Linebacker Moffitt's wife: 'He's living a lie'

TAMPA -- For the past four years, Ben Moffitt has been a standout linebacker for USF’s football team, celebrated just as much as a father and husband, a family man who made a daily 55-mile commute from campus to be with his family.

It was a heartwarming story, told everywhere from local papers to ESPN to the New York Times. But for nearly the last two months, it’s been a much different story.

Shauna Moffitt said Thursday that her husband left her with their two children, ages 5 and 3, on Nov. 11 – the day after the Bulls won at Syracuse -- and has had limited contact with them since. Throughout his time at USF, his scholarship checks have helped pay for the rent or mortgage, but since leaving, Moffitt has not done anything to support his family financially, she said.

“He is living a lie,” she said. “He’s lying to everyone. He’s not helping (us) with anything.”

Their marriage of five years has deteriorated to the point that Shauna, 26, made public Thursday a larger allegation, saying that she had taken multiple online courses for her husband and written papers for his college classes to keep him eligible to play football.

“I have written every single paper he has ever written in five years at USF,” said Shauna, who works as a data specialist in the Sumter County Appraiser’s Office.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, USF officials had not responded to questions seeking comment on the academic allegations.

Moffitt, reached by phone Thursday afternoon, said it is “very unfortunate” that the matter had been made public but declined further comment, referring questions to Tavares divorce attorney A.J. Rohe. Rohe said divorce papers would be filed later Thursday in Sumter County.

“It’s our position that it’s harmful to the children when this personal stuff is aired in the papers,” said Rohe, who was retained by Moffitt on Thursday. “We’re disappointed that she would choose to do something in an attempt to damage his reputation and his potential for future earnings.”

Moffitt’s wife and children were noticeably absent on the field at Raymond James Stadium when USF’s seniors were honored before their final home game. A week later, when questioned after USF’s football game at Pittsburgh in late November, Moffitt said the relationship was fine. Asked why he wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, he said it was in his pocket, that he didn’t wear it during games.

Moffitt’s family is well-known to Bulls fans; Shauna was interviewed on ESPNU during USF’s football game at Florida Atlantic this season, and Ben has brought his 5-year-old son along with him for postgame news conferences.

USF has marketed Moffitt, 23, as a family man, touting him for national awards with the phrase “Linebacker. Leader. Husband. Father.” Moffitt, who started 43 games at USF, was a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy, which considers off-field contributions in addition to football accomplishments.

Moffitt has continued to perpetuate the feel-good story that USF has promoted. Just last week, as the Bulls prepared for the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, Moffitt was interviewed about his family life by The Register-Guard, a newspaper in Oregon.

“It’s a weird balance,” Moffitt told the newspaper, more than six weeks after he had left the family’s Bushnell home. “It can be hard, but it also just comes with the territory I guess, and it’s been working out.”

Not exactly. After their initial separation, Shauna said Ben visited their two children twice a week, but that stopped after a month. She said she does not know where he is living, and he has changed his cellphone, initially only calling from a blocked number before later giving her the number.

Moffitt finished his USF career Monday with 331 total tackles, the second-highest mark in Bulls history behind Kawika Mitchell, who had 367 from 1999-2002. Moffitt is projected a mid-round pick in April's NFL Draft, rated by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as the fourth-best inside linebacker in this year's class.

Comments

maybe she is crazy and he is being careful

[GoGators]

USF= Cheating Bums.
Jim Leavitt= trash...thats why he recruits trash

[SV]

Does anyone know if the basketball game is going to be simulcasted on ABC Saturday? The game is on ESPN Fullcourt and usually they put it on a local channel.

[Jay]

Mike,
Dude? DUDE??

[james]

When a marriage is having problems there are always two sides of the story and the truth is somewhere in the middle. Remember not too long ago Tony Parker was accused of cheating on his wife and many people rushed to judgement. Then the truth came out that the whole thing was a made up story. I'm not saying this is the case here but Don't rush to judgement.

To: JT

Hey the UF player was trying to get his own car back. Not steal!! get your facts str8. And some of the FSU players had injury's, not all academic dishonesty!

[Mike Gundy]

I'm a man.....I'm 40!

[Pcart]

First, this is Moffitt’s mistake, but these are the problems that all big time college football programs deal with. The difference is USF lacks the big dollar boosters the cover it up. I’m sure she helped, if not did, his homework; this happens with every college football program. If the story is true than Moffitt should not get a degree, if the university knew about it, that I’m sure the NCAA will act. Don’t bring UCF, FSU, UF, or UM in on this. This has nothing to do with them. I read a commit above “I guess all the ridicule from the UCF players and fans got to him”
That’s crap. My guess is he wants to ditch the wife before the Draft. But that’s just my opinion. The guy made a mistake when he married the girl…hell he probably has been cheating on her with college chicks anyway.

[steve]

Ari all FSU grads are as stupid as yoou are so you are not alone

[DELdaBULL]

The lady is jilted and angry. She wanted her story out. Greg wrote it. If you take the time to READ, it it is a very good and fair job by Greg. Ben felt he should not respond to these acussations because it is a PERSONAL affair, so he is taking care of it with his LAWYER.

Greg, great job keep up the good work.

[Adam]

I did some research, and the Ben bashers are completely correct.

No person ever to attend UCF, UM, UF, or FSU has ever been divorced. None, it's a remarkable statistic really.

I love how people look at this and say, well, that's the program for you. USF graduates more players than any of those schools. Deal with it. I bet that Ben went to CJL and said, "coach, my wife is a little hefty now, so I am going to leave her and stop supporting my children". Then, I am sure that Leavitt's response was "Ben, I think that is a great idea. I saw a girl on campus just the other day that I think would be great for you, I'll try to set you too up".

- OR, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HIS PERSONAL LIFE IS JUST THAT---PERSONAL. Why does everyone assume that the coaches/university not only knew of the situation, but also supported it????

Wasn't Dante Culpepper part of the "love boat" scandal in Minnesota? Typical UCF recruit right there. Anyone know where I can get a free cell phone?

[Mike Lakeland]

wow, Herman...your third paragraph sums it up quite nicely. Seriously. You put it in a way that is easy to break down.

I didn't look at it that way until just now!

[Herman Momart]

I cant believe people are calling out Auman. We are lucky USF is still small time and this story is being kept local. If this was the starting star LB at UF, USC, Michigan etc. It would be all over ESPN and national news, especially if all season they were praising the guy for his family value. What a joke.

I read in the Bullspen that someone with the user name 352Bull posted the same story and a moderator didnt post it because they didnt think it was true or it was a joke. I worked in that rathole of Bushnell before and isnt that a 352 area code? coincidence? maybe, but i wouldnt doubt if that was her or a friend.

I am a mans man and I can almost guarantee I know what happened. He cheated on with an attractive girl who likes him (or acts like it) and he wants to hit the bricks. Leaves 6 weeks ago, they still keep in contact. he is being shady, she believes she will get him back. The new girl keeps getting better and better and he cuts off all contact. Its my style too, no confrontation, just avoid the chick and eventually they will fade away. Now thats ok for me I have no kids, for him different story, he is not a mans man, i can still be. Next, Shauna, having the women gene "crazy", calls up Mr. Auman and gives him a great juicy story on a dinner plate. Mature? No, on her part only though. Auman, just doing his job. A great job at that because it obviously is valid and grabbing lots of attention.

again feel terrible for the kids. kids shouldnt be having kids. gotta love white trash. Act like adults Moffits. sad

[Ari Hinkelberger]

That really wasn't Peter Warrick in the security camera at Dillards. It was a guy that looked like Peter Warrick -- and it was all a setup. The St Pete Times shouldnt' run an article until they get Peter Warricks side of the story.

Glad to know you graduated from the same school I did.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Not only that idiot.

But if you read Brett McMurphy's article -- Moffits wifes friend is a teacher and says that she doctored class "sit in" hours for him because she wanted to help the family.

THEN -- they e-mailed papers that they wrote for Ben.

You are so blind you couldn't find a nut in a planters jar.

moron

[JT]

First off, we need to get all of the facts before we criticize anyone. For all we know, she could be lying. If she IS telling the truth, how much of it is true? Let's hear Ben's side of it first. If she wrote his papers for him, then she's as guilty as he is.

Supposing that everything she says is 100% true, this is still a reflection on him, not USF. It is very unlikely that Leavitt, Genshaft, or anyone at the University knew what was going on. If they did, and it can be proven, THEN and ONLY THEN do you have a right to criticize the university.

So you wanna talk about character issues at schools? How about UCF hiring George O'Leary as their HEAD COACH? Man was caught lying on his resume. What about the FSU cheating scandals? What, 36 players? What about the UF player who was arrested for trying to steal a car, but he was let off by the business owners who were pressured to do nothing. And Miami. Well, I don't need to really go there, do I?

My point is, that stuff happens at EVERY school. An individuals actions are not an indictment on the school. In fact, I was quite impressed that not a single USF player was ruled academically ineligible for the bowl game...meaning that they all made the grade. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

How is this a "horseshit article?"

HA.

Another one of those Green and Gold glasses guy.

You got a player for USF that has been flat out promoted because of his off the field persona. All of which seems to be full of crap.

You have his wife saying that she did most of his school work for him and that he hasn't been home in 2 months.

How is that not a "sports issue?"

Is it a "sports issue" when a player from USF is being accused by his wife of academic cheating.

You sound like a moron.

[bad idea]

greg,

This is a horseshit article on your part this is clearly not a public story to be published in a newspaper. This is a personal matter to be dealt with the correct way involving attorneys and our court system, not some hack writer dying for a story from anywhere he can get it. I can only hope that your personal life is one day published as many times as you have published USF's players lives. You wonder why Leavitt will never give you an interview or tell you any "inside information" this is why. You are always just waiting for another USF player's downfall, so you can publish it and watch a 23 year old or even younger person's life be publicly ruined. I am positive moffitt has been nothing but kind and respectful to you in the past when you did your interviews with him, just as I'm sure he would of wanted you to respect him and not publish this in your newspaper. You are a SPORTS WRITER since when is Ben Moffitt's divorce a sports issue for you to get into and dig around in? You will do anything for a story and you will ruin a college kid's life and reputation just so you can have the front page of the sports section and this article proves it, it makes me sick to know this article was even considered for printing but it came as no surprise to see your name printed at the bottom of it because I expected nothing less than this from you and the St. Petersburg Times. Way to ruin a positive season.

[Judge Judy]

Ben,

You need to get yourself a lawyer.

[The Truth]

Hey jarred

Go back to Subway and eat some subs.

“There are four stages in a marriage. First there's the affair, then the marriage, then children and finally the fourth stage, without which you cannot know a woman, the divorce.”

[Frickeyfrackey]

what's hilarious here is she probably just got herself fired. if she wrote those paper, she's just as guilty as academic fraud as he is. therefore, if i were her boss, she'd be fired. welcome to the welfare life.

[BullJag]

Thanks Jim. I presume you failed to refresh your computer and read my retraction before noting my error. Anyway, point taken.

[Jim Leavitt]

BullJag,

Did you even read the article? Did you see where Ben declined further comment and referred further questions to his divorce attorney? It appears that Greg attempted to obtain Ben's side of the story and he had little to say. If you're going to comment on the article and be critical of the author, at least READ the article first.

[BullJag]

Greg,

To your credit, upon further review of the article, I see that you did try and contact Ben afterall. Your efforts makes the article a bit more acceptable and unfortunate.

You can keep your Journalistic Man Card afterall.

[BullJag]

Greg,

Have to agree with those that say this article is in poor taste. At a minimum, I hope you at least attempted to obtain Ben's side of the story before going to print? This is utterly devastating. For your sake, I certainly hope Ms. Moffit is telling the absolute truth. Otherwise you've just played the fool in facilitating Ms. Moffit's character assassination. Hell hath no fury . . ..

[Rob]

Go Bulls! April 2008 = great draft for USF!

[Common Sense]

Wow, how unbelievable that most of you can justify anything for one of your football heroes, including a husband and father leaving his wife and kids. That much we know is true, regardless of the reasons. And for those that are calling Shauna a liar, did he or did he not perpetuate the fact that everything was fine when in fact he had already left her? Regardless of the reason, I think it's clear who the liar is here.

And this is news because of the myth about Ben Moffitt that has been continually promoted by the university. Ben Moffitt. Linebacker. Leader. Husband. Father. Yeah, right. I guess 1 or 2 out of 4 isn't bad.

[yougottabekiddingme]

This is very entertaining. Especially hypocritical knuckle draggers like Jay. Talking about the high standards at a school that hired George O'Leary? Unbelievable. Predictable in a way I guess, as there really is nothing UCFers can say regarding head to head results. And as far as giving South Florida the game next year Jay, wouldn't you miss the annual chest beating "we are just as good as you" UCF pregame chatter? Buck up little fella, the Bulls will only be wiping their a-- with UCF one more time and then you can focus on Memphis and Tulsa and (yawn) UAB. What exactly does this story have to do with UCF anyway??? Just sad.

[RR]

Al Gore told me Global Warming caused this mess.

[Ken]

Thanks Jarred and Kyle.

First, divorce happens, and for various reasons. Sounds as though that's in their future, as Moffitt admits to having hired a divorce attorney (something Greg said he did today). I'm guessing that led his wife to attempt to do and say the most hurtful things she could think of as a way to get back at him. Very sad--for both of them, for their kids especially, and for us, too.

But, please, let's keep in mind that those are accusations, that may or may not be true. The tone of her remarks is that of a wronged spouse who is out to get the other with whatever hurtful things she can think of, regardless of whether they are true. Perhaps, she will later wish she'd held her tongue.

Besides the testimony of Kyle and Jarred, I have good reason to believe that Moffitt has been a pretty good student, which, believe me, involves more than taking online courses and writing out-of-class papers.

Divorce happens--how it is handled matters a lot. Apparently, they'd handled the first six weeks of separation reasonably well. Today was horrible. I hope they have better days--and soon.

[Kyle]

Right...my first hand encounters verses your internet babble...go change your tampon.

[Reality]

Ben,

I hope your side of the story is really good, because it doesnt look good for you so far.

Abandoning your kids is not the way to go. I don't care how much of a douche your wife is, you have to be there for the kids. I knew something was up when on Senior Day, your wife and kids were no where to be found.

Greg, you did a great job sitting on this story as long as you did.

I hope this was the family emergency you had to miss the Basketbulls and hope all is well in your family.

P.S.
I can't wait for the picture of the girl that broke up the marriage on the back page of the TBT.

[jarred]

Listen, I know Ben and Shauna personally. Ben and I worked for the same construction company and Shauna was my vacation bible school teacher for years and we all attended the same high school. These are not the kind of people I know them to be. Ben was, and still is a man built on strong character, hard work, and discipline. He is an honest man and has been an example I have tried to follow during my collegiate career at USF. He does his best and does whatever he can to be a father to kids and a husband to his wife along with being a star player and college student living 55 miles away in my hometown. Sometimes the pressure can be too much and he probably just needed some time to clear his head before he undergoes a complete lifestyle change after the 2008 draft. I cannot vouch for the validity of Shauna's claims but i know they are both good people and their character and resolve will shine through during this tough time in both their lives.

[Sherriff-Gonna-Get-Ya]

I figured it out.

We have a wife that is pissed that her husband left her with the kids. We have a husband that doesn't want to be married to his fat wife anymore.

Welcome to America.

[Mike Lakeland]

Hey, I like ice cream cake!

[pch]

Reporters have sources.
Sources have agendas.
I wonder, for example, who pitched the human interest story to the NY Times? (Sometimes people get paid to promote their agenda.)
And as for this story, the primary source obviously has an agenda.
It may not seem like this topic belongs here, but guess what? The story would have been broken by someone after the court papers were filed.

[Josh]

nice article auman, way to end the football season on a positive note

[Reality]

Kyle, Come clean. If you think that is articulate, then Elijah Dukes must be Toastmasters International President. You know what I am saying Dawg?

You USF "fans" who care more about winning than running a clean program amaze me. Just check out the recruits that Stan Heath is looking to bring in. No wonder Robert McCollum never worked out here. He ran too good of a program for this University.

All USF donations have been cut off. I am strictly supporting Jesuit High School. We may not be the unstoppable machine program we once were, but at least we are clean.

[BadA$$Bull]

Where's the picture of the accuser?

[Jazzercise]

Shauna..

Put down the ice cream cake and step away from the fridge.

[Kyle]

The more I think of this story/situation, the more I think its pissed off wife syndrome.
I had a class with Moffitt, and he participated and was very articulate in class. He had to write several papers in the class. His wife never was in college, so how could she write his college level papers?

[Wow]

Given the legal problems the Times would be facing here, it wouldn't be in the best interest of the paper to publish this story unless it had been cross-checked. Given the paper's status as the official paper of USF, I don't think publishing this story was a rash decision. I applaud Greg for doing a story that could not have been easy to put to words after following the team so closely for as long as he has.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

How is this gossip>?? Here you have a sensational story that has been talked about ALL YEAR! Not even all year. Since the guy started playing at USF we have been bombarded with "he makes the 100 mile drive." He "is an outstanding guy." He "waked up at 3 a.m. to drive to class."

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..

Now you got his wife saying she hasn't seen him in two months and he doesn't support the kids and she wrote all of his papers..

Solid reporting.

[Jay]

Mike,
I thought I was your wife?

[Mike]

Greg, this is close to sensational journalism, did Ben offend you in El Paso? Why is this a public story for the paper? I certainly hope you're willing to write blogs on your own personal family problems. Maybe you don't have any, which is even more reason not to publish tabloid gossip. This story certainly diminishes my opinion of you more than of Ben Moffit.

As for those post in support of GA, how can you possibly say that a scorned wife saying she wrote papers for Ben is worthy of this trash journalism? If my wife left me I'd say anything to hurt her. This is pure trash!

[John P]

Whether or not she did his homework - he's definitely not the poster boy the press made him out to be. I don't blame her at all, personally. If I had 2 young children dependant on someone who walked away without even leaving a phone number - I'd probably not take it lying down, either. Why should he be praised as some kind of heroic figure while she scrapes to find diaper money? Huh?

As far as the university involvement goes - nothings will happen. If the work she did for her husband was independant of University complicity (and difficult to prove anyway), there won't be as much as a slap on the wrist.

Good riddance, jerk.

[Dave W]

I guess I don't understand how this is an indictment of the university. It is unreasonable to expect that the coaches would know he would do this 5 years down the line.

Also, how can this be spun into an attack on GA? This has the potential to be extremely damaging to the program if there is some way he is found to have been ineligible. I don't think they can verify the essay line, and I don't think he committed any crime, so it probably won't. I will say that is primarily a personal issue, and the headline is typical of the St. Pete Times over-the-top, gossip-magazine presentation style. I'm glad I don't have to see the *TBT cover- they would really over do it. But, freedom of the press rules this country, and I'm sure Greg wouldn't publish anything (it has a regular article, not just a blog entry) without strong evidence from Shauna.

[Dr. Phil]

In my Monday episode I went over the six steps to improving your marriage.

This is not one of them. Ms. Moffit, please please pick up my new book,

"Building a Better You."

Good luck in your trails and tribulations.

[Jay]

Yeah Bill, you're supporting a program full of winners there.

What did you guys win again this year?

Don't cry too hard when the NCAA takes away your "64-12", that's the only thing you have to hang your hat on.

You seem like there furthest thing from a winner I have ever seen.