A three-person USA Today report Monday that paints a grim picture of sexual assault allegations against former LSU star running back Derrius Guice prompted a prepared statement from Tigers' head coach Ed Orgeron during his scheduled press conference.
Orgeron made brief remarks of less than a minute, reading from a sheet, and then declined to address any additional questions on the allegation in the explosive report, which outlined detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault that Guice allegedly committed against the friend of an then-LSU swimming and diving athlete.
“We support and protect victims of violence and sexual abuse of any kind,” Orgeron said, reading from the sheet, on his Zoom call with media. “There's no place in society nor on this campus or in this football program for any behavior of this type. When accusations are made, we have a legal and moral obligation to report every allegation to the University Title IX office so that due process can be implemented.
“I have in the past and will continue to take appropriate action and comply with protocols. I have confidence today that the university is working to address our policies and processes when allegations arise. That is all I'm going to say at this time.”
Though the USA Today report opened with reporting on Guice's alleged transgressions, which contends LSU school officials covered up in order to keep Guice on the field for the Tigers, USA Today also examined other instances where “the university’s athletic department and broader administration repeatedly have ignored complaints against abusers, denied victims’ requests for protections and subjected them to further harm by known perpetrators.”
Guice starred for the Tigers in 2016-17 as an All-SEC selection after he backed up eventual top-five NFL Draft pick Leonard Fournette in his 2015 freshman campaign. Guice then was drafted in the second round by the Washington Football Team, but that organization earlier this year severed all ties with Guice after he was accused of domestic violence and surrendered himself to Virginia police in August of this year.
Per USA Today reporting on that incident, “The 23-year-old running back faces three counts of assault and battery, one count of destruction of property and one count of strangulation, which is a felony in Virginia.
The charges stem from three separate assaults that allegedly occurred at Guice's home in Ashburn, Virginia on Feb. 14, March 13 and April 17, according to Troxell. He added that the incidents were first reported to police in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the victim lives, and later investigated in a coordinated effort with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, which became aware of the allegations on July 22.”