On a random Wednesday afternoon during the offseason, BYU football was struck with chilling news regarding one of their most integral team members as a sexual assault allegation was dropped on starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff from an incident that occurred in November of 2023.
Here's what we know:
No criminal charges have yet been filed against Retzlaff.
The accuser alleges Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her.
The accuser alleges that while the two were alone, Retzlaff began to kiss her and escalate the situation, despite her resistance. This is when the assault occurred.
The accuser took a rape kit from the hospital and said the Provo Police Department advised against taking action or naming the attacker -- a claim which the Provo PD has since denied, claiming their department requested his name several times before closing the initial case.
The civil suit accounts for many psychological damages and physical damages still pending a final price.
A very serious allegation that must be handled carefully, and without the facts available to the public, I don't feel comfortable commenting on the situation before more information comes to light. This is certainly a trying time for all involved, and the last thing Retzlaff, his accuser, or those close to them need is another voice on the internet jumping on the bandwagon armed with incomplete understanding or blatant misinformation.
Retzlaff's legal team have denied all counts of wrongdoing, and insist on his innocence.
This would be a devastating blow for any football team, but especially as BYU has rallied around their underdog quarterback in the past two seasons, the aftereffects of this civil suit will leave scars on its victims. But this is bigger than football, and considering the circumstances, who cares about what happens to the football team while the news is so fresh.
Regardless of the outcome, we can only hope that the truth is revealed and proper action is taken.