Tennessee’s internal investigation into recruiting violations under head coach Jeremy Pruitt has concluded, Volquest.com reported Thursday. The Vols will not impose a bowl ban for the violations.
The university confirmed the report Thursday afternoon.
“The university has completed its investigation of rules violations within the football program,” Tennessee said in a statement. “We are moving forward with our focus on rebuilding our football program and supporting student-athletes. We will now work to finalize a fair and efficient resolution through the applicable process while navigating a rapidly changing landscape in intercollegiate athletics that includes transformative change for the NCAA, the Alston decision and significant new name, image and likeness rights for our student-athletes.
“We will hold ourselves accountable considering the nature of the violations, our prompt investigation and corrective personnel actions, the new recruiting environment and other factors. In the interest of protecting the rights of innocent student-athletes, the university will not impose a postseason bowl ban. NCAA bylaws prevent us from sharing details of the investigation at this time, but we do commit to providing that information when we are able. We appreciate the patience and support of our fans during this process.”
UT began investigating illegal recruiting practices last December as Jeremy Pruitt’s third season in Knoxville began to deteriorate. Over a month after the investigation began Tennessee fired Pruitt, two of his assistant coaches and the entirety of the Vols’ recruiting office with cause.
“While the investigation continues, the information presented to us indicates serious violations of NCAA rules,” University of Tennessee-Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman said at the time. “They occurred and these serious infractions warrant immediate action.”
“What is so disturbing is demonstrated by the scope of these employment actions we are announcing today is the number of violations and the number of people involved and their efforts to conceal their activities from our compliance staff and the leadership within the athletic department.”
Tennessee director of athletics Phillip Fulmer resigned when Pruitt was fired, though the former Vols’ football coach turned AD received the $1.35 million buyout owed to him if he was fired without cause.
UT quickly replaced Fulmer with Central Florida AD Danny White. White quickly tabbed UCF head coach Josh Heupel as Pruitt’s replacement.
Tennessee has walked with the NCAA step-by-step, bringing the college athletics leader in on the investigation.
Jeremy Pruitt and his lawyer Michael Lyons have threatened Tennessee with a lawsuit over the Vols firing Pruitt with cause.
The NCAA’s investigation into Tennessee’s illegal recruiting violations is still ongoing and nothing the NCAA does is ever quick. How long they’ll continue to investigate Tennessee is unknown as is what a potential punishment could be.
While Tennessee is not implementing a bowl ban, the report indicates that the Vols will self implement punishments. What those punishments will be is unclear. Typical punishments for NCAA violations include postseason bans, scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions. Included in recruiting restrictions can be less official visits, less days of off campus recruiting for coaches and recruiting hour limitations.
While Tennessee hasn’t reported any sanctions, the Vols didn’t have official visitors on campus early in the 2021 season
Scholarship reductions make sense for Tennessee as the Vols’ lost over 30 players to the transfer portal last offseason and already don’t have their full allotment of scholarship players.
Tennessee’s plan to bring the NCAA along for the whole process was a fascinating decision. The NCAA upheld its one season postseason ban for Oklahoma State Wednesday after the Cowboys self reported a minor NCAA violation.
In Oklahoma State’s press conference addressing the news, head coach Mike Boynton implored other schools not to be cooperative with the NCAA.
NCAA should be celebrating and promoting the Mike Boynton’s of college basketball. Not punishing. pic.twitter.com/PohHtKWZWg
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) November 3, 2021
With bowl eligibility now on the table, Josh Heupel’s 4-4 Vols need to win two of their final four games to become bowl eligible.
Tennessee has matchups with No. 18 Kentucky, No. 1 Georgia, South Alabama and Vanderbilt still on the schedule.
