Rutgers Will Review Jevon Tyree Bullying Accusation – Has a Coach Ever Bullied You? [POLL]

When coaches use words like “p---y” and “bitch” toward their players, are they bullying them, or trying to get them motivated to play harder?

If you’ve been following the case of Rutgers Scarlet Knight cornerback Jevon Tyree, that’s the accusation he’s made against his former defensive coordinator Dave Cohen.

That, plus accusing the coach of threatening to head butt him – causing Tyree to be left out of meetings and placed on the sidelines in critical game situations.

I’ve never played sports at any level, but all the folks I know who did have all told me the tactics used by Cohen weren’t all that unusual.

Apparently the locker room world is far different that the space the rest of us inhabit.

And while I do believe there’s a line that some coach’s and players (read: Incognito) shouldn’t cross, is the use of vulgarisms really that uncommon?

As it turns out, there’s a resolution in the Tyree case:

Rutgers University released a statement Wednesday night stating that it will review all “relevant facts and any subsequent actions taken” in the Jevon Tyree case, amid indications from Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann on Saturday that an investigation into recent bullying allegations within the department was closed.

The latest development comes after Hermann met Wednesday with Tyree’s parents Mark and Clarice and Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, “to clarify misunderstandings and resolve the issues relating to Jevon Tyree’s experience as a student-athlete at Rutgers University,” according to the statement.
“The interests of the student-athlete were central to their conversation,” the statement reads.

The statement mentions that Rutgers general counsel John Farmer Jr., a former New Jersey Attorney General, will handle the review. He will report his findings to Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi and the Board of Directors, according to university spokesperson Pete McDonough.

Tyree said that he was bullied by Rutgers football defensive coordinator Dave Cohen in the form of inappropriate language and the threat of a head-butt during a study hall incident last spring and subsequently made to feel “invisible.” The redshirt freshman cornerback voluntarily left the program Nov. 6 after a wide receiver switched positions and was placed in front of him on the depth chart.

In its first statement on the matter, Rutgers acknowledged the inappropriate language but denied the threat of physical violence and said the latter was verified by an academic counselor in the room.

“We’ve dealt with it. We’ve dealt with it twice, above and beyond,” Hermann told New Jersey Press Media on Saturday. “Checked on the environment for the students and it’s been secured and it’s not been an issue since.”

The statement also confirmed Rutgers coach Kyle Flood’s announcement Sunday that Tyree can remain on academic scholarship through the end of the academic year.

“In addition, he will receive academic support to help ensure his success while a student at Rutgers University,” the statement said.

The statement was released just minutes before the football team’s plane departed for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. game against UCF in Orlando.

So all in all, it sounds like a lawsuit is being averted and everyone can go on with their lives, pending the outcome of Farmer's investigation.

I don’t know how much of a verbal barrage I’d be able to take in a football locker room. It would probably get to me.

But everyone has there own threshold. And that's the key. Bullying, like beauty, is in the mind of the beholder.

Or in this case, the "bullied!"

Perhaps Tyree’s threshold isn’t too far off my own.

Do you feel Jevon Tyree was being bullied by his defensive coordinator?