Tulsa Facing Title IX Lawsuit Over Hoops Player

((HT: ESPN/KTUL-TV))

Pat Swilling was a tremendous linebacker for Georgia Tech and the New Orleans Saints...

His son is a promising basketball player at Tulsa University. But the younger Swilling is in the middle of a firestorm at the moment involving a lawsuit filed in a federal court Monday that claims the school failed to protect a female student from an individual with a past of alleged sexual indiscretions.

Swilling, in the suit, is detailed to have been in three previous incidents involving attempted or alleged sexual assaults- one in Idaho at his previous school, one at Tulsa, and another incident in town off campus.

It's a heavy list of accusations and part of a larger investigation that ESPN is doing...

Paula Lavigne discusses with Cary Chow


And Lavigne's story is must reading hyah on all three previous instances and the holes in the system in both Idaho and Tulsa...

In late April, the Tulsa DA's office didn't press charges against Swilling. Swilling's attorney, Corbin Brewster, said the allegations made "were not credible."

President Stedman Upham said, in a prepared statement released to the media, that Tulsa stands by its Title IX practices:

"The safety of University of Tulsa students, faculty and staff is our top priority at all times. The university has a robust policy to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault in a thorough and deliberate manner.

Although this legal filing has been widely distributed to media outlets, the lawsuit has not been served on the university. As such, we have not yet been able to thoroughly review the lawsuit; but, from media reports, it appears misinformation already is developing regarding our handling of this matter.

This process was carried out fully and completely in the case in question, including communicating the official policy to all parties involved. As soon as the incident was reported, university administrators immediately began the investigation process.

We conducted our investigation in a fair and timely manner, cooperating fully with local law enforcement.

TU's policy on sexual violence is far-reaching; and although investigation is a critical component, our plan to protect our students extends well beyond. This policy includes a proactive approach to ensuring student safety, which is reviewed and updated annually, if not more frequently. During the previous academic year, the university has taken steps to further protect students, including limiting access to campus, implementing a Rape Aggression Defense program and coordinating an initiative called iStand to fight sexual violence.

TU's policy on sexual violence was developed using recommendations from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Leading this effort was our Dean of Students assisted by university legal counsel, the Title IX coordinator and members of TU's Sexual Violence Prevention and Educational Programming Committee (commonly referred to as the Advocacy Alliance), which is comprised of faculty, staff and students from the following departments: Student Affairs, Counseling Services, Campus Security, Athletics, Psychology (including the Institute for Trauma, Adversity and Injustice), and Housing and Residential Life.

As TU welcomes its freshman class, these students will learn what other TU students and alumni already know, which is their safety and well-being is and remains our foremost priority."

UPDATE: Devon Walker Alert, Talking To Family

((HT: KJRH-TV Tulsa))

Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson held a press conference at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa to update everyone on the medical condition of Green Wave defensive back Devon Walker.

According to the AD, Walker is alert, responsive, and talking to his family who have made their way from New Orleans to Tulsa for the Sunday surgery and the analysis of his recovery.

Tulane Dr. Greg Stewart said neurosurgeons stabilized Walker’s spine and told the Tulsa World newspaper about the circumstances surrounding the initial triage on the field.

Here's the latest...
Funds have been set up through both the Tulsa and Tulane campuses and websites to help in the treatment of Walker: tulane.edu/devonwalker and by sending a check made payable to The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Club with “Devon Walker Fund” noted in the memo line.

Checks may dropped off at the TU athletic director’s office or mailed to TU, Attn: Golden Hurricane Club, 800 S. Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104.

Tulane's Devon Walker Suffers Broken Neck In Helmet-to-Helmet Hit (UPDATE)

((HT: cfbsection))

The Green Wave have not been known as a good football program since the days of Shaun King, and the struggles continued under coach Bob Toledo.

The road game against Tulsa today had a scary moment involving DB Devon Walker and a teammate making a tackle on the Golden Hurricane...

Here's the short version of the play...


Walker suffered a broken neck and collapsed lung according to a Tulsa trainer. And Fox Sports reported during their broadcast of the game that Walker stopped breathing when EMT's removed his jersey and shoulder pads. They administered CPR and put in an IV before Walker began breathing again on his own.

He is currently being treated and observed in a Tulsa hospital in stable condition.

1620 UPDATE: From Fox Sports Lisa Horne, Tulane team doctor Felix "Buddy" Savoie has Walker diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture. Savoie is anticipating surgery in the next two days...

Here's the report from KJRH-TV in Tulsa

Because we have to meniton it: Bikini Hockey League

No really, they aren't cold at all...

((ht: puckdaddy))

Well, we suppose if there is a Lingere Football League, then Bikini Hockey makes sense on some level. (Yeah, that level too)

But believe it or not, this is a true story and we have a press release to back it up. Though we might qualify this by saying this appears to be a reality show based on try-outs for a supposed league.

A Tulsa, Oklahoma based, self-proclaimed "Entrepreneur", Cary Eskridge is trying to be the point man in this concoction, which really just has a website with a front page, casting application and a press release.

And we are pretty sure it exists so Sports Blogs and entertainment outlets might get wind of it and give them some free publicity. (Guilty)

The press release touts the location (Tulsa) and its "Hockey Heritage" and central location. And it briefly, after you get past the long, gushing reel of Eskridge's accomplishments, mentions that the league is going to be the basis for the reality show. Which raises the question? Will they actually play....or is this a huge marketing gimmick?

Yes, we have a pretty good idea of the answer too.

You too can read the Press Release RIGHT HERE

We also got a laugh that this was "Created" during the 2004 Hockey strike and is just now coming to fruition.

If this is a TV Production...well, we're all in the "TV Production" business and are pretty sure it doesn't take 8-years to get a show off the drawing board.