Tennessee coach Butch Jones: ‘What’s being portrayed out there isn’t indicative of what we have’

Tennessee coach Butch Jones words of advice to a gathered crowd of 200-plus high school coaches at the 2016 Minority Coaches Association of Georgia football conference are ones he’s had to rely on in recent weeks.

“It’s true commitment,” Jones said of coaching at a high level. “It’s being able to embrace your role and continue to grow.”

A federal lawsuit filed against the school last week by six women under Title IX laws claims the school created a culture that enables sexual assaults by student-athletes.

The Tennessean detailed the allegations that include Jones calling one of his former players a traitor for helping an alleged sexual assault victim.

On Friday, Jones reiterated what he said in a strongly worded denial earlier in the week.

“What’s being portrayed out there isn’t indicative of what we have,” Jones said. “We have great people at Tennessee. We have great players.”

Jones commitment to the football this year will go beyond the field as he works to clear the program’s reputation.

“Stay the course,” Jones said of his focus. “You know you do things right. We do everything the right way. We have great kids and we have a great culture. All the support we have had from the people that truly know and understand.”

While Jones acknowledged rivals might use the lawsuit against Tennessee on the recruiting trail, he remains confidant student-athletes judging the program for themselves won’t find any merit in the allegations.

“Our recruits know us, their families know us,” Jones said. “It’s getting them on campus as many times as they possibly can to see the great environment we have.”

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Tennessee coach Butch Jones: ‘What’s being portrayed out there isn’t indicative of what we have’."