Cephus' reinstatement to Wisconsin: “This is not about football. It is about his integrity as a human being”
Quintez Cephus stands next to attorney Stephen Meyer in front of his former Wisconsin teammates at Monday’s press conference in Madison, Wisc.
Photo: Facebook screenshot
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Attorneys for Quintez Cephus say the University of Wisconsin isn’t opening the door to a return.
The university says that’s not true.
And Cephus’ former Wisconsin teammates stood behind him Monday at a press conference, having sent a letter to UW chancellor Rebecca Blank, who apparently has yet to rule on Cephus’s petition for reinstatement.
Cephus was acquitted on Aug. 2 of two charges of sexual assault, nearly a year after he took a leave of absence and was then suspended from the team. He was expelled as a student in the spring.
The jury deliberated for less than 45 minutes before finding Cephus not guilty.
His attorneys set a deadline of last Thursday for the university to rule on his petition for reinstatement.
Monday, they said Wisconsin had already decided not to re-admit Cephus.
Stephen Meyer, the main defense attorney, said UW obviously does not “want him as a student this coming semester” and that negotiations had collapsed.
University officials denied that in a statement.
View the press conference here.
Attorneys have provided evidence from the trial as well as evidence that wasn’t admitted or shown, turning over more than 250 pages of information.
More than a dozen players attended the press conference. Players sent a letter to Blank to reinstate him and do “what is right and fair”, and said that Cephus “is so much more than just a football player. He is a remarkable person, friend, and brother.”
One said at the press conference: “Once you’re a Badger, you’re always a Badger.”
Players hoped head coach Paul Chryst could arrange a meeting with Blank, but he apparently told them she was in Hawaii.
The university reportedly wants trial transcripts, a process that is not an immediate one. Meyer said that could take three months, “and they know it is going to take three months. So what message does that send you?.”
He also said, “This is not about football. It is about his integrity as a human being and the unlawful tarring of him. He’s innocent. Let’s get it right.”
The impassioned Meyer had strong words, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “The glove will come off” if Blank “doesn’t do what’s right.”
Cephus said he’s harboring no ill will.
"I am not angry at all,” he said. “The whole time I've had the support of my brothers and everybody who knew me. I've had a chance to show my real character outside of sports, and I took that very seriously."
Race has been a strong topic throughout and after the trial, and Meyer, believes, in this reinstatement process.
He felt Wisconsin may be enhancing a stereotype that “that black men are sexually aggressive. That’s exactly the stereotype that I’m talking about.”
Social media reaction indicates pressure on Blank, with some long-time fans saying they’ll stop with financial support.
Here’s the latest Twitter thread for “Quintez Cephus”.