The first day of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's code-of-conduct hearing went "as expected," his adviser told reporters, and the hearing is expected to conclude Wednesday.
"We think this nightmare will be over very soon," David Cornwell, Winston's adviser, told reporters after the hearing ended Tuesday.
The school's hearing -- which is closed to the public -- centers on sexual assault allegations against Winston from December 2012, and possible punishments range from probation to expulsion.
Winston didn't speak to the media before or after the hearing, but both sides got their points across before the hearing. Cornwell said the accuser and her attorneys were attempting "to execute their extortion plan." And John Clune, the accuser's attorney, said in a statement, "This is the day that Mr. Winston has been desperately trying to avoid for two years. ... Neither Jameis Winston nor his lawyer can stop what is coming."
ESPN.com reported that two of Winston's teammates, cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive end Chris Casher, declined to testify during the hearing. Both were witnesses to the December 2012 event, which Winston and his attorney have said was consensual.
After the hearing ended for the day, Clune told reporters that his client and Winston were not in the hearing room at the same time. Clune also told Yahoo Sports it was "an empowering day" for his client.
One reporter asked Cornwell before the hearing if Winston would play Saturday against Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game, and Cornwell said, "Absolutely."
Former Florida Supreme Court chief justice Major Harding was picked by FSU to conduct the hearing. A ruling isn't expected until January, and there also is an appeals process. It is seen as likely that the process will not be completed by Jan. 12, which is the date of the national championship game.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
