Nebraska Football: AD Bill Moos comments on Maurice Washington

After the news of legal issues surrounding Maurice Washington, Huskers AD Bill Moos commented on the Nebraska football player for the first time Tuesday.

Over the past two days, the Nebraska football program has been embroiled in the legal controversy surrounding Huskers running back Maurice Washington and Tuesday night, Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos commented for the first time.

If you aren’t aware, a Bay Area NBC affiliate broke the news Monday that Washington was being charged with a felony under California’s “Revenge Porn” law for sending an inappropriate video of a former girlfriend back to her and allegedly,  used some illicit terms along with it in his response.

Also included in the report was the information that the University was made aware of the investigation last fall, however, Washington was allowed to play the entire season. The Nebraska football program has clarified things and sent out this response Monday in an official statement.

Essentially, the University said it knew about the investigation and that there wasn’t a lot of details and Nebraska, along with Washington, have done their best to cooperate with authorities in California.

While Washington has a long way to go through the legal process and according to his lawyer, there is more to this story than is currently being reported, it doesn’t appear that Washington’s status with the program will be in jeopardy anytime soon. Here is what Moos said on his radio show tonight:

"“Obviously, we’re looking into it every way we can but it’s a legal matter. We want to make sure Maurice is cooperating – which he is. We also want to make sure he knows he has a great deal of support. And then really the legal authorities and the whole system kind of guides it from here on out.”"

The comments from Moos aren’t surprising but it is interesting to hear the University throw its support behind Washington in that way. Like any citizen, Washington deserves due process but it was still somewhat surprising for Moos to add that.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Washington did not record the video and he was not involved in physically harming her in any way. Some have called for Washington to be kicked off the team, while others have different opinions. Waiting may not be a great look for Nebraska but until the legal process plays out, how else should the athletic department proceed?

Washington deserves his day in court and to lay out his own case, which is always difficult to do in cases like this when people quickly jump to assumptions. Once things play out, the University will be in a better position to act and for now, it seems like that is the stance.

Obviously, things can change if more information is revealed or if public pressure mounts. However, at the moment, it appears Washington will remain part of the Nebraska football team for the time being, even with this huge could hanging over his head.