We have found a guy who had been wanting to talk to for a couple days sounds interesting. Michael midnight and he joins us now on the digital communications sparkling island Michael is the guy who wrote the article. The lengthy article recently that we've discussed for about a week now. Regarding -- in his side of the story that night at the fraternity house in Eugene Michael -- in the ointment.
Good. I think I appreciate I think Jason right. Think -- me heartfelt I'm doing well thank you.
Now did you approach Jeremiah or did someone from his camp approach you about right in this article.
Well this. Story -- sent back in February myself and some of the college football writer at Sports Illustrated werder. It's been doing a series on second chance to. And we -- working on story can Oklahoma State and want it at the end. I don't watch it. -- my University of Florida and this one kind of stood out and the one that kept digging and digging at and being -- intercollegiate order wherever. Until our editors there week we a lot of he didn't add up so it kind of took my life of its own cooking at your question is something that I started piano. -- following b.'s actual incident -- on campus or.
Now if you could for the folks who have not. Read it or seen it yet is summarize what Jeremiah in the solely told you about his involvement on January 24 that night the fraternity house.
You know we sat down with Jeremiah. Very very shortly just you know 48 hours after coach Kelly kicked him keep an organ and what he shared with -- is important only in and we were able to corroborated after the fact you know we're in the business of taking what at least relative immediately putting it into print. You know we spent the last couple months of this. Chasing down every angle and every loose and what he told -- and a surprising amount of it as -- believe it says in this story loose as he was corroborated supported by -- police record document sent. -- So Internet -- he regarded as say you shouldn't need said that you know. You adapt to. Come across the street and go into the NC out and take questions. By former team -- is -- angry and long story short -- and -- no longer than ever ten minute. And at that point everything they could have gone wrong did this city didn't he didn't touchy thing and you saw that Berger was going down. He that he chose to turn on that he'll walk out there. There every happen to be on its heels and then they ran into it is a member of the eternity on the way out of that started out. That in agility as his description of what happened that night.
In the -- there are several. If people finding the -- him in this story that that did that back that up and I I found it to be a very believable implausible thing that happened. My question isn't. And I think this is most people why lie about it and -- didn't. And he says why is it in the article but it doesn't really come across this is a very good answer I -- know if you got a better feel. Why did you lie about being there wide he lied -- was coach widely delighted with the police when he had nothing to do with this.
Well he got a question for Miami solely. You know what we ask a question of him in -- until we got was a -- really -- it. Was he was afraid. And you know. Coach Kelly called him the morning after the incident. And it Jeremiah it'll look -- you this. Sleeping at the time and you hit it very little thought to what happened the night before it was Garrett -- and two outs and he gets the call his head coach the next morning and you know the -- robbery and burglary or whatever and attorney article is -- His reaction was -- a look at their coach I didn't do anything and so yeah. That's what that's what he told us that it is. Is a reason reliant and that years down from what we put forth in the story about -- prior experience in high school and his you know brush with the law and high school and I'll -- It hit that bad it was it is you know it's as cold -- he was united released on control and a lot of things from that point forward were were treated accurately by the media and others.
We're talking here with Sports Illustrated is Michael McKnight he had -- to the a recent article -- article on Jemima solely his -- story. So again and then take it I guess my question would then be if there's a lot of evidence and you know you read to the police of course everything we've we have access to those -- Bet that back up his story why eight. I understand why he you don't the idea of facing two to four years in prison if he goes to trial in loses but if there's so much evidence on his side and very little even from the guy. Who who who who finger pointed every say -- I'm not really service only stole anything. Why wouldn't his attorneys advised him to go ahead and go to trial if he's innocent we're gonna win this if there's enough evidence.
Well again I think you'll be questioned hurt Jeremiah Italy and I've you know our job this. Look that deeply into this we can't that speak with the media people close to the stories we can't and then report to the reader and let them. Maybe -- into these questions of themselves you know. I won't say that you know what he told us to support his decision to plead guilty. Without beekeeper -- for his family are understanding is that you know that they did it feel. Financially able enough to. To employ a trial attorney. End the ultimatum that was given then by the Eagle County district attorney wait on them you know and -- those -- back up against the wall that Tanner is and is that the situation that immediate question can pretend Hershey's and Q. Our putter heated -- And and -- our goal with this story was chew. The -- your mind solely as procedural I think even even agree that he makes some horrendous mistakes. What do you what do you see yourself in long arm of the law and -- big time college program here in the contender. These decisions become incrementally more weighty and you know your family. It is Stanley didn't. Was in no way prepared for this and the decision they made was with the -- based on the.
Yeah -- you answer the question you know these are questions that are that obviously that are -- German missile that since you have the outside that you do you actually answer the question and and that makes sense. And and that's money now. Talk you -- this story. And that was by -- by his choice.
Well I believe we've -- fitness. We wrote the story that we and we approached him and his representatives and his family at number retired and they -- now.
Padded padded German easily come across -- you. Yeah how do you not what was the -- you mean did. -- your general opinion of Jeremiah in the solely after this piece.
What is my general given. Have a -- could it be. You know -- I am not -- you know in the opinion giving business. My job it is you know to portray in -- relay. All the we have learned and to put forth the resultant. Tons of resources expended by Sports Illustrated tell the story accurately and -- probably and leave it to the reader and you know I'm I'm grateful that the response to date has been well thank Michael spanky sport illustrated he really got me thinking about. And I didn't really should think and new life I appreciate you working on -- as opposed to. Boy you guys according do you guys Jeremiah. I'm sold the eight lower what you should he does you know district attorney lane county is it's really of them all the almost without exception the thanks to put -- right down the middle and letting out the side end. Without trying to dodge your question I think in Jason. -- to get in on the case I think it you know that's just. It just Q are you afraid it's not my business part of the world not to give her more media -- deliver.
Not only gave you completely understand -- just it's it's its interest in in that we we follow this this case very closely in. I think I had one opinion Jeremiah missile before hand and after reading the piece. That's changed in -- sure I don't think Jeremiah missile these insane I don't think he's without blame but. This was a different look at Jeremiah missile that I feel has ever been put out there by any but.
Well I'll say this forum he he looked. But in the face and I would be remiss I didn't -- you know I worked with often murky there was this writer at Sports Illustrated in. A whole lot more well known that I am. He did it twice for 27 years and if I work hand in hand on the Stewart -- last couple months that. Jeremiah -- the -- this and people a lot of things that he didn't really need to tell and you know again our job was to take people that can go about corroborating and are alarming number that the Eagles this turned out to be sexual or or supported by other sources are supported by this document or this other person interviewed this team. We sat down yet been. You know yet in my opinion on him I guess that would be my answer is that. He told us a lot of things that he really didn't accept you we picked up on it and it turns out to be you know accurate and that would at least. Lead -- reader to to be inclined toward you know trusting. I think it's much on the -- is. It is probably a different person that he was a year ago. That might be the best way to can can sum it up didn't know him then but. From all the people we spoke to all the coaches players attorneys lawyers policemen -- that you. They seem to have seen that change again in the person the way he deals with world outside himself and I hope I would hope that comes -- our our stories -- this is the youngsters taken some lumps that mason. The state has paid the price for those mistakes and now it really grateful that he's gonna get another skeptical that.
Actually comes across were tied with a Michael late night Sports Illustrated he got the exclusive interview. You know a couple of colleagues with the Jeremiah missile -- will Michael I would I reiterate that that is a very. Good piece of impartial. Journalism. And I think the feedback the getting his spot I think he wasn't you wouldn't be getting that kind of feedback so kudos to you. It's it's a day and age where that kind of journalism is lacking and down height I for one actually appreciate it so and it definitely helped us learn a little more about the situation here. That's always good thanks to Michael thank you for the article and I think three time today.
I think they can appreciate -- thought they care -- and.
