There have been a ton of articles out now about the "Peyton Manning Scandal Cover Up" in light of the Denver Broncos Super Bowl win. No one seems to know that Manning was part of a sexual harassment scandal at the University of Tennessee, and now we know why. It apparently was a cover up. I'm talking about this because the victim was Dr. Jamie Naughright, the then associate AT for the football program at UT (among other esteemed positions).
Dr Jamie Naughright was a well liked, respectable, FEMALE athletic trainer at UT. She started as a student AT for the women's programs and was soon transferred to the men's programs. After undergrad, she became the graduate assistant AT for the men's programs. Upon graduation, she was hired as the assistant AT for the entire men's athletic program. After 2 years, she was hired as the Director of Health and Wellness for the Men's Athletic Program and was the head AT for the university's track and field program. During this time, she was also an associate AT for the football program.
During the time she was transferred to the men's program while in undergrad, her boss, associate AT Mike Rollo said that she was transferred because he thought she was a lesbian. She wasn't, but so what if she was? She was a woman, and after reading the article I will post at the end, it seemed as though he and the other males that she worked with on a daily basis were scared that a female was making rank at UT. Rollo and other male athletes, including Manning, called her some very vulgar names. She did what she had to do to stop the abuse and reported it. Reporting it seemed to make things worse. Later on in her career, Peyton Manning, a freshman on the football team, apparently did something that has never been talked about, and never will be. That incident was redacted from the record. Later on that year, Manning was being checked for a stress fracture in his foor by Naughright. Allegedly, he pulled his pants down and put his genitals on Naughright's head. She filed for sexual assault, Manning denied it had happened, and a cover up from Mike Rollo was in the works. Rollo said that Manning was "mooning" another student-athlete and Naughright happened to get in the way. Really? She just happened to get her head right in the way? The story continues with court testimony from student-athletes, staff memebers, and collegues that show that Naughright would never lie about an incident like this, that she is in good character, and that the cover up story was a fake. You can read the details in the article posted below. It's frankly a sick, twisted story that I have no clue how it got swept under the rug in the first place.
Now, I am a huge Peyton Manning fan along with the rest of them, but hearing this story is so disturbing. I'm upset that this football hero has done something like this, but I'm more upset that he won't own up to it. Or is he not owning up to it because he didn't do it? This story really is a "he said, she said" story because there were no witnesses. The only "witness" was the athlete who Rollo was saying Manning was mooning, but he wasn't actually there. However, there were witnesses to the vulgar language that was used against her. There were witnesses to the destruction of this woman's job, career, reputation, and life.
Being a female AT in a male sport is difficult. From experience, I have been the butt of a lot of jokes. I wouldn't go so far as them being sexual harassment, but there are times where I know I can't take stuff personally. However, the men I work with have been nothing but respectful when I am around. I have to be in the locker room with these guys. They know to be decent when I'm walking through. They understand my "pants policy" in the ATR. (If you're just getting out of the shower and only have a towel on, you are not allowed in the training room. They must have pants on.) I understand now times are a little different than the early 90's, so I guess the disrespect for females in a male sport was going to be higher back then. I could never think about the men I work with to ever do or say anything like that to me. I have had a few of them say to me "Teresa, I've never had a female trainer, so I hope I don't offend you with my comments." They know better. So I don't know why Peyton Manning, Mike Rollo, and the others did not have the same respect I get. And for both Peyton and Archie Manning to sit here and try to cover it up? It blows my mind! Especially when they came out with a book on how terrible of a person Naughright is. I just don't understand what they had against this woman. Like I said, I want to be on Naughright's side, and I am.... I just don't know how I feel about this whole situation. She got a $300K settlement from the school. She also lost her career, her reputation, and her life. Why is this all of a sudden coming out 20 years later? Is it because she was a woman in a male sport? Is it because there were instances she was this person they said she was (I'm just questioning, I don't actually believe that)? Is it because Peyton Manning has another Super Bowl ring and she wants to take him down like he took her down? I really don't know. But I know this is such a hot topic, females in male sports. This is why I started this blog in the first place. To highlight the good and the bad about being a woman in this profession. Read the article... Tell me what you think. I would love to hear your opinion.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-peyton-manning-squeaky-clean-image-built-lies-article-1.2530395
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