Each morning Longhorns Wire will share the top stories from around the Big 12 Conference. For this edition of the Big 12 Morning, the USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, and 247Sports provide the headlines.
Texas Tech women’s basketball players describe toxic culture: ‘Fear, anxiety and depression’
Jori Epstein and Daniel Libit of the USA TODAY dove into the toxic culture within Marlene Stollings’ Texas Tech program. In her two years as head coach, 12 players have left after feeling abused by the coaching staff.
Among the claims:
The emphasis on maintaining an elevated heart rate during play drove two players to eschew taking over-the-counter painkillers in an effort to use the pain to keep their heart rates spiked.
The three international players on rosters the past two seasons allegedly faced treatment such as being ridiculed, isolated and threatened by coaches. Brazil native Marcella LaMark said Stollings told LaMark her fitness lagged so far behind teammates that she was “dangerous” to them.
Emma Merriweather, a 6-5 center, said she was admonished by coaches for displaying symptoms of depression, for which she was eventually diagnosed. She was also allegedly told by assistant coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins to snap a rubber band on her wrist when she had a negative thought.
Five players alleged strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella sexually harassed players, making suggestive comments to one player and using a therapy technique that involved applying pressure to some players’ chests and pubic bones and groins. Petrella, who denies any misconduct, resigned in March after the season.
Three players said Stollings retaliated by holding tougher practices after they brought abuse claims to school officials, including Judi Henry, executive senior associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator.
Kerry Martin Opts Out of 2020 Season
West Virginia has had their first football player opt-out of the 2020 football season in Kerry Martin. The sophomore cites his own personal diseases, sickle cell and asthma, as his reasoning.
As a freshman in 2019, Martin saw action in all 12 games, making four starts. He was the team’s sixth leading tackler (50), and also registered 2.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups on his way to being named on the Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team (3rd team).
Latest update on OU’s plans for August opener
Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma got ahead of the Big 12 scheduling curve, moving their season opener against Missouri State up to Aug. 29. After the conference announced the season will start at a later date, the Sooners could be looking for a new nonconference opponent.
According to reports, that start date and OU’s game with Missouri State could be in jeopardy.
“Updated news from pair of OU decision-makers. Just told ‘unlikely play 8/29 given fewer games & later start.’ All revolves around B12 start date (ADs meet later today – maybe clarification) ‘Lots of schools calling #Sooners’ if must replace MoSt.,’” OKC-KWTV sports director Dean Blevins tweeted.
Additionally, Dallas Morning News Big 12 reporter Chuck Carlton was a guest on the Paul Finebaum Show on Tuesday and discussed the conference’s impending schedule release as well as OU’s plans for a Week Zero game.
“Dallas Morning News’ @ChuckCarltonDMN tells us the Big 12 plans to start conference play no earlier than Sept. 19. Oklahoma is scheduled to play Missouri St. on Aug. 29. ‘It’s going to be awkward if Oklahoma does that and then is off until Sept. 19,’” Finebaum tweeted.
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