Hoke’s boss, athletic director John David Wicker, defended the school administration’s decision to heed the San Diego Police Department’s request to delay a campus investigation into the alleged gang-rape until authorities complete their criminal investigation. The incident happened on October 17 at a Halloween party at a house where Araiza was staying. Araiza, nicknamed the “Punt God” and honored as a unanimous All-American for his rushing punts that helped SDSU to a school-best 12-2 season, was cut by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, two days after the civil suit that included graphic elements were filed against him and former teammates Zaver Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard and Evalico are no longer with the team, Wicker said. The school’s decision to join the SDPD was criticized by rape survivor and public speaker Brenda Tracy, who was brought in by SDSU to address the football team and other male athletes nearly three weeks after the alleged assault. Tracy said in a statement posted on Twitter Sunday night that she had been told by an SDSU staff member “that an incident occurred.” Tracy added that as she learns more details, “it becomes more obvious that SDSU did not do the right thing. Institutions should not be suspended in police investigations. Title IX and criminal cases can run concurrently. … Even without the victim reporting directly to the school, her father did, and the school could contact him. The anonymous tips, one of which included a name, should have been followed up immediately.” Wicker confirmed that Tracy had been transferred to campus. Zavier Leonard is an offensive lineman at San Diego State who has also been accused of gang rape.San Diego State Athletics “It’s absolutely not true that we swept it under the rug because it was football, because we had a successful season,” Wicker said. “We are not who we are and it is not me. That calls my morals and ethics into question and that’s not true.” Wicker and Hoke tried to avoid questions about the alleged gang-rape at a news conference Monday. They read brief statements and offered to answer questions about Saturday’s game against Arizona that will open SDSU’s new Snapdragon Stadium. When reporters continued to ask about the case, Wicker and Hoke walked away. However, Wicker returned several minutes later and began answering questions. “I still strongly believe that letting the SDPD handle the investigation of this was the right way to go,” Wicker said. “The SDPD asked us not to investigate because they felt it would hinder or could adversely affect their investigation, so we chose to do that.” Former SDSU player Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko was also listed in the suit.San Diego State Athletics Wicker said it even included an informal inquiry, such as a coach asking a player if he had heard anything. “The SDPD asked us not to investigate. If we start asking questions, you can tell someone and we’re not going to investigate,” Wicker said. No arrests have been made and police have not publicly identified any suspects. The results of the police investigation are in the hands of the prosecutor, although there is no timetable for a decision on whether charges will be filed. SDSU said it was authorized by the SDPD on July 22 to begin an investigation on campus. The plaintiff in the lawsuit is now 18 years old. She is identified in the complaint as “Jane Doe” because she was a minor at the time. Attorney Kerry Armstrong, who is representing Araiza in the criminal investigation, called the allegations untrue based on the findings of an investigator he hired. The Los Angeles Times reported that Araiza’s name came up in connection with the rape allegation within days of the party in at least one report made by student-athletes to San Diego State officials through an anonymous reporting system. Asked if he was aware of that anonymous report, Hawke said, “I wasn’t.” Asked at what point he first heard Araiza’s name mentioned, Wicker said, “We didn’t get confirmation from anyone involved in the event until the civil suit was dropped.” Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott. The Bills cut ‘Punt God’ last week after the allegations came to light.AP Meanwhile, the Bills say they have moved on from Araiza. “We’ve already been through it. It’s over,” offensive lineman Dion Dawkins said after the Bills returned to practice Monday, two days after the team announced Araiza’s release. “He’s not here. It’s not our problem. It’s done.” Dawkins acknowledged he was troubled by the allegations made against Araiza in the lawsuit. “Thoughts always come, but you just have to try to keep your mind straight and not think about things you can’t really control,” Dawkins said. “Because if you think about all the other messed up things going on in the world, you will literally malfunction.” Before practice, coach Sean McDermott addressed the players about Araiza’s release, which was announced more than two hours after the team wrapped up practice Saturday. Team officials, including McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, first became aware of the allegations when they were told in late July that Araiza was one of several San Diego State players targeted in a police investigation. Araiza was slated to become Buffalo’s starter when the team released Matt Haack last week, but the Bills then reversed course. Center Mitch Morse defended the team’s handling of the situation. “I think they’ve handled it wonderfully because I don’t envy those situations,” he said. “In the end, I think they made the right decision.”
