The Virginia University of Lynchburg football program has come under fire on social media for allegations of impropriety throughout the program.
The football program recently responded through the team’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account about claims made by players and a former assistant coach.
— VUL Football (@FootballVul) February 5, 2024
“It has been brought to the University’s attention that a former assistant football coach has begun
making slanderous and untrue statements about the University and its football team,” the statement begins, addressing allegations of financial impropriety, broken promises and verbal abuse by former recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Doe Edwards, as reported by HBCU Sports late last year. “We regret that our former coach left the University’s coaching staff on bad terms, but we also cannot stand idly by while the name of our institution is impugned without cause.”
“VUL has always and continues to strive to maintain an exceptional academic and athletic
reputation. Pertinent to the recent allegations made, the University has maintained membership
in the National Christian College Athletic Association (“NCCAA”) and has complied with all of its
rules and regulations concerning the health and safety of the student-athletes,” the statement continues.
The statement also says the team has a physician and athletic trainers for every game per NCCAA rules and accounts for the destination of payouts for games against Division I opponents.
“All guarantee payments made by hosting schools for the University’s away games have been paid directly to the
University and used for the payment of the football team’s expenses,” the statement reads. “Football is an expensive sport for any university to maintain, and guarantee payments are common in college football to
cover the costs of transporting, lodging, and feeding the athletes, coaches and staff.”
The statement says that VUL received $206,000 for games against FCS opponents Presbyterian, Merrimack, Robert Morris, Delaware State, South Carolina State, and Kennesaw State.
“VUL is proud of its football team and its dedicated student-athletes. VUL has always, and will
continue to strive for excellence on behalf of its students and student-athletes,” the statement concludes. “Notwithstanding what some may choose to do or say using the anonymity of web-based platforms, VUL will
continue in its dedication to serving those who choose to pursue higher education at our great and
historic University.”
