Here is a sampling of some of the posts one one of the many many boards on the internet

Thankyou for Everything!!!

Here is a sample of some of the responses to my k-mail!

Emails and Posts on my "DISMISSAL"!

I saved a few of the posts on 4 different message boards (although I understand there were a lot more!) showing support for my situation. Although I can’t take any responsibility for these posts on Public Message Boards, I really do appreciate all the kind words! I did delete some of the more colorful language that some of the posters used , you will see my notation when you read the posts. – Karen

In addition, I posted a couple of the nice emails we received! This doesn’t count the hours on the phone! I spent 5 hours with an ex-athlete on Saturday morning alone!

I did take out certain links from the message boards and identifying information from the emails.

It seems to me that people really did understand what happened, especially the tone of the “contracts” and my “dismissal letter.” Facts do speak for themselves.

From Message Board 1

Haslem_is_da_man
Bull Gator

Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts:
Location: Gainesville

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 8:58 pm Post subject:

GTD....... sorry about the news. It's kind of infuriating that they would do this. If you would provide their email's, I will definitely send some words of my distaste in their efforts to keep you a part of the team. Also.... any other details you can provide about the situation(if you wanna PM me, or email me) would be appreciated. I can't understand how this could happen.

GATORSR1
Freshman Gator

Joined: 31 Aug 2003
Posts: 217
Location: Dallas, GA (Atlanta)

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 9:01 pm Post subject:

Granted, I haven't heard both sides of the story, but either way, it's sad to hear about something like this going on at the University of Flordia! Good luck to you and I'm glad that you are still enjoying your education at UF! Also, isn't this something that the Gainesville Sun would be interested in knowing and reporting? On a side note, Coach Judge does look disturbing!

lgator
Senior Gator

Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Posts: 286

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:19 pm Post subject:

Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Meaning I don't see why an athlete can't have a web site. Sounds like retaliation to me. Aren't there any laws protecting people who file for sexual harassment. Too bad that it had to come to this. You are a courageous young woman willing to stand for what she think is right. Good luch with your future plans. Hope to see you compete in Beijing!!

atlanta-gator
Head Ball Coach

Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 4517
Location: Deep in enemy territory...

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:25 pm Post subject:

Karen - It's been a pleasure having you post and getting to follow your competitions from such a personal point of view... I will miss those insights and the sheer joy you and your Mom shared with us... Life is often unfair and that seems to be the case here... My respect and admiration for your skills and personality will continue and I will always fondly remember you and all you have contributed to UF... God bless you and yours...

LeftCoastGator
Redshirt Gator

Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 37

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

From the information on your site, all I have to say is what a bunch of asses. I'm sorry, but you had to sign a contract stating you will NOT do any workouts in your dorm room? That's hilarious. I can't imagine having the urge to do some pushups only to remember some dumb contract I signed. And when I saw that picture of that one coach on your website, I almost laughed. He looks suspicious and uninviting. Obviously, there's always 2 sides to a story, but just looking at some of the facts you provide (scanned e-mails, papers, former coach went to prison), I can't help but NOT side with you. Most definately good luck!

From Message Board 2

TrackDaddy
Member

Registered: Mar 2003
Location: Deep In the Heart of Texas
Posts: 0

Roger

I love viewing Karen's website and I believe her and her family to be positive reflections of the world of track and field. Karen has fans and young girls that look up to her. That's a credit to and your wife as well.

I follow Karen and her accompishments and I am thankful for people like you and her who share, in a positive manner, her life and experiences surrounding track and field with us. And in my opinion you manage to do it with an expression of humility and honesty that is quite refreshing.

I'm not sure why anyone would have anything negative to say about you, Karen or HER website, except maybe for personal reasons, which is very disappointing especially in a public setting. It's probably someone who would like to be where y'all are. But what's even more impressive is the gentlemanly way you handled it. I'm not surprised as that's what I've come to expect from you.

Like Wags said "Kudos to Roger."

Karen is certainly one of the finest throwers in the country and part of the best team hands down. Her Oly Trial performance was outstanding, especially considering the fact that she was injured. It made TrackDaddy very happy for the Frebergs and I've never had the pleasure of meeting y'all.

BTW...thanks for posting the drug test information. I, personally have always wondered what it looked like.

And as for how many replies you get to your informational posts regarding Karen's site...what is there to say?

Except, maybe...thanks.

And, uh, keep them coming.

From Message Board 3

AllAmericanWalkOn

Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 68

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:16 am Post subject:

That is incredible. I'm shocked!!! I don't know what to say, that is damn ridiculous...best wishes to Karen, as a student-athlete, you have my support.

Tjrocks

Joined: 21 Sep 2004
Posts: 2

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:29 am Post subject: Florida coaching staff .........no comment

I ve been in situations where I got in conflict with coaches mysef. What really sucks is that all the athletic staff is making a team against you, doesn t matter if you as an athlete, are right . Some teams can make your track and student life a living hell. Something should be done at these schools where the Compliance office is just another ass kissing tool of the athletic departments. Those contracts you have to sign, are just pathetic , I don t even know if they are legal or not. Anyway nobody really stands a chance against these university athletic programs and they lawyers...... What we can do as athletes is to speak about these programs and not reccomend them anymore to any other athletes. Good Luck Karen

Fro Message Board 4

GO GATORS

Karen Freberg and Florida Gators.....WOW! 9/21/2004 4:45AM

Check out www.karenfreberg.com for the details.

Gatorbait

RE: Karen Freberg and Florida Gators.....WOW! 9/21/2004 7:50AM - in reply

ouch!!!!! Florida recruiting can not be helped by this

OMG

RE: Karen Freberg and Florida Gators.....WOW! 9/21/2004 8:23AM - in reply

I was thinking of going to Florida in a two years time. The coach sounds like a total (expletive deleted by Karen). Guess I have to look for somewhere better.

looks?

RE: Karen Freberg and Florida Gators.....WOW! 9/21/2004 8:49AM - in reply

Any pictures of this Freberg chick?

Big man

RE: Karen Freberg and Florida Gators.....WOW! 9/21/2004 11:22AM - in

I just went to her web site.She's hot!

E

To :	<kfreberg@hotmail.com>
Subject :	Website

Hi Karen:

I applaud you for standing up for what you believe and in and taking on the powers that be.

I want to let you know that your second contract from Florida is impossible to read. I read through all the rest of the information and would also like to read the second contract.

Good luck in your future endeavors!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

To :	kfreberg@hotmail.com
Subject :	Dismissal

Karen, I admire you and always will, no matter where you are or what you do. Always look ahead with optimism, never look back.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________
roger:

sorry to hear of what karen has had to endure. this will make her
stronger, but it still doesn't make it right. give her my regards
and sympathies. ditto you and the mrs.

take care and hang in there.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Karen,
I saw what happened to you ______and checked it out on your web site. It is really too bad and I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. Just try to turn it into a positive thing. I had a bad experience with coaches _______and at the Olympic training center. I was lucky to find a great college coach at ______Cs. Anyways, I decided I loved running and _____ way too much to let bad coaches get in the way. I am now an assistant coach at a major university and really hope to get to Olympic trials in 2008 ______. I am telling you all this because I really don't want you to give up.

You have way too much throwing talent and I think you will feel like something is missing if you don't at least give 2008 a sincere try. You might even want to think about being a grad assistant when you go to graduate school. Coaching is very rewarding and a great way to give back to the sport. My "bad" coaches have set an example of how not to coach. (By the way I have been dropped from all of the all time lists at ______)
Hang in there!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

No problem at all. I kinda got the feeling that there were problems during the year, I just never knew what was wrong. I would be more than happy to support you!! Good luck wherever you go. ONCE A GATOR, ALWAYS A GATOR!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________

i had a really rough rough year last year and some coaches and people didnt' make it any easier..felt like i was betrayed by those close.. but even though all bad stuff happened it changed me for the better.. made me stronger made me see what is really important.. so i wanted to tell you i admire your courage because i know something like this is devestating and sometimes can define a person and stop them in their tracks.. from what i know it sounds like you didnt' let this stop you but will push on and in the end be stronger and better because of it. hang in there. things do happen for a reason.. and yes it is very true that you dont' know whats around the corner or what can happen next so i do wish you the best of luck and to be strong..

best of luck

_________________________________________________________________________________________

I am the head coach at another university. I just wanted to let you know that I read your site and I feel as though this whole thing is unbelievable. I am not the only coach that ever heard the rumors about _____. It is very interesting to read about it from someone who had the courage to tell the truth.

I wish you all the best in the World.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Karen,

I was shocked to read what you had to endure while a member of the Florida track team and the way you were unceremoniously dumped from the team. Guess I was naive to think that an athletic program as successful as Florida's would have a higher standard for those who coach and be above petty politics. Especially when dealing with an athlete who bled Gatorade and lived to throw

The manor in which you endured the treatment from the coaches shows class and that you have also built exceptional strength of character. Oddly, it's only during trials of principles that a person's true character can be accurately measured. One of the more important lessons to take away from this is the knowledge that when you get knocked down in life, you have what it takes to get up, brush yourself off and go on to bigger and better things.

You say that now there is an open window in front of you. I see it a little differently. There are a lot of doors in front of you. Pick one, knock on it, and do you know what the person on the other side is saying? That must be opportunity, I'd better answer it. Don't deprive whoever is on the other side of that door of the opportunity of having Karen Freberg as a part of their life.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

..I was so angry about the pain and all the crap I went through the year before I decided I was done! I am not a quitter but I wasnt about to let this man, who I felt was a terrible person and didnt care about his athletes...... I sat down with him, told him what I thought of him and said I was done.

It felt so good to stand up for myself. I was the only female...that stood up to him ________. I just wanted to tell you that I know where you are coming from and it makes me feel good that I am not the only one out there who feels the way I do about this man. He should not be coaching, especially females!! Good luck to you.

One of my friends told me to check out your website last night, so I did, then had my mom and brother gather around the computer for them to listen to the same ole, same ole...________ I feel for you so much with the things you talk about on your pages! I am very sorry you were dismissed from the Florida team. It is too bad what control coaches have of athletes! Or what control they try to impose, anyway.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

I’M sorry for what has happen to your daughter at FLORIDA L

Back to my K-Mail!

Opinions expressed here in my K-Mail's are my own except for the opinions and observations posted from message boards or personal emails that belong to others, they don't necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else, or any organization. I have tried to make sure what is here is accurate, but I can not accept any responsibility for any mistakes, omissions, or anything else regarding the content of these pages.