:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52093491/621284548.0.jpeg)
With the shocking news coming out Thursday afternoon of Kevin Wilson’s firing, the reports of what led to the firing began to surface as well.
What we know is that the decision was not X-and-O based. With our own Kyle Robbins reporting that the inquiry may have followed comments made by Zander Diamont after his announced retirement about brain trauma, the athletic department began interviewing past players.
Former Indiana player told ESPN on Thursday that he & at least 5 other IU players interviewed about Wilson's treatment of players
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) December 1, 2016
The extent of Wilson’s actions are not yet entirely known, but various stories have also come out in the short time since the original report of his firing.
Former IU player suffered concussion in practice b4 '15 season. His father said son was rushed back to workouts & symptoms went "haywire"
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) December 1, 2016
Schlabach went out to detail the story in his piece on ESPN.
"He was out about a week and they started a normal concussion regiment, in which he was allowed to work out for about 20 minutes and gradually increase it," the former player's father said. "But after he worked out for 20 minutes, they had him run about 6 miles. After that, my son was feeling fine. But when he went home, he started throwing up and his symptoms went haywire."
IDS managing editor Brody Miller also mirrored many of Schlabach’s reports with some of his own reporting.
Former IU player Laray Smith tells the IDS that Wilson forced players to play through injuries #iufb
— Brody Miller (@byBrodyMiller) December 1, 2016
Smith says team told him he had bruise in back. He went to a doctor and was told it was a blood clot. Wilson still pressured to play #ifub
— Brody Miller (@byBrodyMiller) December 1, 2016
Smith: "Once you were hurt. He didn't care about you no more." #iufb
— Brody Miller (@byBrodyMiller) December 1, 2016
Smith also said Wilson would take a lot of his anger out on players, not in a motivational way, but to put them down #iufb
— Brody Miller (@byBrodyMiller) December 1, 2016
Hearing from another source close to the program that a complaint was fired about his treatment of players #iufb
— Brody Miller (@byBrodyMiller) December 1, 2016
Former Oklahoma Sooner offensive lineman Gabe Ikard, who played for the Sooners when Wilson was an offensive coordinator there, also shared a past story.
Kevin Wilson once ripped my buckled helmet off my head, spit on my jersey, & punched me in chest during practice.
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) December 1, 2016
But the guy could coach.
That being said...Kevin Wilson got the absolute most out of his players. I will forever be indebted to him for teaching me what it took.
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) December 1, 2016
We will have more on the allegations surrounding Wilson as it is released.