The University of Memphis is investigating accusations against aU of M coach who allegedly used disciplinary measures against herplayers that led to vomiting and nose bleeds.
The complaint is against Lady Tiger Volleyball coach CarrieYerty. Yerty is being investigated for alleged punishmentprocedures for players who smoked. According to several sources,including parents, who asked not to be identified, they heard aboutthe incident from players.
According to sources, Yerty questioned some players aboutsmoking and several admitted to it. Yerty alledgedly searched theplayers' rooms and cars for cigarettes. Yerty reportedly thenpunished the players involved by making them run laps and smokecigarettes in between the laps. This allegedly took place on campusright before Spring Break following the team's three-hourpractice.
"I spoke to my daughter and she said that she wanted to talk tome in regards to that (smoking/running incident)," said ElizabethNeba, mother of player Shella Neba. "They complained a lot lastyear (about other things)." However, Neba said she thought thecoach just wanted the girls to exercise more.
According to parents and campus sources, Yerty made players runaround the track, do push-ups, sit-ups and spin arounds and thensit on a bench and fully smoke a cigarette, including inhaling thesmoke in two minutes. Yerty is then accused of making the playersrepeat this process several times until the players had smokedapproximately 13 cigarettes each.
To end the punishment, sources said, the players had to lockarms in a circle and smoke, facing each other, blowing smoke intoeach other's faces. According to some sources, several playersstarted throwing up and some had nose bleeds. The players were notallowed to have water until the end of the punishment, sourcesclaim.
The NCAA has rules regarding prohibiting smoking during practiceand competition for coaches, game officials and student-athletes. Astudent-athlete who uses tobacco products during a competition orgame is automatically disqualified from the rest of the game orpractice. However, there are no rules regarding an athlete smokingin his or her off time.
Mary Gilkey, the grandmother of volleyball player Tiara Gilkey,said, "I heard a little something, but I don't know too much aboutit." Gilkey said she was told, "she made them smoke and that shemade them run."
A reporter made numerous calls to the coach, assistant coachesand sports media relations director about the punishments, but nocalls were returned.
Director of Athletics R.C. Johnson would not comment or come tothe phone. His staff directed all calls to The U of M legalcounsel, Sheryl Lipman.
"The situation is being investigated and handled as a personnelmatter," Lipman said. She said she could not comment on thespecific issue.
"It's not the business of the press or anyone else - it's justan internal issue, and we are dealing with it," Lipman said.
According to several sources, the players tried to deal with theissue directly with the coach and University staff, but noapologies were issued.
