Ex-Montana QB Jordan Johnson's Attorney Requests Records From State

After ex-Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson pleaded not guilty to rape charges earlier in August, a lull occurred in the case as they waited for the court date, which took place on Tuesday. Now, his attorney has requested a large number of records from the alleged rape victim. As reported by The Missoulian, the information being requested by attorney David Paoli includes police records, and a large number of text messages sent between the victim and any witnesses.

Paoli also said that he would request the charges on Johnson to be dropped if all of the information was not received:

"Not only is the state jeopardizing Johnson’s defense by failing to produce discovery, but the state is jeopardizing this court’s deadlines," Paoli wrote. "…Further, if the state does not immediately produce all discovery materials, Johnson requests that the charges against him be dismissed based on the disadvantage that has been created by the state’s failure to produce the requested discovery."

Johnson had been charged with an alleged incident of rape after being asked to come into a woman's room to watch a movie.

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Montana QB Jordan Johnson Pleaded Not Guilty To Rape Charges On Tuesday

On Tuesday, suspended Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges of "raping a woman earlier this year after she invited him to her room to watch a movie," as the AP reports via Sports Illustrated.

Johnson entered his plea during an appearance before Judge Karen Townsend in Missoula on a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.

Johnson was released on his own recognizance after being fingerprinted and booked, which is "pretty standard practice" for a defendant who appeared voluntarily in response to a summons, Assistant Chief Deputy Missoula County Prosecutor Suzy Boylan said.

Earlier in 2012, an investigation found that a series of unreported sexual assault allegations had occurred over 18 months at the University of Montana campus, with an unspecified number of those cases involving student-athletes.

Because of the developments, the university is being investigated by the NCAA, the Department of Justice and the Department of Education. Johnson's next court date is set for Aug. 21.

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Montana QB Jordan Johnson Charged With Rape

Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson was charged on Tuesday with rape.

Charges were filed just before the close of business Tuesday in Missoula County District Court by Suzy Boylan, assistant chief deputy county attorney.

In the affidavit, Boylan described a chain of events that began with an exchange of text messages and ended with the alleged rape.

Related: Montana Football Investigation: NCAA Probe Not Yet Complete

Early in 2012, the University of Montana investigated several sexual assault allegations, some of which included football players. The rape charge against Johnson is a result of an incident from last February

Back in March of 2012, Johnson had a temporary restraining order taken out against him by a Montana student who alleged that he sexually assaulted her.

The University of Montana is currently under investigation by the NCAA as well as the U.S. Justice and Education Departments.

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Montana Football Investigation: NCAA Probe Not Yet Complete

On Monday, the University of Montana received an update from the NCAA on the investigation into the school's football program. The NCAA told Montana President Royce Engstrom that it is still collecting information.

"The review of information in this case is continuing," wrote Julie Roe Lach, the NCAA’s vice-president of enforcement.

"Members of the NCAA enforcement staff are making every effort to complete the necessary interviews to ensure that full information is developed," said Lach’s letter to UM President Royce Engstrom.

Related: Mick Delaney Receives 2-Year Contract As Head Coach Of Montana Grizzlies Football

The university is also under investigation by the U.S. Justice and Education Departments. Earlier in the year, the school faced a number of sexual assualt allegations involving students, some of whom were football players.

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Mick Delaney Receives 2-Year Contract As Head Coach Of Montana Grizzlies Football

The Montana Grizzlies football team no longer has an interim coach leading them into the 2012 football season after Thursday's news: Mick Delaney has signed a two-year contract with the university to be the head coach. Delaney was named the interim coach in late March when then-head coach Robin Pflugrad did not have his contract renewed.

Delaney, a former Colorado St. Rams assistant coach under Sonny Lubick, received high praise from the university president:

"This is a time to look toward a strong and vibrant future for Grizzly Athletics," said UM President Royce Engstrom. "In Mick Delaney, we have chosen a head coach who will lead us into that future. He is highly motivated himself, but he is also an exceptional motivator of others, including the players, coaches and staff around him. He understands the important role that Grizzly football plays at The University of Montana, and he has quickly earned our trust and respect."

The university has remained quiet on why Pflugrad and then-athletic director Jim O'Day did not have their contracts renewed in March, but it is widely believed to be over the handling of sexual assault investigations that surround several members of the football team. Both sides have reached settlement agreements, but the specific reasons for their dismissals remain unclear.

Montana begins its season on Sept. 1 against South Dakota.

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Montana Reaches Settlements With Fired Coach Robin Pflugrad, AD Jim O'Day

While the University of Montana remains mum on why Grizzlies football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day were fired in late March, the school has reached a settlement with its former employees in compensation over lost income, reports the Missoulian.

Pflugrad will receive his base salary of $157,000 plus health benefits through Dec. 31, 2012. He will also recoup lost monies from other ventures by receiving an additional $44,500. O'Day comes away with $155,281 for his contract that ends on June 30, 2012. These deals are not unexpected since the topic has been around since early April.

Montana has chosen not to discuss the reason(s) for not renewing the contracts of Pflugrad and O'Day, but it is widely suspected to deal with the current sexual assault scandal that has involved past and present players on the football team. The NCAA is currently investigating the Montana football program.

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2012 Montana Football: University Acknowledges NCAA Investigation

In the latest in a string of troubling news for the University of Montana, the school has admitted that the NCAA is investigating its football program for unspecified violations.

Montana Associate Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae writes in a statement, "In consultation today with the NCAA, and at the request of KECI, the University leadership has decided to make public the fact that an investigation is under way."

McRae says the decision was made in the interest of responsiveness and transparency.

The NCAA letter orders athletes, employees and administrators to fully comply with the investigation.

Related: Montana's U.S. Department Of Justice Investigation: Internal Emails Reveal Administration's 'Frustration'

The NCAA sent Montana a Notice of Inquiry on Jan. 30, 2012 -- that can be read here (pdf).

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Montana Football 2012: Jordan Johnson Still A Part Of Grizzlies Football

While the University of Montana continues to deal with the fallout from firing its head coach and athletic director back in March and the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation over the sexual assault scandal there, the football team still has quarterback Jordan Johnson on the roster:

Kevin McRae from the Montana University System told me that Griz QB Jordan Johnson remains a part of the football program. #UMGrizzlies_FB

— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) May 29, 2012

Johnson had been suspended and held out for a portion of spring practice following accusations of sexual assault against him. He returned late in spring practice to the field.

Johnson is one of several members of the Montana football program that has been accused of sexual assault, which has brought a scandal to the university as well as questions as to how the investigations were conducted.

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Montana's U.S. Department Of Justice Investigation: Internal Emails Reveal Administration's 'Frustration'

The University of Montana is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for the sexual assault scandal that became full-blown in late March when football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day were fired without explanation. Over the weekend, internal emails from university were released as a result of a request from multiple outlets.

According to the Missoulian, President Royce Engstrom said that those e-mails offer a "certain degree of frustration" and that:

"These are complex matters with many questions involved," Engstrom said in a telephone interview. "It’s certainly understandable and appropriate that dialogue occurs. ... People have been working very hard to move these issues forward in the right direction."

One such email dealt with the vice president's concern over the use of the term "gang rape" instead of "date rape" by the Missoulian. The former Dean of Students believed it was an appropriate term to use.

While Engstrom has not offered a response to any particular email, the university will reevaluate its response to this scandal and the investigation going forward.

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Montana Football Being Investigated By U.S. Justice Department Regarding Sexual Assault Scandal

The University of Montana fired athletic director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad in March amid increased scrutiny over how sexual assault allegations involving Montana football players were handled, and now the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation on those claims, according to a Reuters report. Back in March, Fritz Neighbor of the Missoulian noted an independent investigation by former Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz into nine sexual assault allegations, including a December 2010 incident in which two women alleged they were drugged and gang raped by members of the football team.

Laura Zuckerman of Reuters add that University President Royce Engstrom told Reuters the U.S. Justice Department informed him on Monday that they would be investigating "the response of the Missoula-based university, city police and county prosecutors" to those various sexual assault allegations. Justice Department officials plan to hold a news conference in Missoula on Tuesday afternoon discuss the nature of the investigation in further detail.

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Montana Football 2012: Mick Delaney Named Head Coach For 2012 Season

With the Montana Grizzlies football team still in flux following the dismissal of head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day a week ago, the university has opted to name interim head coach Mick Delaney as the head coach for the entirety of the 2012 season, reports the Missoulian:

"I’ll be the coach through the season," Delaney said. "I would not have taken the position if there was going to be a change in the summer."

Delaney had coached the Grizzlies for the last four years as the running backs coach before retiring earlier in the year.

The reason for Pflugrad and O'Day's removal has not been publicly stated yet (or ever will be), but it's been spoken about in generalities such as "It was time for a change in direction."

Montana is currently taking part in spring practice.

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Montana Football 2012: Dismissal Of Jim O'Day And Robin Pflugrad Could Cost University $150,000 Or More

The University of Montana dismissed head football coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day earlier in the week, and while officials have refused to discuss the the reasons for the move, they still need to compensate both men because neither was technically fired. Both Pflugrad and O'Day were relieved of their duties, but each has money due under their current contract. According to Chelsi Moy of the Missoulian, Montana owes O'Day $31,056 for his three remaining months, and owes Pflugrad $116,250 for the nine months on his deal. Here are some additional details on the contracts from Moy:

Pflugrad's contract is more straightforward than O'Day's. Pflugrad's contract automatically expires unless extended prior to Dec. 31.

However, according to O'Day's contract, he is entitled to five months' written notice prior to UM not renewing his contract.

It's probable that UM didn't provide that much notice.

...Either UM could pay O'Day for the remaining three months he's owed under his contract. Or O'Day could request payment for five months from the time that he was released from his duties, which was last Thursday. Or, because the contract is an annual one, his attorney could argue that O'Day is entitled to another full year of salary, which is $124,225.

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Montana Football 2012: University Will Need To Negotiate Settlement 'At Some Point' With Robin Pflugrad

It's been four days since the University of Montana dismissed football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day and then replaced by Mick Delaney and Jean Gee the next. The football team as well as everyone else is still waiting for a reason as to why Pflugrad and O'Day were let go. But eventually the university will need to negotiate with their ex-employees (via the Missoulian):

At some point, he [Pflugrad's lawyer] said, the university will need to negotiate "some type of package that recognizes their legal obligations."

The reason for Pflugrad’s firing will be part of those negotiations, he [Pflugrad's lawyer] said.

Pflugrad had one more year left on his original three-year deal and had been promised a similar contract when this current one ended.

As the article points out in a couple of places, the university is stating silent on this because once they release a statement on the firings they are tied to it. We may never receive a specific reason for the removal of these two individuals depending on the terms of any future settlement with the university.

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Montana Football 2012: Mick Delaney Named Interim Coach

The Montana Grizzlies named Mick Delaney its interim football coach on Friday, just one day after Robin Pflugrad had been dismissed along with athletic director Jim O'Day, reports the Missoulian.

"He called and asked if I’d be interested in trying to help," Delaney said from Butte. "And I just felt at this time it was the right thing to do. As difficult as things were yesterday, he asked if I’d be interested in trying to keep things together."

Delaney had retired from coaching after last season with the Grizzlies, his fourth year with the team. He coached running backs for the Grizzlies before his Feb. 9 departure, but he'll take the Grizzlies through at least the team's remaining spring practices. Delaney previously worked for Sonny Lubick at Colorado State for 15 years.

Jean Gee, a senior associate athletic director, was named interim athletic director on Friday, as well.

The exact reasons for firing Pflugrad and O'Day remain unknown, and there are no indications that any will be forthcoming any time soon.

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Montana Football Team Releases Letter, Promises To Strive For Higher Standard

The Montana Grizzlies football team has released a letter the day after head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day were fired for unspecified reasons. In that letter, the members of the football team promised to hold themselves (and others) to higher standards, but clearly they are also left wanting answers, just like everyone else. Here is the key portion of the letter (emphasis added):

The events over the past months regarding allegations and actions of players and most recently the firing of our head coach and the athletic director have all had a deep and profound impact on us. We understand and accept the fact that a few of our teammates' actions, whether intended and deserved or not, have contributed to this unfortunate situation. Whether or not true, regardless of obvious motivations and despite the facts, or lack of them, we have learned that the rules in today's public arena are about perception and expediency. As student athletes of this university we are left without an answer as to why our two leaders, Coach Pflugrad and Jim O'Day, are gone. These events have left us disappointed, saddened, and stunned, but they have also provided us something else.

With the school declining to publicly discuss the firings, we are all left wondering why this occurred. We can piece all these things together and conjecture, but ultimately are we being done right by the university when there is no open and frank discussion as to what exactly led to this?

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Montana Football Coaching Search: Former Colorado Coach Dan Hawkins Suggested By Reporters

The University of Montana is set to name an interim head football coach soon in the wake of firing Robin Pflugrad on Thursday, but the search for a permanent coach will certainly draw plenty of interest. While there are no names yet connected with the job, the New York Times' Pete Thamel and CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd are throwing out an interesting name that is familiar to Colorado Buffaloes fans:

Can't think of a better fit for the Montana job than Dan Hawkins. He knows that area and has won big.

— Pete Thamel(@PeteThamelNYT) March 30, 2012

If Montana wants to emerge from its current situation, it needs to hire Dan Hawkins. Would be a perfect fit.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 30, 2012

Hawkins certainly knows the Rocky Mountains region with his (abysmal) time with Colorado and his (successful) stint with the Boise St. Broncos. If he does emerge as a candidate for the job and if he does get it, Hawkins could certainly rebuild his credibility as a coach with a few years at the FCS level and then use that as a springboard back to an FBS school.

This is certainly something to keep an eye on.

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Robin Pflugrad Fired: Proper Reporting Of Rape Allegations Are At Issue

The University of Montana recently fired athletic director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad right in the middle of spring football drills amid increased scrutiny over how sexual assault allegations involving Montana football players were handled. University President Royce Engstrom released a statement on Thursday afternoon that revealed very little about the situation and merely offered that Montana has "determined not to renew the contracts" of O'Day and Pflugrad, but now more details are emerging.

On March 9, quarterback Jordan Johnson had a temporary restraining order taken out against him by a University of Montana student alleging he had sexually assaulted her. As explained by Fritz Neighbor of the Missoulian, the restraining order has since been dismissed and Johnson has been on the practice field this spring, but a civil no-contact agreement between Johnson and the alleged victim is still in place.

Fritz Neighbor of the Missoulian offers some details on exactly why Pflugrad has come under fire, and why he believes he "did the right thing" at the time:

Allegations of rape involving several athletes surfaced late last season, leading to an independent investigation by former Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz.

Barz reported that nine sexual assaults involving UM students had been investigated, including a December 2010 incident in which two women alleged they were drugged and gang raped by members of the football team.

Barz said that Pflugrad did not properly report that incident to university officials; in mid-March, Engstrom was asked if Pflugrad would face punishment for that and replied: "We have not taken up that matter at this time."

Pflugrad defended his actions in December 2010.

"With the information I had at that particular moment in time - I did the right thing with the information I had," he said. "And that was told to me by the Missoula Police Department. I was told I did an admirable job not only with my discussion with all those players, but my disciplinary process."

Pflugrad had just finished his third year with the Grizzlies, and his second year as head coach of the football program. In 2012, the Grizzlies reached the semifinals of the NCAA FCS Tournament. O'Day had been the athletic director since June 2005.

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Jim O'Day Fired: Ex-Montana AD Says School Wanted 'Change Of Direction'

The University of Montana is staying mum on why athletic director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad were fired -- possibly related to overseeing a football team that has had members accused of sexual assault by other students. O'Day and Pflugrad have stayed mostly quiet as well, but O'Day did talk a bit with the Missoulian later in the day.

In an interview with the Missoulian, O’Day said he was told: "Mostly it was about a change of direction was needed."

Without directly mentioning the sexual assault allegations, O'Day hinted at it by using the phrase "the different things that have been going on for some time." There could be other incidents or other situations outside of sexual assault allegations that we are not aware of yet (and may never be), but it seems that Montana President Royce Engstrom couldn't allow the current culture surrounding the football team to exist any longer.

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Montana Will Not Hold Press Conference On Firings Of Robin Pflugrad, Jim O'Day

The University of Montana has declined to hold a press conference to discuss the firings of football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day, according to university vice president Jim Foley:

UM VP Jim Foley just told me there will not be a press conference on the dismissal of the school's athletic director and football coach.

— Breanna Roy (@BreannaRoy) March 29, 2012

Montana released a short statement on Thursday afternoon to announce that Pflugrad and O'Day were dismissed, but it avoided answering the main question: why were they fired? The multiple sexual assault allegations would appear to be the main cause for this turn of events, but the university has chosen not to discuss this matter yet.

Neither Pflugrad nor O'Day is speaking on this matter yet, either. They have made brief remarks, but they are unlikely to speak on this matter until they deal with the immediate fallout of this situation, namely how this affects their families.

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Robin Pflugrad, Jim O'Day Fired: Montana's Statement Answers Nothing

University of Montana President Royce Engstrom released a statement on Thursday afternoon to officially acknowledge that football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day are no longer with the program:

The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O’Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad. The University will announce an interim athletics director and interim head coach by the end of the week. Further details about the search for permanent replacements will be released as the process develops. We thank Jim and Robin for their dedicated service to the University, and we wish them the best.

There is gathering evidence that the university let go of the two men over the conduct of several reports of sexual assault that allegedly involved members of the football team.

Pflugrad had just completed his third year with the Grizzlies, his second as head coach. The Grizzlies reached the semifinals of the 2012 NCAA FCS Tournament. O'Day had been the athletic director since June 2005.

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Robin Pflugrad Fired: Did Sexual Assault Allegations Against Players Lead To This?

The University of Montana has yet to release its statement on the firings of head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day, but it appears that the sexual assault allegations against multiple players may have played a part in this. As Big Lead Sports detailed in Jan. 2012, the university was investigating at least five cases of sexual assault cases, most of which occurred in 2010 and 2011 and allegedly involved members of the football team.

Colter Nuanez of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle writes that most recently quarterback Jordan Johnson missed the start of spring practice due to a temporary restraining order against him after being accused of sexual assault by a female student.

This seems to be enough reason to fire the football coach and the athletic director. But will President Royce Engstrom also come under for having allowed this to go on for so long?

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Robin Pflugrad Fired: Ex-Montana Coach Not Speaking About Dismissal Yet

With details trickling out over Montana's dismissal of football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day, neither ex-university employee has yet to speak about their firing in any great detail. Pflugrad did acknowledge being relieved of his duties after the Missoulian attempted to contact him.

O'Day, according to the Missoulian, sent out an e-mail informing others that he had been fired, which eventually made it onto the Facebook page of one of the recipients. This is a portion of that e-mail:

While this comes as a shock to both Robin and myself, it is part of today's global picture of intercollegiate athletics across the country. I realized that when I took the job.’

The university is expected to release a statement on these moves on Thursday afternoon. This has been a shocking development that will require a thorough explanation.

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Robin Pflugrad, Jim O'Day Fired By Montana

The University of Montana has fired Grizzlies football head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day. Assistant athletic director Greg Sundberg informed his staff early on Thursday morning (via the Missoulian):

"It is with great sadness that I inform you all that this morning our Athletic Director, Jim O'Day and Head Football Coach Robin Pflugrad were released of their duties as of 8:00 a.m. this morning. It will be a very difficult time for all of us in the coming days and I would ask that you stay positive.

"As more information comes out, I will be sure to let you know. At this point and time this is all that I know."

There are still no indications as to why the university dismissed Pflugrad and O'Day, but a statement is still expected to come later on Thursday.

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Montana Coach Robin Pflugrad, AD Jim O'Day Fired, According To Report

The Montana Grizzlies football team has reportedly lost head coach Robin Pflugrad, who has been fired along with athletic director Jim O'Day.