Selena Roberts Q&A with Brandon Marcello of AL.com

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AL.com: Mike Blanc is now denying some of the things he said to you. What's your take on that?

Roberts: Well, I think I mentioned this to you before in an email. It takes a lot of courage to speak the truth and to go out and have some conviction about, you know, a subject that would very popular, obviously. A subject that, let's face it, at Auburn, draws a lot of backlash. I think it's unfortunate that he's taking that stance, but given the pressure he's under I can see how it happens.

AL.com: Do you think he changed his story after this story got so big today?

Roberts: I think any time athletes talk and have interviews, I think they're used to, maybe a smaller market or something like that, I don't know. I don't know why he would change his stance, to be honest with you. I don't know what goes on in his head.

AL.com: Neiko Thorpe says he was misquoted in the story. Roopstigo.com's report alleges former Auburn players were paid money and unfairly targeted by police while on campus.

Roberts: Like I said, I think it's very difficult to take a strong stance and to tell the truth and then to have to deal with the consequences in a place where I think the story even shows that there is a great deal of pressure to keep what's in-house, in-house. I think the entire sort of umbrella of the story explains just what's at risk for people who step outside the bounds. In some ways, it almost dovetails with the story that they may not know exactly what's going on. They may feel that kind of pressure to then alter what they said to me.

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AL.com: Auburn police chief Tommy Dawson says you never contacted him before publishing the story.

Roberts: Oh, yeah, right. Why doesn't he bother to check with Captain (Tom) Stofer about contacting the Auburn police department about discussion about the matter. He should talk to Captain Stofer, who I said to several times I have some serious questions about the conduct of the police involving the Mike McNeil case. I was referred to the DA.

AL.com: So you reached out to Captain Stofer?

Roberts: Yes. So, the police chief has absolutely no right to say no one contacted them when his director of media was contacted, absolutely, and asked to have this entire case be brought to them with questions.

I think that shows absolute arrogance on the police chief's part.

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