The father of former Boise State and Baylor defensive end Sam Ukwuachu contends that Baylor coach Art Briles, who accepted Ukwuachu as a transfer in 2013, was not advised by Boise State coach Chris Petersen in May 2013 of an alleged violent incident involving his son prior to his transfer. Sam Ukwuachu was convicted last week of sexually assaulting a Baylor women's soccer player in October 2013, and Petersen and Briles have expressed contrasting versions of a phone conversation they had about the player in discussing a possible transfer to Baylor.
In fact, Felix Ukwuachu said he overheard a conversation between Petersen and Briles prior to his son's transfer.
"We could hear the whole conversation," Felix Ukwuachu told KWTX-TV News. "Petersen said 'Samuel is a dynamic player, a good boy' (and) said he would be pleased if you take him into your school."
Ukwuachu's ex-girlfriend testified during the sexual-assault trial that she was physically abused while the two were students at Boise State, creating a flashpoint of controversy about what Boise State knew of Ukwuachu's alleged behavior, and whether it fully and properly advised Baylor and Briles prior to Ukwuachu's transfer there.
The victim in the sexual-assault case, meanwhile, has hired Title IX attorneys John Clune and Chris Ford. After Baylor's investigation into the victim's allegations came under criticism during Ukwuachu's trial, Baylor President Ken Starr said the school would conduct an internal inquiry into its handling of the case.
Briles said last week that Petersen did not advise him of any violent tendencies regarding Ukwuachu, and that he only knew of issues of depression and homesickness when he accepted the former Freshman All-American as a transfer. Petersen issued a statement after Briles' remarks, defending his position without detailing exactly what was said in the conversation: "After Sam Ukwuachu was dismissed from the Boise State football program and expressed an interest in transferring to Baylor, I initiated a call with coach Art Briles. In that conversation, I thoroughly apprised coach Briles of the circumstances surrounding Sam's disciplinary record and dismissal."
Petersen, now the head coach at Washington, has declined further comment on his conversation with Briles beyond that statement.
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