Former Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said he lied about seeing video of alleged rape

Former Vanderbilt University coach James Franklin testified Wednesday that he lied about seeing the video of an alleged rape involving four of his former players — Brandon Vandenburg, Brandon Banks, JaBorian McKenzie, and Cory Batey.

The testimony came during a hearing for two of the suspects; Franklin spoke for about 20 minutes via Skype.

Franklin said he lied about seeing the video in an effort to drive home his anger regarding the incident.

Franklin testified he initially told football players he saw video of the alleged sexual assault but now confessed that he lied to the team.

— Lori Mitchell (@LoriWKRN) October 8, 2014

Defense challenges Franklin on whether he saw the video, because he has said before that he did see "disgusting" video.

— Tony Gonzalez (@TGonzalez) October 8, 2014

Franklin in team mtg.: “I spoke as if I had seen the video. I didn’t want to water down the message to them."

— Tony Gonzalez (@TGonzalez) October 8, 2014

Buzzfeed reported last September that a source close to one of the alleged suspects said a player showed Franklin the video and that Franklin told the player to delete it. Franklin, though his attorney Hal Hardin, had denied the allegation.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Franklin reiterated that he told players that they should take the matter seriously and tell their parents because it was going to be something that was going to affect the rets of their lives.

Franklin said he initially learned about the incident while on vacation in Florida and was ordered by the university to return and “stay out of it.” Franklin also said the players, which he ultimately dismissed, tried to tell their side of the alleged incident and that he told them he couldn’t talk about it.

Franklin resigned his position with Vanderbilt last year to take the head coaching position at Penn State.

For more Vanderbilt news, visit VandySports.com.

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