article discussing that McEwen and her attorney wanted him reinstated: http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news-phillips-mcewen-reach-settlement-in-suit-phillips/article_15cb54ef-188c-5724-aa1b-73804565ff30.html

Nowhere in that last article is there a quote from the woman or the attorney claiming that they wanted him reinstated.

"McEwen's attorney said his client was satisfied withthe civil settlement."It has been settled in a way that was acceptable toKate," Victor Bergman said. "A lot of that depends onLawrence Phillips getting his life under control andcontinuing on with his career."

There are other sources as well (I referenced one book earlier). They wanted him to get back on track, if for no other reason so that they could be paid the awarded amounts.

Can you find any evidence that McEwen did not agree with the approach to LP?

 

[StPaulHusker]

When someone states "he acted with no integrity" that implies a very specific thing about a person.

It's hard for that claim to hold up when many people, including the victim, thought he handled it in a reasonable way.

Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team for selfish reasons? Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team but would not have kept a less valuable player on the team for the same offense?

Yes answers to those questions would be evidence of a lack of integrity.

But no one, including those critical in this thread, have argued those were his motives for making what may be considered a wrong decision.

That's my central issue: People equate a wrong decision (and I'm not sure it was wrong) with a lack of integrity. That's fundamentally wrong to do.

St Paul and Knapp, do you think that Riley lacks integrity for how he handled the gang rape he was aware of?

Yes TO was selfish in letting Phillips continue to play and eventually start the NC game. I believe he thought he needed LP to win the NCG. Nothing will change my mind from that because there is no other plausible explanation as to why LP was on the field at all the rest of the year.

Now before you read into it more than what is there. I said play and start. I said nothing about keeping him on the team. That is a lack of integrity on TO's part.

And I haven't read enough about Riley and the gang rape and what he did or didn't know to comment.

 

[husker98]

Quite the s***t storm we got here.

Can we all just agree that we all have our own opinions on the Nebraska way, and that they are all equally irrelevant? There is now 'way', period.

Just a set of loose moral and ethic guidelines we would like the coaches and admin to follow, but as has been seen in the past decades not strictly followed.

This multi page pissing match is pointless and unproductive.

 

[StPaulHusker]

Kate McEwen did not make a plea that Lawrence Philips should be allowed back on the team. The University offered her round-the-clock protection in the wake of Phillips' attack. She left Nebraska after we failed to honor her scholarship.

Because she "didn't show progress in her basketball abilities."

I wonder what circumstances might have gotten in the way of her succeeding...

That was an editorialization in the article you're referring to. Not a quote from the team. And, I thought that she finished her academic career at NU (will need to verify that). Personally, I think her schollie should have been renewed, because I don't believe in pulling a scholarship from any athlete who is academically eligible and has not broken team rules.

Quote from the article:

Angela Beck, the coach of the Nebraska women's team, said yesterday that she had told McEwen recently that her athletic scholarship would not continue because of a lack of progress in her play.

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1996/Assault-Victim-Kate-McEwen-Won-t-Play-at-Nebraska/id-98264b2c093e4e04d0678f27b53e9894

Here's a more complete article, with a quote from McEwen:

Kate McEwen, who gained national attention as the victim of football star Lawrence Phillips' assault last fall, said she will not return to the Nebraska women's basketball team, although she has two years of eligibility remaining.

McEwen, a 5-foot-8 guard, told Nebraska women's coach Angela Beck, however, that she will stay in school.

``She said she had no hard feelings with the basketball program,'' Beck told the Omaha World-Herald from Lincoln. ``She likes the program but she doesn't have any desire to play this year. She wants to focus on her degree and graduate in May.''

McEwen played in six games as a freshman after back surgery, was granted a medical hardship and played as a reserve in 22 games during the 1994-95 season, averaging less than a rebound and point per game.

Phillips admitted to assaulting McEwen last fall, resulting in a multi-game suspension from the Nebraska football team. Phillips returned for a standout performance in the Fiesta Bowl, and was a first-round NFL draft pick by the St. Louis Rams.

His probation sentence for the assault is scheduled to end Nov. 29.

Beck said McEwen had thought through the decision. ``She's looking forward to having a good year and getting her focus back on her grades,'' the coach said. ``She seems to be her old self.''

In a statement released through the sports information office, McEwen said, ``I have made a decision to remain at the University of Nebraska and complete my degree next season. And although I will no longer play basketball, I will continue to support the team and the program.''

And the article discussing that McEwen and her attorney wanted him reinstated: http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news-phillips-mcewen-reach-settlement-in-suit-phillips/article_15cb54ef-188c-5724-aa1b-73804565ff30.html

Nowhere in that last article is there a quote from the woman or the attorney claiming that they wanted him reinstated.

"McEwen's attorney said his client was satisfied withthe civil settlement."It has been settled in a way that was acceptable toKate," Victor Bergman said. "A lot of that depends onLawrence Phillips getting his life under control andcontinuing on with his career."

There are other sources as well (I referenced one book earlier). They wanted him to get back on track, if for no other reason so that they could be paid the awarded amounts.

Can you find any evidence that McEwen did not agree with the approach to LP?

So you want me to read into non public sealed civil settlement as to what she wanted and not what was negotiated?

I'm pretty sure you stated that they WANTED him reinstated. Not agreed to reinstatement based on a settled civil suit.

 

[Mavric]

When someone states "he acted with no integrity" that implies a very specific thing about a person.

It's hard for that claim to hold up when many people, including the victim, thought he handled it in a reasonable way.

Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team for selfish reasons? Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team but would not have kept a less valuable player on the team for the same offense?

Yes answers to those questions would be evidence of a lack of integrity.

But no one, including those critical in this thread, have argued those were his motives for making what may be considered a wrong decision.

That's my central issue: People equate a wrong decision (and I'm not sure it was wrong) with a lack of integrity. That's fundamentally wrong to do.

St Paul and Knapp, do you think that Riley lacks integrity for how he handled the gang rape he was aware of?

Yes TO was selfish in letting Phillips continue to play and eventually start the NC game. I believe he thought he needed LP to win the NCG. Nothing will change my mind from that because there is no other plausible explanation as to why LP was on the field at all the rest of the year.

Now before you read into it more than what is there. I said play and start. I said nothing about keeping him on the team. That is a lack of integrity on TO's part.

And I haven't read enough about Riley and the gang rape and what he did or didn't know to comment.

This part I would disagree with. I'm pretty sure TO has stated that he thought it would help LP overcome him upbringing and give him a better chance in life.

Now you can choose not to believe that if you want or say that was misguided or not a good enough reason but it's definitely plausible.

 

[JJ Husker]

Bob Devany would have drank Keith Williams under the table, the Nebraska way.

Joe Ciprianno says high from under that table.

I went to one of the NU basketball camps in the mid to late 70's. Cip showed up about day 2 or 3 (the first and only time he actually showed up) of the camp he was in charge of and was drunker than a skunk, slurring his words, walking crooked, basically chewed out all the campers and left. We were impressed

because he had his shirt unbuttoned to his naval and was wearing big flashy gold chains.

 

[knapplc]

This part I would disagree with. I'm pretty sure TO has stated that he thought it would help LP overcome him upbringing and give him a better chance in life.

Now you can choose not to believe that if you want or say that was misguided or not a good enough reason but it's definitely plausible.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

How many times was Osborne "fooled?"

Riley Washington

Lawrence Phillips

Christian Peter

Tyrone Williams

Just off the top of my head. And that's the ones we publicly know about. My cousin was a high-ranking official in the State Patrol during the 1980s. Were the matters public, I could cite many, many more names of players involved in incidents throughout Osborne's career as head coach.

It's fine to remember Osborne's career with fondness. Let's just not be fooled about what the man was, or how he ran his ship.

 

[Redux]

What does any of this have to do with "the Nebraska way"?

 

[cm husker]

It's hard for that claim to hold up when many people, including the victim, thought he handled it in a reasonable way.

This is a flat lie. Kate McEwen did not say this.

From an October, 2015 news conference which McEwen didn't even attend because she had already left the state:

Last Oct. 24, after Phillips was reinstated to the football team, Beck read McEwen's only public statement since the assault in an emotional news conference. "While there have been sanctions imposed by the university and the team," it said in part, "nothing can be done to change what has happened to me. I'm glad the situation is finally coming to an end and I'm anxious to get on with my life and basketball."

Knapp, does that say they handled it wrong? It says they can't undo what happened, which is true.

And man, check your sources. That was not from a 2015 news conference.

McEwen's scholarship was not pulled because of the Phillips' incident. It simply wasn't. And that's a pretty nasty accusation to throw at Beck (and one not supported by McEwen's own words).

 

[StPaulHusker]

When someone states "he acted with no integrity" that implies a very specific thing about a person.

It's hard for that claim to hold up when many people, including the victim, thought he handled it in a reasonable way.

Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team for selfish reasons? Does anyone think that TO kept LP on the team but would not have kept a less valuable player on the team for the same offense?

Yes answers to those questions would be evidence of a lack of integrity.

But no one, including those critical in this thread, have argued those were his motives for making what may be considered a wrong decision.

That's my central issue: People equate a wrong decision (and I'm not sure it was wrong) with a lack of integrity. That's fundamentally wrong to do.

St Paul and Knapp, do you think that Riley lacks integrity for how he handled the gang rape he was aware of?

Yes TO was selfish in letting Phillips continue to play and eventually start the NC game. I believe he thought he needed LP to win the NCG. Nothing will change my mind from that because there is no other plausible explanation as to why LP was on the field at all the rest of the year.

Now before you read into it more than what is there. I said play and start. I said nothing about keeping him on the team. That is a lack of integrity on TO's part.

And I haven't read enough about Riley and the gang rape and what he did or didn't know to comment.

This part I would disagree with. I'm pretty sure TO has stated that he thought it would help LP overcome him upbringing and give him a better chance in life.

Now you can choose not to believe that if you want or say that was misguided or not a good enough reason but it's definitely plausible.

I don't doubt that keeping him on the team would help LP overcome his problems. But playing and starting him had no bearing on him for that. That's what i believe.

 

[knapplc]

It was from an October 1995 news conference. Pardon my typo.

What did McEwen say when they pulled her scholarship, cm husker? Please post that quote.

 

[Fru]

The people who criticize TO for the handling of the LP situation never cease to amaze me. They will likely never have to handle a situation of that magnitude in their life, but hide behind their keyboard and fearlessly proclaim what others should or shouldn't have done. In situations like that, there is no winner. It's bad all the way around.

TO kicks him off the team for his transgressions the narrative would be "He abandoned a young man in an hour of need! How dare he kick him to the curb!"

TO keeps him on the team with the idea of structure and discipline will help provide stability in his troubled life and the narrative is "He has no integrity! He's win at all cost!"

What about the woman and her hour of need?

Yeah it was a horrible thing that happened. No one's arguing that. Maybe if Frost wasn't hiding in the closet while it all went down, he could've come to her aid.

The point I was making was about criticisms of TO and how he's damned one way or another, no matter what he does. But if you want to change the topic that's fine too.

Sure. Blame Frost. Nice deflection.

I didn't blame Frost for anything. LP's actions were LP's actions.

But again, if you want to talk about TO's handling of LP, cool, I'll talk that all day.

If you want to change the subject each time, more power to you.

 

[cm husker]

This part I would disagree with. I'm pretty sure TO has stated that he thought it would help LP overcome him upbringing and give him a better chance in life.

Now you can choose not to believe that if you want or say that was misguided or not a good enough reason but it's definitely plausible.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

How many times was Osborne "fooled?"

Riley Washington [Not Guilty]

Lawrence Phillips [Guilty of Misdemeanor - no prior convictions at the time a decision had to be made]

Christian Peter [Can't remember this exactly, but not guilty of rape (he was accused of raping the same woman a couple of times during a weekend) - was guilty of grabbing a girl and of some public intoxication issues, but think the grab was later]

Tyrone Williams [Not Guilty]

Just off the top of my head. And that's the ones we publicly know about. My cousin was a high-ranking official in the State Patrol during the 1980s. Were the matters public, I could cite many, many more names of players involved in incidents throughout Osborne's career as head coach.

It's fine to remember Osborne's career with fondness. Let's just not be fooled about what the man was, or how he ran his ship.

Why'd you leave Benning off? Another guy who was not guilty.

It's also not cool to crucify TO for not punishing guys who weren't guilty. And I'm not going to go off of unsubstantiated "State Patrol" rumors either.

 

[StPaulHusker]

It's hard for that claim to hold up when many people, including the victim, thought he handled it in a reasonable way.

This is a flat lie. Kate McEwen did not say this.

From an October, 2015 news conference which McEwen didn't even attend because she had already left the state:

Last Oct. 24, after Phillips was reinstated to the football team, Beck read McEwen's only public statement since the assault in an emotional news conference. "While there have been sanctions imposed by the university and the team," it said in part, "nothing can be done to change what has happened to me. I'm glad the situation is finally coming to an end and I'm anxious to get on with my life and basketball."

Knapp, does that say they handled it wrong? It says they can't undo what happened, which is true.

And man, check your sources. That was not from a 2015 news conference.

McEwen's scholarship was not pulled because of the Phillips' incident. It simply wasn't. And that's a pretty nasty accusation to throw at Beck (and one not supported by McEwen's own words).

I don't think it's unreasonable too see that the incident, and the aftermath may have affected her development as a player. Which would indirectly lead to a revocation of her scholarship by the coach.

 

[cm husker]

It was from an October 1995 news conference. Pardon my typo.

What did McEwen say when they pulled her scholarship, cm husker? Please post that quote.

I already did. And by October of 1995, LP was indefinitely suspended. So what's your criticism of the situation at that moment in time?

McEwen said, ``I have made a decision to remain at the University of Nebraska and complete my degree next season. And although I will no longer play basketball, I will continue to support the team and the program.''