College Kentucky Cheer Dismisses 4 Coaches Following Hazing Investigation

[Sterling von Shimmer]

And now the snarky blog I read has gotten ahold of this story. And while I usually enjoy their take on things, they’re absolute bullies when it comes to cheerleading. They misrepresent/omit facts and toss in ad hominem BS as gospel whenever they write about cheer (their take on the WE girl’s hair story was inaccurate and laughable). Which floors me because for a “feminist” blog you’d think they’d be more supportive of a sport dominated by women.

But anyway, in the midst of all this I’d completely forgotten how much of a punch in the gut this is to people’s perceptions cheerleading in general. How long until the crappy Lifetime movie comes out that suggests the girls were escorts as well?

 

[SmileyRyleigh]

I’m wondering how long it’ll be until other big college cheer programs are investigated too. Yikes

 

[DonnaM]

I’ll also point something else out. While a vast majority of college students are 18 and over, a lot, especially at the beginning of the year, are not yet. For most current students entering college now, cutoff dates were anywhere from September-January depending on state. They are legally considered emancipated as far as signing paperwork, but that doesn’t mean that it plays well to have minors drinking or being encouraged to undress, even if they are only a couple of weeks from their 18th birthday.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I’ll also point something else out. While a vast majority of college students are 18 and over, a lot, especially at the beginning of the year, are not yet. For most current students entering college now, cutoff dates were anywhere from September-January depending on state. They are legally considered emancipated as far as signing paperwork, but that doesn’t mean that it plays well to have minors drinking or being encouraged to undress, even if they are only a couple of weeks from their 18th birthday.

I was gonna mention this. I didn't turn 18 until the summer between my freshman and sophomore years. So I had a full year in college as a minor.

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[Sterling von Shimmer]

I’ll also point something else out. While a vast majority of college students are 18 and over, a lot, especially at the beginning of the year, are not yet. For most current students entering college now, cutoff dates were anywhere from September-January depending on state. They are legally considered emancipated as far as signing paperwork, but that doesn’t mean that it plays well to have minors drinking or being encouraged to undress, even if they are only a couple of weeks from their 18th birthday.

Yeah I’m not even touching the drinking issue. I’m just assuming it was all bad. I can’t imagine the drinking laws were abided by. I can’t see the coaches saying, “Okay you guys can drink and you guys can’t.” Even if they did, the chances that they were obeyed are slim.

And I get it: kids are away from home and they want to have fun. I’m not shaming the kids. But it certainly doesn’t help this issue.

 

[FamousxMindset]

I will always have the utmost respect for Jomo Thompson. I wonder who will take over the dynasty.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I will always have the utmost respect for Jomo Thompson. I wonder who will take over the dynasty.

I’d like to nominate Ryan Martin O’Connor.

 

[CoachTamara]

I read an article today on Kentucky Sports Radio that had comments from a ton of current and alumni team members that said this account of the events is completely inaccurate. They posted videos of said basket tosses, fully clothed and not under the influence. Have there been any other teammates backing this accusation up? I'm not on twitter so I'm honestly curious, because even some alumni I know that are not on super great terms with the program for other reasons said this was wholeheartedly NOT their experience.

 

[ErinS]

Details of the investigation into UK Cheerleading hazing, alcohol use and public nudity | Kentucky Sports Radio


My greatest takeaway from all of this as an educator and now JV competition coach is—- you’re not there to be these people’s friends.

That mom also seems ... different. I fell down her Facebook rabbit hole

Good luck to the whole program I guess

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[coacha]

I read an article today on Kentucky Sports Radio that had comments from a ton of current and alumni team members that said this account of the events is completely inaccurate. They posted videos of said basket tosses, fully clothed and not under the influence. Have there been any other teammates backing this accusation up? I'm not on twitter so I'm honestly curious, because even some alumni I know that are not on super great terms with the program for other reasons said this was wholeheartedly NOT their experience.

The report states that the nudity came to light during the investigation. It says that 2 team members stated they did the toss topless and 11 members saw someone do it topless or bottomless.
Report here: https://www.uky.edu/prmarketing/sit...gram Investigation Report--Final 05 17 20.pdf

 

[ACEDAD]

T Lynn Williamson said he saw a girl doing a basket topless. But for an associate general counsel it was the weasiliest comment I’ve ever read.

 

[Kentucky Girl]

BTW, how did the likes of Louisville, Morehead State, Alabama and UCF respond to the Kentucky scandal?

 

[quietmom]

I've seen in the mom's Facebook page that the family of the athlete involved is now claiming that she's getting threats and getting harassed. I hope and pray that people stop that behavior. Do not engage with her in any way on social media. Do not like or react to her posts. Don't go there with her. It's not worth it. There's nothing good that will come of behavior like that. It does not help the coaches that are beloved and won't get their jobs back. All it will do is make a bad situation worse.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

On the flipside of this:

The holy grail of coaching positions (x4) is now open.

Will be interesting to see who is hired to fill these roles.

Assuming they will want to fill sooner rather than later so they can prepare for Fall 2020 (whatever that looks like with COVID.)

Wonder if they'll hire outside of the program this time? (Only way you really change a culture is by changing the leaders.)

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I've seen in the mom's Facebook page that the family of the athlete involved is now claiming that she's getting threats and getting harassed. I hope and pray that people stop that behavior. Do not engage with her in any way on social media. Do not like or react to her posts. Don't go there with her. It's not worth it. There's nothing good that will come of behavior like that. It does not help the coaches that are beloved and won't get their jobs back. All it will do is make a bad situation worse.

If I were here I wouldn’t be worried about the explicit threats. I’d be worried about the doxing that is happening to her and her daughter as we speak. Their basic info has already been leaked. From there it’s not hard to find their employers, churches, community organisations, etc. that they might be involved in and malign them. If you really want to hurt someone, you don’t respond to their s****y FB posts. You show that FB post to their boss.

My point is that internet vigilantes are going to make her life hell, right or wrong. You don’t take down a nationally renowned coaching staff without pissing off at least one tech-savvy fan.