Hart’s news conference had been scheduled before Wednesday’s amended filing in a federal Title IX lawsuit against the school. Wednesday’s filing included a sworn affidavit from former Tennessee wide receiver Drae Bowles that Jones told him he “betrayed the team” when he went to the aid of an alleged rape victim who had been assaulted by a football player.
Jones denied the allegations Wednesday, saying, “The assertion that I ever attempted to belittle or demean a young man for taking action to help another person is absolutely false.”
Hart declined to comment on the Bowles matter. He did say that the school’s athletes are “absolutely not treated any differently” from other students if investigated sand that the school encourages victims to come forward.