Content warning: the first section contains discussion of sexual assault.
We’re here to shoot the shit and keep it breezy. That said, it’s hard to ignore the allegations against Football Twitter’s special teams darling. The nature of this story is, unfortunately, endemic to colleges and universities nationwide, and a particular problem in college sports; it wouldn’t feel right to breeze past it. Plus it does have a faint Michigan connection (yuck).
The last third of the roundup proceeds as normal, as an aperitif for both you and me alike.
REJECTING FALSE GODS
Yet another university has harbored accused rapists in the name of institutional reputation, and yet another NFL team is potentially poised to do the same.
Current Buffalo Bills and former San Diego State punter Matt Araiza was named in a civil suit alleging he, among others, gang raped a 17 year-old at an off-campus party. His public naming comes three days after Araiza, nicknamed the “Punt God,” earned a starting role on the Bills’ roster. Per the Times, Araiza was aware she was a high school student and severely intoxicated before and during the gang rape.
You can read the thorough, full reporting at the L.A. Times, who’ve had this story since at least July 2022, when investigating SDSU’s mishandling of the situation.
There’s a particular, yet familiar stink all over SDSU’s mishandling of these accusations. The university sat on its hands for seven months before launching an investigation. The student body knew more than whispers, with one student saying “99% of the football players are aware of the 5-person rape so the rest of the student-athletes are left wondering why nothing is being done.” It implies a culture of winning supersedes a culture of compassion for victims of abuse and assault.
If a story of horrific sexual violence and a rumored cover-up sounds familiar to you, it should to Brady Hoke, too.
By my estimation, this is the second sexual assault scandal involving student-athletes in a Hoke-led program – the first being at the University of Michigan. If I had a dollar for every time a Brady Hoke program found itself embroiled in a heinous sex scandal, I would have two dollars. That’s not a lot, but it’s still two dollars too many.
Hoke hasn’t been mentioned in any of this; focus is on Araiza’s role in the assault and what his future holds. But, Hoke’s knowledge of the situation should be called into question, given what appeared to be rampant rumors that made their way to administration.
As for the Bills – a team for whom your author would usually go to war – they released a soft, nothingburger statement:
We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt [Araiza] from October 2021.
Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.
That statement is about as well as a team can do, until you consider they RELEASED THE OTHER PUNTER THREE DAYS AGO. They’ve known the allegations since last month.
The Bills aside ties in, I swear.
This is all a reminder that of all the unethical things we consume, sports are among the sleaziest of all. Organizations choose talent and capital over the well-being of survivors. Teams shield stars from accountability, rather than expecting remorse or atonement. Sports force us all to live in a moral pit from which we will never emerge.
The least we can do as fans aware of these deep, gross contradictions in our sport, is to let go when the time is right.
Sigh. Okay. Onto other news.
OH CAPTAIN, OUR CAPTAINS
As you know, Blue’s News is basically a Mazi Smith news roundup, and today is no exception.
Michigan has announced its captains for the season – Erick All, Ronnie Bell, Cade McNamara, Mike Sainristil, and Mazi Smith. Bell is the only returning captain; the rest have been voted captain for the first time.
McNamara’s captaincy pokes the flames further in the quarterback battle between him and J.J. McCarthy, but ultimately reflects the team’s confidence in his leadership. It appears that battle is still ongoing, but may now tilt slightly in McNamara’s favor.
Eight more days to go.
MORE PALETTE CLEANSERS, BECAUSE MY BRAIN IS ON FIRE
- Hell yeah. I assume you’ve all seen the buzz about choosing the South Carolina mascot’s new nickname, but if not? He could potentially be renamed the Cock Commander.
- Another hell yeah. Speaking of the captains, Ronnie Bell wore a Frieza hoodie at his presser after being elected captain.
- A third and final hell yeah. Never change, Bryan Harsin.
MICHIGAN-ADJACENT VIDEO OF THE DAY
I would run through a wall for Mike Sainristil.