USU Coach Blake Anderson Responds To Lawsuit Filed Against Him, Aggies
Oct 28, 2022, 7:42 PM | Updated: 10:30 pm
Utah State University football coach Blake Anderson talks with a referee during a game in Logan on Friday Oct 1, 2021. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah State head football coach Blake Anderson responded to a lawsuit that former player Patrick Maddox filed. The response came via Twitter.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges retaliation after Maddox, a former linebacker, recorded Anderson making remarks about victims of sexual assault, according to Yahoo! Sports.
In the lawsuit, Maddox accuses the school and coach Anderson of blackmail and retaliation for trying to help his friend in a lawsuit against the school for mishandling a sexual assault allegation.
In his response, Anderson addressed the lawsuit by saying he will vigorously defend himself and Utah State University against false statements.
“I look forward to providing facts, context and clarification of the allegations against myself. I love and appreciate all of our players, past and present. Besides respecting each other like family, we work to foster good character and social responsibility. We strive to build a culture our fans, community and University can be proud of, and that respects all people,” Anderson wrote on his personal Twitter account.
— Blake Anderson (@CHbanderson) October 29, 2022
The Lawsuit Against Utah State & Blake Anderson
The history of this incident goes back to last December when The Salt Lake Tribune obtained recordings of police chief Earl Morris and Anderson. The recordings were of the two men commenting on victims of sexual assault.
In the recordings, Anderson said, “it has never been more glamorized to be a victim.”
Both men later apologized for the comments. Morris resigned from his post.
“I regret the words I used, and I apologize to anyone who has bravely come forward with allegations of wrongdoing,” Anderson said. “We have to do everything we can to encourage and protect anybody who has been the victim of a wrong, or whose personal rights have been violated.”
Blake Anderson’s Statement On Lawsuit Continued
“I care deeply about Patrick Maddox, as I do about all of our players. Both before and after the incidents at issue lawsuit, I supported Patrick as a player and in his goals for the future. I wish him nothing but the best,” Anderson finished.
Maddox quit the team in February. He had been an Aggie since 2019.
Utah State History Of Sexual Assault Investigations
Utah State was investigated by the Department of Justice for issues with Title IX reporting. The department found that fewer than 25 of over 200 reports of sexual assaults between 2013-2018 went through proper protocols.
That investigation came during a time when former Utah State football player Torrey Green was charged with sexually assaulting six women. Green is currently imprisoned.
Utah State University has not made a statement on the lawsuit from Maddox, likely due to the ongoing proceedings.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.
