Tennessee is under NCAA investigation. Again.
This time, the investigation involves potential violations to the NCAA’s flimsy NIL guidelines.
And, this time, Tennessee is fighting back.
UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has her elbows sharpened for this fight. So does Vols athletic director Danny White.
Perhaps more importantly, the Tennessee attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, is suing the NCAA. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA’s NIL guidelines violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and unlawfully restrict athletes’ ability to monetize their name, image and likeness.
On this edition of “The Volunteer State,” Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and Knox News’ Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack the investigation and the lawsuit and what they could mean – for the Vols and the NCAA.
The brass tacks: This clash between the NCAA and Tennessee has the potential to get ugly for all parties.
Here’s what’s at stake for each:
At stake for Tennessee
This NCAA investigation comes on the heels of a previous investigation in which the NCAA determined 18 Level I violations occurred during Jeremy Pruitt’s coaching tenure. Pruitt received crippling penalties. The Vols were sanctioned, too, but skated past the stiffest penalty by avoiding a postseason ban.
TOPPMEYER:I have no sympathy for NCAA, but not much for Tennessee Vols, either. Both asked for this
ADAMS:A different Donde Plowman greeted NCAA for Tennessee NIL investigation
TENNESSEE VS. NCAAInside the lawsuit filed amid this latest investigation into Vols
If the NCAA finds that Tennessee committed NIL violations, including evidence of NIL deals as inducements, it may intend to impose harsh penalties, because the Vols would be a repeat offender of NCAA rules. Up to and including a postseason ban or athlete eligibility issues? We’re still in the early stages of this – Tennessee has not received a notice of allegations – so any speculation about penalties is exactly that: speculation.
If the NCAA tries to pin Tennessee with a lack of institutional control, that’s a serious charge that would raise the possibility of stiff sanctions. Plowman made reference to institutional control in her scathing letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker.
Chancellors and ADs don’t typically go scorched-earth on the NCAA at this stage of an investigation. If we take into account how Plowman and White came out firing barbs, then Tennessee must think there’s at least the possibility of stiff sanctions. Otherwise, why unleash so much venom at the NCAA over small potatoes?