Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman unwavering, grateful for support
A day after her letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker became public information and on a day where both the attorney generals for Tennessee and the state of Virginia filed suit against the NCAA, Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman made it clear that her stance in protecting student athletes is unwavering.
“Think about it this way,” Plowman said in addressing media members before a scheduled meet and greet. “If someone charges you, your family or your children with something that you didn’t do and you think is unfair, you are going to speak up. That’s how I feel. There was no question in my mind about what to do. I made that clear in the letter.
“When you are leading a university and someone attacks you and makes an allegation that isn’t true I will always respond. And the most significant thing about that is that I will always stand up for our student athletes and that’s really who the attack was really on if you want to be honest about it. It won’t be the last time I stand up for student athletes.”
In her letter to Baker that was sent on Monday and made public, Plowman stated her displeasure on the notion that Tennessee had gone from being labeled as an exemplary NCAA member institution in July of 2023 to being questioned about institutional control.
It’s inconceivable that our institutions’ leadership would be cited as an example of exemplary leadership in July 2023, then as a cautionary example of a lack of institutional control only six months later.
Wednesday, Plowman made it clear she has no concerns about institutional control at her university.
“Listen, I am so proud of our athletic department and this university,” Plowman said. “I have no concerns. What I have concerns about is the whole scene or landscape of college athletics. We have to get that improved. That’s my concern.”
Following Plowman’s letter and stern stance, she and the University have drawn praise from some and support from many including political figures like Governor Bill Lee and others.
“I’m thrilled, but I mean I’m not surprised,” Plowman said. “Everyone loves this University. This is the state’s university. It belongs to the people of Tennessee. To see the people who have responded it’s moving and I really appreciate it, but we have great people who are in public office in the state and in Washington. I couldn’t be more grateful for their support.”
The next step appears to be Wednesday’s filed suit against the NCAA going before a federal judge.
