The witness was identified as the victim's football coach.  He was interviewed at his home.  The interview was recorded on a portable audio tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

SM=Det. Sam Murphy
TA= Det. Ted Armstrong
RT= Reginald Tunney

SM: Sorry to barge in on you today, Coach.

RT: It certainly would've have been good if you could have waited until Monday and we could've talked in my office.

TA: Well, you know how it goes. Homicide investigations don't really keep normal office hours.

RT: So what can I do for you?

SM: Once again, for the record, could you please state your name and address.

RT: Reginald Tunney. 1088 Augusta Drive, Oxford.

SM: Do you have any nicknames?

RT: What kind of stupid question is that?

SM: Just answer it, please.

RT: Not really. I guess some people call me Rocky. But that's about it.

SM: How did you get that nickname?

RT: When I was a kid, I loved boxing. I was less than 10 years old when Rocky Marciano won the title, but I still idolized him. Got my hair cut like him, started working out like him. I think it was an uncle who first started calling me that. But it didn't really stick until I started playing sports. I was very serious about my workouts and used to drink raw eggs and stuff like that. I went in for a lot of old time training methods. Lots of beef, eggs, that kind of thing. More and more people started calling me Rocky after seeing the way I trained.

SM: Do you still like boxing?

RT: A little. I don't follow it as much as I used to. The sport is completely disgraced now. Tyson and all of his craziness, Don King's greed. Even people like Lewis, who's a great boxer, just don't do it for me. I guess I'm just old fashioned but I like to see the underdog stand up to the champion and just put up a great fight. Like Chuck Wepner and Ali. Just go in there for the love of the sport, not to make millions which you'll then squander on your entourage.

TA: Ever do any boxing yourself?

RT: No, not really.

TA: It's pretty well documented that you've done some uh, outside of the ring boxing, though.

RT: What do you mean by that?

TA: Forget it.

SM: Coach, do you know a student named Josh Boyd?

RT: I know the name. Don't really know the kid specifically. He was in the fast and rich crowd. I have never had much time for people like that.

SM: So how did you come across his name?

RT: One of the unfortunate parts of my job is that I have to spend a great deal of time with alumni. Some of them are amazing people worthy of respect and admiration. But a lot of them are spoiled rich playboys with no focus in life. I specifically had written into my contract that I only have to do a limited amount of alumni appearances, but I still have to do some. Which drives me crazy... I'm here to mold men. Not sit around kissing some rich boy from Madison's ass.

SM: So what else did you hear about Josh?

RT: He lived with this guy Matt Fortunato and there was a girl named Danielle in the mix somehow. I've heard these kids don't have anything better to do with daddy's money other than bet it on something. Someone mentioned a Kentucky Derby party where these college kids were betting five grand on the race. When I was that age, five grand might as well have been a million dollars.

SM: So you only heard about this "fast crowd" from the alumni?

RT: Yes, I believe so.

TA: Any of your team run around with that fast crowd, Coach?

RT: Absolutely not! I'd run a kid into the ground if I ever found out about him being involved with such nonsense. My boys are serious about their lives. They're in training, not just for football, but life. They're not interested in wasting their time like that. And I can promise you that after I put them through two-a-days, they don't have any energy left for that stuff.

TA: Of course not. I don't know what I was thinking.

SM: Did you ever notice Josh Boyd at any football games?

RT: What the hell? Do you think I look up into a crowd of 50,000 people and pick out a face?

SM: I've never been in that position so I wouldn't know.

RT: Well, no I cannot. When we leave the locker room, I'm completely focused on the game, my boys, and my opponent. I could be on the sidelines and the Virgin Mary could be standing there and if she ain't got shoulder pads and a helmet on, then I don't care about her.

SM: Let's go back to your relationship with Jamie Washington. Could you please tell us about the times you physically assaulted him?

RT: I never physically assaulted him or any of my players.

TA: But you did get rough with him, didn't you?

RT: Hell yes I got rough with him! Football is a rough game! What do you expect?

SM: Forgive me if I don't fully understand the cult of football, Coach. But why do you need to get rough with the players?

RT: The same reason a drill sergeant gets rough with his recruits. The same reason that a father whips his children. Because I'm here to teach them a number of very important lessons. How to prepare, how to be disciplined, how to be part of a team. And sometimes you have to be, well, a little forceful in teaching those lessons.

TA: Do you really?

RT: Hell yes! I'm sure you don't know what it's like to be on a major college football field, but it's life and death out there. When a 350 pound lineman who runs a 4.7 is coming at you, it is life and death. You have to protect yourself. If you are not paying attention, that's a serious problem. I use whatever means necessary to reach my boys and get them to learn these lessons.

TA: Just so I'm clear here... you're saying that it wasn't just Jamie you abused but other players as well?

RT: I didn't abuse anyone! As I've said before, my record speaks for itself. There might have been a few pansies along the way who couldn't handle it, but for the most part, my boys grow into serious, dedicated, young men. And I guarantee that my supporters far out number my whiny critics.

SM: You seem really big on discipline.

RT: Absolutely! Without discipline, you are worthless. You are nothing. Discipline is necessary to be successful in any aspect of life.

TA: And you don't mind smacking a kid around to instill that discipline, right Coach?

RT: I'm not getting into that again. I've told you that I'm not abusing anybody. But, yes, I think it's important to use any means necessary to instill discipline.

SM: Does that go for your family as well?

RT: Just what are you getting at?

TA: Ever slap your wife around?

RT: Hell no! But I should slap you around, you piece of crap! How dare you come into my home and slander me with filth like that?

SM: Quite a temper there, Coach.

TA: That temper ever get away from you?

SM: Ever want to kill someone?

TA: Jamie for instance... did you want to bring any harm to Jamie Washington?

RT: You are crazy! I refuse to listen to this nonsense! Either you change this line of questioning or get the hell out of my house!

SM: Okay, calm down. What was Jamie's relationship with Dwight Nelson?

RT: I don't know! I guess they hung out some. I never really understood it because Dwight was a dedicated member of the team, he's in the NFL now. So I couldn't figure out why he could stand to be around a whiner like Jamie.

TA: What about Greg Urbanski? How did he get along with Jamie?

RT: He didn't much care for Jamie. He was also very focused and dedicated. He didn't like losers either.

SM: Okay. One final thing, Coach. Do you have any idea why Josh Boyd mentioned your name in our interview with him?

RT: He did? Well, uh, I can assure you that I have no idea. I wouldn't hang out with that trash.

SM: But he said your name. A couple of times.

RT: So what? I'm a public figure. He could've said George Bush and it would've been the same thing.

TA: You seem pretty pissed at him now.

RT: I don't appreciate my name being slandered.

TA: Would you instill some discipline in him now, if he were here?

RT: I've had it with you two. Get out of my house now!

SM: All right, fine. We'll go, Coach. But don't leave town or anything like that.

Interview ends 11: 30a.m.