Latest news with #TigerSportsReport
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
UTSA QB opens up on former Memphis player sharing playbook in huge college football scandal
UTSA quarterback Owen McCown downplayed any importance of the messages shared with him by ex-Memphis player Tahj Ra-El last season that included parts of the Tigers' playbook. McCown told Sports Illustrated he didn't share the information with teammates or coaches, and that the story, first reported by TigerSportsReport, has been mischaracterized. 'Out of the blue, for whatever reason, [Ra-El] sent me a couple images that were completely irrelevant,' McCown said. 'If anybody gets anything, you're going to look at it, but it was of no help whatsoever to me and anybody, really. I would never do something like that. So it was completely irrelevant. Bottom line is that's not how we process things.' 5 UTSA quarterback Owen McCown last November. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images McCown and Ra-El were teammates at Myers Park High School near Charlotte. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor also said that McCown didn't share the information with him. 5 The alleged messages between McCown and Ra-El. On3, /X 'The moment I found out, I called Owen,' Traylor told SI. 'And Owen called me back and said, 'He was a high school buddy of mine, he randomly texted me some stuff,' and was like, 'Coach, it doesn't even make any sense. That's why I didn't say anything to you about it.' 'I'm in the quarterback room with Owen every day. I know he knew nothing about this. I immediately called [Memphis coach] Ryan [Silverfield] and let him know what Owen told me and Ryan told me it was not a big deal at all.' 5 Former Memphis defensive back Tahj Ra-El. purduesports Ra-El shared the messages before UTSA faced Memphis last Nov. 2, a game the Roadrunners won, 44-36. 'That's all the signals,' Ra-El writes, after sending a play sheet to McCown. According to TigerSportsReport, Ra-El was dismissed from the team in October and he declined comment to TigerSportsReport. He is currently at Purdue. 'Our coaching staff sees the scenario as being mischaracterized and does not have any concerns moving forward,' Purdue told local media in a statement. 5 McCown during a Nov. 15, 2024 game. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Silverfield said he learned of the incident shortly after the game in question. 'There were some rumors going around about it, that our playbook had been shared with him from a former player that was no longer part of our program,' he said. 'And it is what it is. 5 Ra-El in action for Memphis. Don Juan Moore 'As disappointing as it is to not win a football game, the circumstances had nothing to do with that. We've got to move folks forward. Really, in the last 72 hours, it's come back to light. Coach Traylor and I have had conversations together, we've got respect for each other. 'Every coach has had guys who have left in the middle of the season or left before bowl games. Whether you try to cut iPad access to playbook stuff off or whether you give out paper copies to do that, people taking screenshots, taking pictures, it's the nature of [college football] nowadays.'
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Memphis player accused of sending playbook to opponent in college football shocker
The Memphis football team appears to have had a mole. Tahj Ra-El, a former player who has since transferred to Purdue, has been accused of sabotaging the Tigers by sending photos of their playbook to an opposing quarterback before a game last season. Instagram messages obtained by Tiger Sports Report allegedly show Ra-El — who exited the program in October — sending a picture of the Memphis playbook, along with other information, to UTSA quarterback Owen McCown before the teams clashed on Nov. 2, 2024. 4 The alleged Instagram DM exchange between Tahj Ra-El and Owen McCown. @On3sports/X 4 Former Memphis DB Tahj Ra-El. purduesports In the alleged exchange, Ra-El sent the playbook and wrote, 'Here you go,' and 'That's all the signals,' with McCown responding with laughing emojis. Ra-El purportedly sent McCown other information about the Tigers, including a tip about injured safety Kourtlan Marsh. The Roadrunners ultimately defeated Memphis, 44-36. 'We're on the field, and their offense has a check for every single one of our defenses' checks,' a member of the Tigers' 2024 team told Tiger Sports Report. A safety from Charlotte, N.C., Ra-El played three seasons at Old Dominion before his brief stint with the Tigers, during which he played four games and made one interception. 4 Former Memphis safety Tahj Ra-El goes up for an interception. Getty Images Ra-El no longer was with Memphis leading into that game, having announced he would be transferring from Memphis on Oct. 9. Tigers Sports Report further reported that Ra-El had been dismissed from Memphis during the season, which added incentive for his alleged sabotage. 4 UTSA Roadrunners QB Owen McCown (2) watches action from the sidelines during game between the North Texas Mean Green and the UTSA Roadrunners on November 15, 2024 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Purdue Athletics told On3 Sports' Tom Dienhart: 'Our coaching staff sees the scenario as being mischaracterized and does not have any concerns moving forward.' American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti commented on the incident as well, downplaying concerns about the head-turning allegations. 'I'm aware of the situation. I've had very open dialogue with [UTSA] coach [Jeff] Traylor and [Memphis] coach [Ryan] Silverfield about it,' Pernetti said. 'They're going to address it. There's not really much to this story. I think a lot of it has been sensationalized and is much ado about nothing.' Ra-El declined to comment to Tiger Sports Report about the allegations.
