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Sports Ethics Expert Praises Ex-WSU Footballer For Speaking Out

A Pac-12 spokesman said the athletic conference does not have a timeline for completing a review of the WSU football program. Over the weekend, university president Elson Floyd asked for outside help to investigate claims by a player of abusive behavior by the coaching staff. Meanwhile, a sports ethics expert is praising the player for speaking out. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Over the weekend, star receiver Marquess Wilson announced he would resign from the WSU football team. In an emailed statement, he accused the coaching staff of taking "tough love" too far, basically committing physical, emotional and verbal abuse.

"I would say this young man, Marquess Wilson, is a very brave young man," says Sharon Stoll who consults about ethics for college and professional sports teams. She's based at the nearby University of Idaho.

"The fact is that he had the courage to step up because he thought something was wrong," Stoll says. "I am glad that (WSU) President Floyd realizes that too. Something's haywire here."

After Saturday's loss, WSU football coach Mike Leach deflected questions about his former player, but did assert there's absolutely nothing to Wilson's claims. An assistant coach called Wilson's allegations "laughable."

On the Web:

Pac-12 Conference Post (Pac-12 Conference)

Marquess Wilson's departure statement (Coug Center)

WSU President Elson Floyd's statement (Washington State University)

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network

A view of Washington State University's Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri via Wikimedia
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A view of Washington State University's Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri via Wikimedia

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network

Correspondent Tom Banse is an Olympia-based reporter with more than three decades of experience covering Washington and Oregon state government, public policy, business and breaking news stories. Most of his career was spent with public radio's Northwest News Network, but now in semi-retirement his work is appearing on other outlets.