Bryant, Chris Ply

September 9, 2008

Start time is 10:32. Today's date is September the 9th of 2008. This is Detective Mickey Cohn, and I am here with...

Cohn

...I'm sorry...what was your name again?

Bryant

Chris Bryant.

Cohn

Chris Bryant. Is that B-R-Y-A-N-T?

Bryant

Yes.

Cohn

And Chris, what's your date of birth?

Bryant Cohn

Okay. And your address?

Bryant

8905...

Cohn

I'm sorry. what was that again?

Bryant

x

Cohn

x

Bryant

x

Page 2 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

x

Bryant

x

Cohn

And your home phone number?

Bryant Cohn

...Alright.

Bryant Cohn

And do you have a cell phone?

Bryant

Uh, yes.

Cohn

What's that?

Bryant Cohn Bryant Cohn

Bryant

Alright. This, this statement is being taperecorded. Does this meet with your approval? I am taking the statement in reference to the events on August the 20th, 2008, that occurred during the PRP football practice. Please describe the events of August the 20th, 2008, from the beginning to the end of practice. Well, we started out, we were doin' our warmup drills. And right after that, we go to team take-offs, which is we run just defense is on one side of the field and offense on one side of the field, and we just run over the plays. And after that, we go to individual, which is where, like the serve positions, leading positions, (inaudible) position coach and the positions go and practice there, like receivers, we go out and we catch the balls and warm-up and stuff. And then we go and get us a water break. And

Page 3 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

after that we come back and it's seven on seven, which is only offense only, and there's no linemen or nothin', it's just the receivers, it's like receivers. and so all we're doin' is throwin' the ball, practicin' pass plays. And we do that and that's when all, everybody else is workin' on their drills, like the linemen and all them...defense... Cohn

...Um-hmm...

Bryant

...and for about ten minutes. Then we go take another water break. Then after that, we come back and we do team, which is we do offense and defense and we go through the plays and we're goin' like full-contact...the helmets and stuff...and after that, like before that, uh, the big guys...the line...linemen and stuff weren't doin' somethin' right or somethin', they weren't runnin' to like where they're supposed to be and Coach Stinson said, alright, everybody on the line, which is the sideline, and we're gonna do gassers, and he said, we're gonna do 'em until somebody quits. And so we did 'em, which is, which is 50 yards...50 yards...50 yards...50 yards. 50 back, back, back, back.

Cohn

Right.

Bryant

And so we did them, we did about...I'd say it was like 36, around 36 of them, uh, he didn't, he didn't give us no water breaks through at all. And, which we were supposed to have water breaks every, like every ten minutes.

Cohn

Um-hmm.

Bryant

But as we were doin' 'em, we'd do like

Page 4 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

ten...with all of our full gear on, and after like ten, he'd make, he'd let us take our shoulder pads off. Then we'd just go in helmets for about ten more. Then we'd get to take our helmets off. then we were only in our pants and pads and stuff in our pants. Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

And after that, uh, while we were still runnin', and me and my friend were the two who quit that day. And so while we were runnin', he said that we...Coach Stinson said that we were like laughin' while we were runnin', and he made us do up-down's, and he was yellin' at me and my friend who quit, he was yellin' while we were doin' our up-down's, sayin', we ain't stoppin' till somebody quits. And that's when I looked over at one of my friends, said, are you ready, and we said, said, yeah. So we both got up and we left. And that's when practice stopped and everybody stopped runnin'. Then, on the way out, we didn't see him collapse, but I guess on the way out, on his last one, everybody was sayin', he...on the way back...he would have been done if he'd o' made it back, but on, on our way back, he collapsed.

Cohn

Hmm.

Bryant

So that's, so...

Cohn

So did practice stop when you and your friend quit?

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Or did...and so was Max already uh, was he...

Page 5 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Bryant

Max was still runnin' while we were quittin'.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

And right when, right when he said quit, it was, it was done...he finished, they were supposed, they all finished their gassers, but he didn't finish 'em. He didn't finish his 'cause he collapsed.

Cohn

Okay. So he was tryin' to...

Bryant

..Yeah.

Cohn

...accomplish it...

Bryant

...he was, he ran back, he ran this way...and on his way back, when he was done, uh, right in the middle, they say, he collapsed.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

And that's when we were walkin' out.

Cohn

So that's where like, like the very last leg of all the gassers...

Bryant

...Yeah... Yeah.

Cohn

...you know, and they were gonna quit anyway...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...even, because you all left and then he just collapsed there.

Page 6 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Okay. Now we're gonna go over some of this again, but let me work through some of these questions. So how many, how are water breaks given...are they given individually or as a team?

Bryant

Uh, they're given about every ten minutes, but like for us, like the receivers, like we get 'em every ten minutes, then after we get done goin' on our water break, so it won't be so crowded over there...

Cohn

...Um-hmm...

Bryant

...then like the linemen and the big guys go. Then after that, the offense, the...like the rest of the, whoever else is left, then they go.

Cohn

Okay. So you get 'em in groups, basically...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...whoever you're with. Okay. On August 20th, of 2008, which is this date, how many water breaks did you take?

Bryant

Three.

Cohn

three total.

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

And how were those three...I mean how were, how were those three divied up?

Bryant

Uh, like I said, uh, after we did the individuals,

Page 7 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

we take a, ten minutes, every ten minutes. Cohn

Um-hmm.

Bryant

Right. So we did individuals, then we did a water break. Then we came back and we did seven on seven, after that, after ten minutes, we took a water break. Then it was before...I think it was way before, though, like before practice, we took another water break.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

So before we went out there to practice we all took a, choose if you wanna get water or somethin'.

Cohn

Right. After the last water, after the last water break, what did the practice consist of?

Bryant

Uh, well, we were on our way back to team, and, which is offense and defense goin' at each other, and practicing. And right after that, well, we didn't make it to team 'cause he said everybody was not runnin' to their position...or to their, where they're supposed to be...and that's when we started runnin'. We started runnin' right from the, my last water break.

Cohn

Okay. And that's, that's the gassers. Right?

Bryant

Yeah. That's the gassers.

Cohn

And why was the team runnin' gas...why were the teams...why were you all told to run gassers?

Bryant

Uh, I think the big boys uh, weren't runnin' to

Page 8 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

where they were supposed to be. hustlin'. So...

Weren't

Cohn

Would that be uh, would it be uh, kind of a discipline thing, or a, is it punishment or is it uh...you know, we're gonna run until you all decide to start playin' harder...kind of, I mean what, what...

Bryant

I think it is...

Cohn

...Do you know?

Bryant

...more of, oh, maybe like discipline. Or, yeah, 'cause we weren't really hustlin', the way...in that whole practice, so...

Cohn

...Okay. And you said uh, the question is how many sprints did your group run? And you said 36, is what you think.

Bryant

Yeah, the whole team ran about 36 gassers, which is about uh, 70 football fields...

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

Altogether.

Cohn

Now is uh, is that, it wouldn't matter what group you were in, it wouldn't o' mattered if you were little guys' group, big guys' group...

Bryant

...Oh, yeah...

Cohn

...everybody ran 36 (inaudible).

Bryant

Yeah, there's little guys, like the little boys went first, then after we get our gassers done

Page 9 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

then the big guys'll go. Then we get a little break in between, 'cause they have to go, then when they come back, we go. Cohn

Right.

Bryant

And it's like back...once they get back we go. Once we get right back they go.

Cohn

How long does it take do you think, to run a gasser? One gasser?

Bryant

About 35 seconds.

Cohn

Okay. So you'll run your back and forth, back and forth, come back...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

..big boys line up...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...they run theirs...

Bryant

...and it gets the longer time for the big boys.

Cohn

Yeah, 'cause they're not as fast.

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

So then, while they're runnin', you're standin' there, waitin' to go again...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...so you're pretty much runnin', just stop...

non-

Page 10 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...you know, after they get done you go...so you're pretty much runnin' just non-stop...

Bryant

...Yeah, yeah.

Cohn

...you know, after they get done you go...and after you get done they go...

Bryant

...Yeah.

Cohn

Alright. And you're in the little guys' group. Right?

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Uh, and how many sprints did you run before taking off the gear? Was it ten?

Bryant

Uh, about ten.

Cohn

Okay. With, with full gear, and then ten without helmets, is what you said earlier?

Bryant

Ten, ten without a, ten, we ran ten with all the full gear on.

Cohn

Right.

Bryant

And we ran ten without our shoulder pads. And, but we still had our helmets on.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

Then we ran ten without nothin' on except our pants and, so...

Page 11 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

How long do you think the team was runnin' sprints? Like how long of a time period, do you think?

Bryant

Uh, maybe about 45 minutes, maybe, an hour...

Cohn

Okay. I know you don't know exactly, but...

Bryant

Yeah. That's around, that's around how much time.

Cohn

Guesstimation, 45 minute to an hour? Did you or any of your teammates ask for water breaks or try to get water during the running of sprints?

Bryant

Uh, everybody was complainin' about wantin' to get water but I don't think they really asked the coach.

Cohn

Were they complainin' to the coaches or were they complaining amongst themselves?

Bryant

...Yes, they were complainin', most to theirselves (sic) and some were sayin' it out loud, so...maybe he could hear, but...

Cohn

Did uh, did you hear the coach respond to people, askin' for water breaks? Did the coaches say anything about water breaks?

Bryant

Umm...no, not really. It was...forgot to tell you, too, the only...like whoever's runnin' the hardest and was like in the first...whoever came back first in the gassers, they, he let them go under the shade tree, like Calloway...the other boy who went down...

Page 12 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

...Yeah...

Bryant

...he finally saw him and by the time it was like too late 'cause he was already gaspin' for air and he told him to go sit under the shade tree...and all Stinson was sayin' when somebody went down was get him off my field, so...

Cohn

Okay. Alright. Now this gets back to some of what you said already. Did you or any of your teammates become ill during the running of sprints?

Bryant

Uh, not that I remember, not, I don't...

Cohn

...You just mentioned Calloway, what...

Bryant

Him. He was gaspin' for air, he was like fallin' on the ground, everybody was like tryin' to hold him up...

Cohn

...Um-hmm...

Bryant

...and I think, yeah, he was the only one that did that, and then when we got done, that's when Max collapsed.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

Them were, them were like the only two that got...

Cohn

...Do you know at what point of the sprint Calloway got ill? Was that mid...beginning...end...

Page 13 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Bryant

It was towards the end, and we didn't have...that's when we didn't have our shoulder pads or helmets on. We were just...had, we had nothing. So he was out there in just his pants and no shirt, so...

Cohn

Did you see anyone else become ill besides Calloway and Max?

Bryant

Hmm.

Cohn

And Max, did you see him uh, did you see him fall or collapse?

Bryant

No.

Cohn

Uh, and that was at the...

Bryant

...Yeah, that was when, when we were walkin' out, that's when he collapsed...

Cohn

Okay. And that was the last uh...last part of the gassers. Right?

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Alright. Now dur...any, during any practices this year, have you personally seen or heard of any teammates being injured or quitting the team?

Bryant

Uhm, yeah, a couple been injured, I know like three have been out injured for a while, and they're now just startin' to come back. And about two quit the team, I think, but I think one came back or he is back. But that's really all I know.

Page 14 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

Okay. You don't know the reasons why they're injured or why they quit?

Bryant

Umm, I know one had somethin' wrong with his leg but he's back now. And one's out somethin', he has a cast on his arm still, but he's been out for a while. And uh, who else was it? Somebody else has somethin' wrong with their uh, oh, it was uh, one of the freshmen got, in a practice, broke his collarbone. So...

Cohn

Okay. has anyone influenced you in any way withholding information or changed any of the facts that actually occurred during the practice?

Bryant

No.

Cohn

No coaches or teachers or...

Bryant

Hm-umm.

Cohn

None? Okay. Uh, and you say when you uh, the coach...the coaches basically said...Coach Stinson said that you all were gonna run gassers until someone quit.

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Right? And you all ran those for 45 minutes to an hour, somethin' like that...

Bryant

...Yeah.

Cohn

And then does that mean, we the team?

you and another friend quit. What mean when you quit? Does that give up? Does that mean you're off Does that mean..

Page 15 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Bryant

...Yeah. that means we're, we're done, we're off the team.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

So...

Cohn

So it was you and who's the other guy?

Bryant

David Englert.

Cohn

David englert? And you two quit together?

Bryant

Uh, yeah.

Cohn

Okay. Uh, and you...okay...so that was right at the same time, and that was right at the end at the end of practice...

Bryant

That's a T on the end of englert.

Cohn

Englert? Okay.

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Uh, and that was right at the very end...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...and that was when...

Bryant

...that was when we stopped runnin'.

Cohn

And it was right...it sounds to me like it was pretty close to time...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Page 16 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

...when Max fell out.

Bryant

Yeah. It was.

Cohn

Uh, why did you quit? I mean...what, I mean you, de...describe for me why you and David were at that point.

Bryant

Uh, we were doin' up-down's...while everybody else was doin' gassers 'cause we got in trouble, 'cause like he said we were laughin' and like the whole...

Cohn

...Was that you just, just you and David, or was that you and...

Bryant

It was a couple more kids, too, it was like uh, it was like a couple of other, other ones of my friends, too, it was like ten in a group that were all, like in a group, and they were runnin' real slow and we were all laughin' and stuff...and so he made us do up-downs, and while we were doin' up-downs, he said we ain't stoppin' until somebody quits. And they, and he said that David looked at him and was laughin' at him but he didn't, and Coach Stinson come over there and started yellin' at him and David uh, he got up and just walked out, walked out. And that's when I walked out, like walked out. We walked out at, up at the same time...got up at the same time and left. 'Cause we were already playin' like all evening so we can take one for the team or whatever.

Cohn

Right.

Bryant

Then when we quit, he said, he, Coach Stinson

Page 17 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

yelled out real loud...ding...ding...ding, we have a winner... Like that, so... Cohn

And then everybody...everybody quit runnin' at that...

Bryant

...Yeah...

Cohn

...well, they were running back, and then that's when Max fell out.

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

Alright. Did you go back with the team? Or are you still...

Bryant

...Yeah, I'm back with the team now.

Cohn

Did David go back with the team, too?

Bryant

Yeah.

Cohn

How long do you think you were doin' updown's for?

Bryant

Uh, pro'bly about five minutes.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

We weren't doin' 'em that long.

Cohn

And you were doin' the up-downs while the big guys were runnin'.

Bryant

Yeah, while everybody else was runnin'. 'Cause it's like the group that got in trouble had the up-downs instead of runnin'.

Page 18 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

Okay. And then when you got done with your up-downs...

Bryant

...while everybody else was still runnin'.

Cohn

...the big guys come back and you all have to then continue on, or were you doin' up-downs the entire time while everybody was doin' their thing?

Bryant

We were doin' up-downs and like we were doin' up-downs, when we were doin' updowns, everybody was still doin' their gassers. Like the big guys come, then the little guys go back.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

And it was like (inaudible) then, like I say...and during the gassers we quit and that's when the practice stopped.

Cohn

Okay.

Bryant

But...

Cohn

Got ya. Alright. Is this statement and everything you've told me truthful?

Bryant

Yes.

Cohn

Do you have anything else to add? Is there anything else that you think we should know or...anything that, that you would like to add that I...we haven't talked about?

Bryant

Uh, not really. I don't think so.

Page 19 of 19 Statement: Chris Bryant / Case #08197(i) September 9, 2008

Cohn

END OF STATEMENT File #08197icohn-ks

Okay. Alright. This will conclude our interview. The now...time now is 10:48 am.