In a letter sent to media Saturday afternoon, Marquess Wilson, Washington State’s leading receiver, announced he has quit the Cougars football team and charged coach Mike Leach with “abuse,” saying his current one-week suspension is a cover-up. The timing was unusual, considering the Cougars were to play UCLA at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Here is the text of Wilson’s letter:
“Dear Cougar Nation:
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to forgo playing football for Washington State University. I realize the school is saying that I am suspended for violating team policies and may return next week, but this is a lie. This is an attempt by the athletic department to cover up what is really happening in that locker room.
“It is been a privilege to be a Cougar, to perform on your field and wear the Crimson and Gray. I would like to thank Washington State University for giving me the opportunity to do what I love most, to play football and receive a quality education for the past three years. I’m grateful to the athletic department for the coaching, care and encouragement I have received prior to this season.
“This was going to be our year. My teammates and I were aspiring to be the winning team you deserve. Unfortunately for all, the new coaching staff has destroyed that endeavor. I believe coaches have a chance to mold players, to shape men, to create greatness. However, the new regime of coaches has preferred to belittle, intimidate and humiliate us. This approach has obviously not been successful, and has put a dark shadow on this program.
“My teammates and I have endured this treatment all season long. It is not “tough love”. It is abuse. This abuse cannot be allowed to continue. I feel it is my duty to stand up and shed light on this situation by sacrificing my drams, my education and my pride. I resign from this team. I am deeply sorry to those I am letting down. I am not a quitter. I was raised by my family, and many previous coaches to exhibit dedication and embrace sacrifice, but there comes a time when one has to draw a line in the sand.
“Lastly, I thank my fellow teammates, those who also have left the program this year, and those we are leaving behind. I hope our departure will bring awareness to the physical, emotional and verbal abuse being allowed in the locker room and on the field. I pray for healing and recovery for all those who have been hurt by this treatment
“Sincerely,
Marquess Wilson”
In response to Wilson’s statement, WSU athletics director Bill Moos, who hired Leach in Janauary, issued a statement later Saturday night:”
“It is unfortunate that Marquess has chosen not to go through the weekend and have the subsequent visit with me as we had discussed last Tuesday. I was hopeful to provide additional guidance if he was willing to meet the standards that have been set by Mike Leach and his staff in their effort to establish a competitive football program at Washington State. Unfortunately, during times of coaching transitions, departures are not uncommon.
“We have procedures in place that were developed to monitor student-athlete welfare in all of our sports programs. We will continue to follow those procedures and modify them if needed.
“I believe I join many Cougars in wishing Marquess well in his future endeavors. WSU athletics plans no future statement at this time.”
Wilson, a junior, was a 2011 All-Pac-12 second-team selection, and a 2011 second-team All-America selection by Yahoo Sports. He set school single-season records last year with 82 receptions and 1,388 yards receiving. He was widely regarded as a 2012 preseason All-American. He is the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
Wilson had 52 receptions for 813 yards and five touchdowns in 2012.
3 Comments
So what exactly are these abuses? If not tough love, then please state examples of this abuse. You are sacrificing your education and your football career? Must be heavy stuff. Please elaborate….
well, i’m not marquess wilson, but just being in Pullman is abuse enough, i would think . . .
Considering he walked off the team and was suspended for only one game as a result saying that the coaches are trying to cover up abuse simply doesn’t make sense at all. No team, college or pro, is going to allow a player to storm out of practice without any repercussion. Wilson says he isn’t a quitter but choses to quit the team rather than return from a suspension that he himself initiated.