The case was represented by attorney David Randolph Smith for the six unidentified complainants against the University of Tennessee and the director of the student conduct and community standards.
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The allegations stem from a reported incident involving Manning and Dr. Jamie Naughright, who was a highly-respected member of the medical staff and even had more tenure than head coach Phillip Fulmer at the time.
Naughright sued Manning in 1997, but the case was later settled with an agreement that she leave the university altogether. The lawsuit was settled in 2003.
All of this took a new twist Saturday when New York Daily News writer Shaun King wrote a rather one-sided column that blistered Manning and his family for trying to smear Naughright.
Manning’s past in Tennessee is the subject of much speculation. Ramsey said the school “has devoted significant time and energy to provide a safe environment for our students, to educate and raise awareness about sexual assault and to encourage students to come forward and report sexual assault”.
The trainer, Dr. Jamie Naughright, later sued Manning.
This previous incident was filed under seal and not included in the documents obtained by the Daily News.
However, Naughright said Manning “sat on her face” while she was assessing the extent of an injury.
The incident resurfaced in 2000, this time from Manning’s point of view, in his book, “Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy”.
But in 2000, Manning and his father Archie released a book in which Peyton described Naughright as having a “vulgar mouth” and being loose sexually with student-athletes.
According to the second lawsuit (via Jacksonville.com), Manning brought up the Tennessee incident in an episode of ESPN Classic Sports Century: Peyton Manning that aired on December 30, 2004.
When the Daily News initially published the story, it appeared that the 1994 incident would remain a mystery.
Another player, Malcolm Saxon, who was present and witnessed the incident, lost his eligibility, because he did not conform and go along with an altered version of the incident put forward by Naughright’s boss, Mike Rollo, and Manning. There has also been talk that Manning could join an National Football League team in a front office role like Broncos’ general manager John Elway.
With the Manning case – and with others, both reported and unreported – the plaintiffs assert the University of Tennessee violated Title IX regulations.
It’s important to remember in all of this that these are just allegations against Manning and nothing has been concretely proven yet. He’s one of the most-recognized athletes in America because everyone has seen his self-deprecating ads and his “aw, shucks” demeanor in front of cameras.
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But given the issue of campus sexual assault and the lawsuit filed against the University of Tennessee alleging a decades-long hostile environment, let’s at least tap the brakes on what a swell guy and great role model he is.
