{"id":2301180,"date":"2024-07-19T16:43:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-utah-state-football-coach-fired-calls-investigation-a-sham\/"},"modified":"2024-07-19T16:46:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:46:40","slug":"ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Utah State Football Coach Fired, Denounces Investigation as &#8216;Sham"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-7%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2301180&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Utah State coach Blake Anderson was fired for &#8220;convenience&#8221; and not for cause, according to his response to the school&#8217;s termination letter. He claimed that the investigation leading to\u200b his dismissal was \u2062a &#8220;sham.&#8221;\u2063 The university accused Anderson of \u2062failing to comply with Title IX policies regarding reporting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/progressive-lawyers-help-biden-administration-gut-devoss-title-ix-rules\/\" title=\"Progressive Lawyers Help Biden Administration Gut DeVos\u2019s Title IX Rules\">sexual misconduct cases<\/a> and not managing the team according to academic values. Anderson&#8217;s \u2062lawyer posted excerpts from his response, demanding\u200d his full buyout\u200b of $4.5 million and a public apology from Utah State. The university defended its decision,\u2063 stating their commitment to building a successful athletics\u2063 program. Anderson, who had a 23-17\u200c record with a Mountain West title in three seasons at Utah State, is \u2064seeking \u2062compensation for wrongful termination.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p>Former Utah State coach Blake Anderson&rsquo;s response to the school&rsquo;s termination letter says that he was fired for &ldquo;convenience,&rdquo; not for cause, and that the investigation that led to his dismissal was a &ldquo;sham.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Anderson&rsquo;s attorney, Tom Mars, posted excerpts from the 70-page response that was provided to the school earlier this week&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TomMarsLaw\/status\/1814339519245914370\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on social media<\/a> on Friday. Anderson&rsquo;s firing was made official Thursday. Utah State notified him of its intent to dismiss for cause July 2 after an investigation found he failed to comply with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/federal-judge-blocks-bidens-transgender-title-ix-changes-slams-admin-abuse-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Title IX<\/a> policies regarding the reporting of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/family-5-completely-shattered-discovering-dads-hidden-folder-horrifying-situation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sexual misconduct cases<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-3\/\" title=\"Ex-Utah State Football Coach Fired, Denounces Investigation as &#039;Sham\">reporting requirements include<\/a> a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence,&rdquo; the school said. &ldquo;Additionally, Anderson failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU&rsquo;s academic values.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The response said the university began its investigation last year following an incident that occurred in April 2023. The document referred to Kansas&rsquo; dismissal of then-football head coach David Beaty in 2018 as starting a trend in college sports where schools attempt to manufacture reasons to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-2\/\" title=\"Ex-Utah State Football Coach Fired, Denounces Investigation as &#039;Sham\">fire highly paid coaches<\/a> without paying the agreed upon buyout.<\/p>\n<p>Beaty won a $2.5 million settlement with Kansas. Anderson was under contract through 2027, and his contract called for a buyout.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The response said Utah State failed to understand the limitations of its policies and violated standards for a professional investigation while &ldquo;grasping at straws to find cause.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The result, the response said, was false allegations against Anderson.<\/p>\n<p>The response concluded that Utah State owes Anderson his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham-4\/\" title=\"Ex-Utah State Football Coach Fired, Denounces Investigation as &#039;Sham\">full buyout &#038;mdash<\/a>; which stood at $4.5 million as of last December, according to USA Today&rsquo;s coaches&rsquo; salary database &mdash; and a public apology.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While I recognize that today&rsquo;s decision has a significant impact, it is the only one that could be made based on the facts. We are committed to moving forward in building a winning athletics program grounded in student success and integrity,&rdquo; university President Elizabeth Cantwell said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson, 55, was 23-17 with a Mountain West title in three seasons at Utah State. He went 6-7 in each of the last two seasons. He is 74-54 in 10 seasons as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-utah-state-football-coach-fired-denounces-investigation-as-sham\/\" title=\"Ex-Utah State Football Coach Fired, Denounces Investigation as &#039;Sham\">major college football coach<\/a>, including seven seasons at Arkansas State.<\/p>\n<p>The Aggies open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Robert Morris.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Utah State coach Blake Anderson&#8217;s response to the termination letter from the school suggests that he was fired for convenience rather than for a valid reason, and that the investigation leading to his dismissal was not conducted properly. Anderson&#8217;s attorney, Tom Mars, shared excerpts from the response on social media, stating that the university failed to understand its own policies and violated standards for a professional investigation. The response also mentioned a trend in college sports where schools try to find reasons to fire highly paid coaches without paying the agreed-upon buyout, citing a similar case with Kansas&#8217; former football head coach. Anderson, who was under contract until 2027, is seeking his full buyout of $4.5 million and a public apology from Utah State. The university&#8217;s president, Elizabeth Cantwell, stated that the decision to terminate Anderson was based on facts and a commitment to building a successful athletics program. Anderson had a record of 23-17 with a Mountain West title in three seasons at Utah State and is now seeking resolution following his dismissal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2301181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2b24276a86434b6ea27ea9541ba4c723-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35612,3976,35611],"class_list":["post-2301180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-coach-fired","tag-investigation","tag-utah-state-football"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2b24276a86434b6ea27ea9541ba4c723-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2301180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2301181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2301180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2301180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2301180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}