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(UWIRE) MINNEAPOLIS -- When the news broke in April 2007 that a group of University of Minnesota football players had been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman, three lives were changed forever.
While the alleged victim remains out of the public eye, three names were displayed in the media, and from that moment on, the court of public opinion was in session.
E.J. Jones, Keith Massey and Alex Daniels, in a matter of days, went from young, aspiring football players to accused rapists. Although they were never charged, from the moment the first news stories appeared on air or in print, their lives were never the same.
The three players were arrested in connection with an incident at University Village Apartments that eventually led to the July arrest and conviction this month of a fourth former Gophers football player, Dominic Jones.
Athletics officials suspended the three players in April 2007, and later Dominic Jones, before dismissing them all from the team. Both Dominic Jones and E.J. Jones still have their athletic scholarships. Officials have until July 1 to decide whether to renew them. Massey and Daniels left the University.
The players stayed on scholarship since they had not yet been charged, athletics director Joel Maturi said.
Despite the fact that three of the players still haven't been charged with a crime, Maturi said he and head football coach Tim Brewster decided the players' actions were not "befitting" what they expect from people who represent the University.
"The decision was based, at that time, on an admittance of inappropriate conduct and behavior," Maturi said. "There was an admittance of sexual acts with a young woman and we did not believe it was an appropriate thing."
'IT WAS GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT'
Although he now attends Columbus State Community College in Ohio, Massey said he has a hard time escaping the image imposed upon him since he was accused.
"It was guilty until proven innocent, not innocent until proven guilty," he said. "For me to be blamed for that and put on TV as a rapist, and I'm not even saying accused rapist, but really calling us rapists, it made me feel betrayed."
With one year of NCAA eligibility left, Massey is trying to transfer to Bowling Green State University to play football.
But it's been a challenge.
