Ray Rice: Sexual assault is an epidemic
Ray Rice spoke out against sexual assault on college campuses as he called it an "epidemic" at the Big 12 Conference's “State of College Athletics” forum, according to USA Today's Scott Gleeson.
“If someone witnessed a rape,” Rice said. “That team has to be unified not just in the locker room. It's society, too. You can't just say, 'that's my teammate having a good time.' Because a lot of guys forget who they are once they're out of the locker room.”
Rice suggested thet players should police themselves outside of the locker room.
Commissioner Bob Bowlsby added an estimate that “over 90% of the sexual assaults on campus are not even reported. That does nothing but perpetuate an awful situation.” He noted that not just players but "everyone” is accountable.
Earlier in the year, a widespread sexual assault scandal involving numerous members of the Baylor football team was uncovered. Head coach Art Briles was fired. Athletic director Ian McCaw resigned and president Ken Starr was demoted.
Watch Rice's comments below:
At #Big12Forum, Ray Rice on the role of coaches and responsibilities of being "more than a football player." pic.twitter.com/yURdebbLyK— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 28, 2016
Rice played college football at Rutgers before spending six seasons and making three Pro Bowl teams in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. He has not played in the NFL since 2013, when a video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator. At 29 years old, he remains optimistic about a comeback to the league.