PULLMAN, Wash. — Marquess Wilson, Washington State’s career-leading receiver suspended by the football program last week, issued a letter Saturday afternoon saying he’s done at the school and alleging “physical, emotional and verbal abuse” by Mike Leach’s first-year coaching staff.
In a letter texted to The Seattle Times and addressed to “Cougar Nation,” Wilson said the notion that he might return after being suspended for WSU’s game with UCLA Saturday night was a “lie” propagated by the athletic department.
He said he has chosen to “resign” from the team and cited coaches who “belittle, intimidate and humiliate us.”
The letter was sent to the Times by Richard Miranda, Wilson’s stepfather, who, like Wilson, spoke last week with WSU athletic director Bill Moos following Wilson’s suspension for leaving a demanding conditioning practice Sunday night.
Miranda said he encouraged Wilson to send out the statement, partly because WSU’s statement that he had been suspended for “team violations” might have left the wrong impression.
Miranda said Wilson preferred not to be interviewed and would stand by his statement.