Sports: Two more USF basketball suits to be filed

Two more USF basketball suits to be filed

Ex-players Tanya Gary and Tamekia Williams will join the group alleging racism in the women's program.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

TAMPA -- Two more former University of South Florida women's basketball players will file federal civil rights lawsuits today against the university and coach Jerry Ann Winters, bringing to six the number of players who have filed suit alleging widespread racism within the program.

Tanya Gary and Tamekia Williams' suits allege that Winters discriminated against them because they are black, gave white players preferential treatment, threatened their scholarships when they complained about mistreatment, and created a racially divisive atmosphere between black and white players.

Former players Dione Smith, Avia Lee, Patrice Coleman and LaTonya Greer have filed similar suits during the past two months. Former assistant coach Tara Gibson has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and longtime basketball secretary Lisa Walker, who is white, has said the former players' claims essentially are correct.

All are represented by Tampa attorney Jonathan Alpert.

Gary, 23, said she never spoke out while a member of the team because she feared retribution by Winters. Now that she has graduated, she said, she thought it was important to speak publicly.

"It was wrong how she treated the black girls on the team," said Gary, who graduated from USF last summer and works for a Tampa insurance company. "When she first got there, you could see the difference. When we were under a different coach (Trudi Lacey, Winters' predecessor), there was so much unity. Color didn't matter. We were all teammates, and we were one. When coach Winters came into the program, that whole atmosphere changed dramatically. You could see the difference in practices, games and meals. It was to a point where it was ridiculous."

Winters repeatedly has declined to comment to the Times on the lawsuits and allegations of racism. She has said through the sports information department she will speak with Times reporters only in a news conference setting.

Williams, 24, played three seasons at USF before graduating in the summer of 1998. She had one year of eligibility remaining because of a redshirt season but opted not to use it because of Winters' ill treatment of black players, she said.

"I basically just decided I wasn't going to put up with it any more," said Williams, who is an insurance adjuster in Tampa. "I had school to attend to, and I didn't need to deal with all the bad things going on athletic-wise. Almost every day after practice there were complaints amongst each other about it, but we never complained to the coach because we were afraid as far as losing our scholarships."

Among the items alleged in the lawsuits:

Winters told Gary, who is Filipino and black, that she was more "white acting" than the other black players. Gary had a "better" relationship with Winters until she befriended former teammate Latoya Ward, who is black. When Winters discovered the friendship, she accused Gary of smoking marijuana.

After Gary passed two drug tests ordered by Winters, the coach called her into her office and lectured her about who she was friends with, saying, "How do you feel about birds of a feather flock together?" Gary left the coach's office in tears and feared for her scholarship from then on.

Gary and Williams said Winters enforced segregation in rooming assignments and hosting recruits, a practice that didn't exist during the years they played under Lacey.

Gary's suit alleges white players often received better medical treatment and personal consideration. Gary said she suffers severe pain in her heels and feet because she didn't receive proper medical care while on the team.

"That's patently absurd," USF athletic director Paul Griffin said. "There is evidence to show Tanya received exceptional medical support, including dental, beyond the normal services in the student athlete's special assistance fund. There is nothing in her medical history of unmet needs."

Gary and Williams were not among the former players who complained to athletic department officials about Winters' treatment of black players during a 1999 internal review conducted by former assistant athletic director Hiram Green.

Green's review found a recurring theme of racism within the program, according to university documents. In response, Griffin ordered Winters to undergo a four-hour diversity training seminar, according to documents.

Williams had graduated by the time of the review. Gary, who played four seasons at USF, averaging 11.8 points and 4.7 rebounds during her senior season, said she was afraid to speak with Green.

In August, Winters characterized those involved in the lawsuits as disgruntled former players. But Gary and Williams said they have no ax to grind.

"There is no misinterpretation of this at all," Williams said. "It was a different team under coach Winters. I had a white roommate on the road for '94-'95 and '95-'96 seasons (under Lacey). When I came in as a recruit, I had a white and black host. But with coach Winters, it was whites with whites and blacks with blacks."