University of Tennessee head coaches voiced their support for Butch Jones and his football program amidst a sexual assault lawsuit that has been making national headlines.
Karen Weekly, the head softball coach at UT, said Jones and the football program have been nothing but supportive.
Weekly said, "The culture here right now is the best it's ever been and like Rick said, those stories aren't being told. And the image that's being displayed of our culture is unfair and that's why we're here today, we want people to hear the positive."
The lawsuit alleges that the school allows for a culture of sexual assault. It was submitted on behalf of six women, five of whom were allegedly assaulted or raped by athletes while in school.
Butch Jones said, "I've never been a part of something as special as this. And I don't think, and I don't want to speak for every coach here but I feel very confidently in saying this. If we didn't feel comfortable, if we didn't have confidence in the mission of this athletic department of each other and every individual sport, we wouldn't be sitting here."
Head Football Coach Butch Jones also responded to a reporter who asked if the lawsuit is hurting recruitment.
Jones said, "Our competitors are using it against us, and that's why we're having a number of unofficial visitors. And this past weekend was a great great visit us and we encouraged parents and perspective athletes to stay the night to get around campus and walk the sidewalks and see how they feel."
People took to social media to voice their opinions.
What Butch Jones calls "poor choices" the rest of us call "rape." https://t.co/oEV4ggmTly
— Alex Little (@AlexLittleTN) February 23, 2016
UT has a "culture problem" because unlike Florida, UGA, Bama etc Butch doesn't cover up allegations. He suspends and dismisses immediately.
— Beau Badon (@TheBeauRegard) February 23, 2016
The federal lawsuit filed Feb. 9 in Nashville alleges that the school has violated Title IX regulations and created a "hostile sexual environment."
