Chancellor Blank,

On behalf of the University of Wisconsin football program, we are writing to you about
the decision you and the university will be making regarding the future ofour fellow student
athlete and teammate, Quintez Cephus. Through our conversations with Quintez, we
understand that, in the next few days, decisions will be made that will greatly impact not only
Quintez, but all of us. Yesterday we asked Coach if he could help us arrange an in-person
meeting with you. Obviously, you are a very busy person as the Chancellor of our University and
he mentioned that you are currently in Hawaii, so we have chosen instead to write to you
today. We are asking you to hear our collective voice not just us, the leaders of this team, but also our
current and past teammates. We want you to hear us. Right now, we have an opportunity to handle
this quietly and with respect to the many people involved and impacted by this series of events.

We are reaching out with a sense of urgency due to the time sensitivity ofthis situation.

Quintez is a caring, loving, trustworthy, loyal, appreciative, authentic, open?minded and
truly special person. We believe a person's true character is revealed in their darkest moments.
There is no question the past 15 months have been difficult, emotional, painful, uncomfortable,
and challenging for everyone. However, Quintez?s stretch of hardship did not begin 15 months
ago. Within the past two years, Quintez has been forced to face some unimaginable misfortune.
Quintez?s father was killed just before starting his second year at our University. As a way of
coping, grieving, and attempting to comprehend the early death of his father, Quintez not only
used football as an outlet from the pain, but also the family he had developed in the Madison
community. Later that same year, Quintez had another major setback. The game he loved and
used as a way to express his emotion was taken away from him due to a traumatic ankle injury.
The recovery took several months, during which time he was crutching around campus. He was
able to regain his health in the late spring and early summer. With the upcoming season and
school year approaching, Quintez was forced to abandon the sport he loved along with the
people who he knew love him. Although Quintez was going through a difficult time, he
remained involved in the community around his hometown of Macon, Georgia, bringing light
and joy to other people?s lives. Over the course of this time, we have remained quiet and

hopeful, trusting that the truth will guide the process, decisions, and ultimately the life

changing outcome ofthis case. The accusations made against Quintez are something we all take
seriously. We also know Quintez. We know him well, more so than others who hold his fate in
their hands do. Incredibly, throughout these years of turmoil, Quintez has remained positive
and light-hearted. He has continued to bring happiness to everyone around him with his
infectious smile, laugh, and optimism. You have an amazing opportunity to make an extremely
positive impact on a young man?s life and help him move forward from the toughest years of

his life.

We understand that he University?s Title IX decision was made with the best intentions
and with the information available at that time. But there was information missing. While all of
this was going on, we remained silent and respected the decision, knowing and hoping Quintez
would have his day in court where all the facts would be presented, and his name would be
cleared. Quintez was the defendant of a very public trial in which both sides were able to
provide all their evidence. At the conclusion ofthe hearings and testimonies, it took a jury less
than 45 minutes to come to the unanimous verdict of not guilty in favor of Quintez Cephus on
both counts. Upon hearing the result ofthe trial, we all felt a wide range of emotions. This was
never about winning or losing. it was about the facts, evidence, and the search for the truth.
We all wanted the truth to be known. Now, we want all of those involved to be able to move On
with their lives. The next step, a big step for Quintez to move forward, is the appeal he is
making to you and the Title IX office. You now have all the facts. Quintez was found not guilty in
a court of law, by a jury of 12. You and your staff now have an opportunity to make a fully
informed decision for the first time. Your decision can alleviate a racial tension felt by your
students. You get to decide whether the University confirms or corrects this feeling. You get to
decide if the University of Wisconsin is comfortable with where they are or choose to move
forward for the betterment of all of the past, present, and future Badgers. We ask you to do so.
Please do what is right and fair. Clear Quintez?s name and reconsider the punishment of a

person, one of your students, who was found not guilty of what he was accused of.

You, and others, may a55ume We just Want QUintez back on the football team. We want
you to know Quintez is so much more than just a football player. He is a remarkable person,

friend, and brother. We are asking you to give Quintez back the opportunities he had before

these accusations. Give him the chance to make his own decision to play football with his family
at the University of Wisconsin. However, what we want most is for his name to be cleared of
such serious accusations. Quintez was found not guilty and therefore all of his rights and
opportunities need to be granted back to him. We want Quintez to be able to enjoy all of the

great things this campus has to offer.

Tomorrow we will be sending you a copy of this letter, signed by all ofthe players who
support and endorse this message. You will see we are unified as a team and feel strong in our
support of Quintez. For all of us, this is about what is right and what is fair. We would expect
that from our University for any student. It is our hope that you would genuinely want the
same. We also will be sending a copy of this letter to the President of the University System as

well as to the Head ofthe Board of Regents.

We appreciate you taking the time to read this letter. We hope you will read this but, more
importantly, "hear us? and treat Quintez fairly and justly. Quintez is not guilty. Please grant him back
the opportunity to clear his name, finish his degree and play the game he loves with those who

love him here at the University of Wisconsin.

Please confirm you have received and read our email by sending us a response back.

lVlost sincerely forever forward,
Chris Orr

Zach Baun

Taylor

Tyler Biadasz

Jonathan Taylor

Garrett Groshek

Jack Coan