Details of alleged abuse by TCU football coach Gary Patterson and others on his staff have been added to former receiver Kolby Listenbee's lawsuit.
Five former players, including Lonta Hobbs, Ed Wesley, David Johnson, Stansly Maponga and Cameron White, and various descriptions of their injuries and a pattern of "negligent medical treatment was prevalent and accepted," according to the amended lawsuit.
"The TCU football team implemented a system in which a pattern of verbal abuse, pressure to return to play despite serious injuries ... was created by Defendant Patterson, supported by Defendants TCU, TCU Board of Trustees, and Del Conte."
The lawsuit details five examples of "systematic misconduct" prior to Listenbee's enrolling at TCU and during his time at TCU.
The accusations in the updated lawsuit include:
_ In 2002, former TCU running back Lonta Hobbs made history with an incredible freshman year of 1,029 rushing yards scoring 13 touchdowns. In the offseason, Hobbs was involved in a catastrophic car accident where he suffered a concussion. The trauma of the accident caused Hobbs to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD"). The TCU coaching and training staff persuaded Hobbs to return to Fort Worth from his hometown to obtain the medical treatment he needed. However, Hobbs was never referred to a psychiatrist or radiologist to treat his injury. Instead, for the two months after the accident, Hobbs was "belligerent" and emotionally unstable. Despite showing signs of this instability, Hobbs was pressured into returning to play. Hobbs was informed that should he not return, his job would be given to the new freshman running back, Robert Merrill. The premature return caused Hobbs additional emotional instability as well as physical unbalance. Hobbs was unable to return to the player he once was due to this additional damage.
_ In 2010, former TCU running back Ed Wesley was concussed in a game against Southern Methodist University. Then team physician Dr. Samuel Haraldson refused to allow Wesley to return to the game because of the concussion. "Any loss of consciousness is automatically considered a concussion," Haraldson said to the media about Wesley's incident. "He had an unsteady gait and a few memory problems." It was due to that decision that Defendant Patterson "verbally accosted" Haraldson for not clearing Wesley to return to play. Defendant Patterson was "screaming at (Haraldson) insanely at the top of his lungs that he doesn't think (Wesley) has a concussion and what right do (Haraldson) have to hold him out." The confrontation happening during the game itself and was captured live on ESPN. After the game, Defendant Patterson stated about Wesley that "He's fine. As far as I'm concerned he was fine 10 minutes after he got hurt. But it was good that we protected him." Although Wesley did not return to play in that game, the incident was indicative of Defendant Patterson's insistence that players return to play despite suffering very serious injuries. Despite the audacity and publicity of the event, Defendants TCU, TCU Board of Trustees, and Del Conte supported Defendant Patterson and his actions.
_ In the 2011 season, former TCU football player, David Johnson, sprained his ankle. Johnson was administered pain medication and had his ankle wrapped with lots of tape. When Johnson expressed worry to his position coach about not being able to play because of his ankle, the position coach stated that "in your career, you will never play at 100 percent. You will always be hurt. And if you can't do that, we don't have a place for you here." That player noticed that this became a "common thread (at TCU) _ players being informed by coaches that 'if you don't play this year, we have no use for you. Future potential means very little, and we may very well not have a spot for you next year if you sit out."
_ After the 2012 season, former TCU star defensive specialist Stansley Maponga was deciding whether to leave TCU and enter the NFL draft prior to his senior year season. Defendant Patterson made it clear to the entire team that if Maponga left early, Maponga would not be allowed to come back to TCU to complete his degree in the future, would not be allowed to use the facilities at TCU to work out, and that NFL scouts and coaches would be informed that Maponga had a poor work ethic and was soft.
_ During the 2013 season, former TCU wide receiver Cameron White was concussed during a game and was cleared to return to the field shortly thereafter. White was injured in a violent collision during the second game of the season against SE Louisiana University. White came off the field and told the training staff that "I don't feel right." Despite this information, the TCU trainers, including Defendant Gable, cleared White to return to play. Upon information and belief, the TCU trainers were pressured by Defendant Patterson to clear known injured players. After the game, White's concussion was counted as the last one he could suffer before becoming "medically disqualified" to play football again. The player attempted to transfer to another school near his hometown but was blocked by Defendant Patterson.
