Witt: Rhodes candidacy was not revoked

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A former Yale University quarterback said allegations of sexual abuse had nothing to do with him ending his application for a Rhodes scholarship.

Patrick J. Witt, 22, who announced Nov. 13 he would play in a football game against Harvard instead of attending his Rhodes interview, said The New York Times erred Thursday when it published a report saying his Rhodes application had been denied due to an informal sexual abuse claim filed against him, the Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Friday.

A statement issued on behalf of Witt, who completed his class work last semester and is currently working on his senior essay and training for a potential NFL career, said the former star quarterback's Rhodes candidacy was not revoked prior to his announcement he would not be seeking the honor.

"The New York Times story incorrectly connects Patrick's decision to forgo the Rhodes Scholarship with an informal complaint process that had concluded on campus weeks prior to his withdrawal -- a process that yielded no disciplinary measures, formal reports, or referrals to higher authorities," the statement said. "To be clear, Patrick's Rhodes candidacy was never 'suspended,' as the article suggests, and his official record at Yale contains no disciplinary issues."