But when the two people your entire article was written about immediately state that everything in the article is wrong, it makes the "unnamed" sources pretty worthless.
I disagree. The only thing that was "wrong" out right was the assistant coaches tickets. But even that lacks context. It is true that in 2013 tax year (so 2014 filing) all employers had to start taxing many office employee perks as income. Companies like Google had to pay income taxes on food provided for the office etc. as it was considered a form of compensation. Jamie said Iowa State (like all Iowa government offices and most private employers) passed that burden on to employees. So let's say you are provided 2 tickets to every home game in the lower level of Hilton. Iowa State has to assess fair market value for that perk as income to the employee and they are taxed. So come January 2014 Abdelmassih is slapped with paying income tax for the tickets he recieved for the spring and fall of 2013. Assuming he is in the 25% tax bracket and pays 6% state income tax and let's say fair market value for 2 season lower level tickets is determined to be $1000-2000 that means he had deducted around $300-600 from his pay for tickets. I am sure he and others perceived this to be Jamie being a tight *** and charging him for tickets. I know my employees thought we were for applying tax for non overnight travel meals and such. Granted he should have dug deeper.
The other stuff can be explained as just different perspectives. Fred was with his family and got to play in the pool and didn't see it as a big deal. Maybe Monte and Abdelmassih were hungover and wanted to sleep and we're ****** they had to leave their hotel room. Again should have dug deeper.
That said I don't see it as discrediting the overall sources about a bigger truth that some of the **** Jamie did erked fred. Honestly if it didn't it may be the only instance ever between an employee and employer. It is natural to have a little friction from time to time. It shouldn't have been implied that it may have been a reason for him leaving or that it was extraordinary IF Fred refuted that. But it doesn't make the sources wrong it just makes it an insignificant story.
I think it should inform is that Jamie sometimes put his foot in his mouth and is a tight *** and that the program at times felt under appreciated. Nothing more. Those are things Leath should make sure are kept in check moving forward. It is unfortunate that Travis went in deep here because it will harm his career and I think he does a great job overall.