Tennessee to learn its NCAA punishment on Friday
This afternoon, Tennessee will find out just how big of a “speed bump”, as head coach Josh Heupel and AD Danny White have described it, the NCAA investigation really brings.
The committee on infractions will announced their ruling this afternoon after Tennessee’s appearance in front of them at a hearing in Cincinnati 85 days ago.
The committee of infractions is a committee that’s made up of people from around the country in all walks of life. There are attorney’s, athletic department officials from all levels colleges, former coaches – like former Texas women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt – conference commissioners and a former Attorney General of the United States.
Tennessee has disputed a level one infraction of failure to monitor. Specifically, Tennessee is fighting any possibility of a bowl ban. All toll, the investigation has yield 18 level one violations during the Jeremy Pruitt era. Tennessee received its letter of allegations in July of 2022. In the notice of allegations, those infractions included that almost $60,000 of cash or gifts were provided to players and their families by Pruitt, his wife, numerous coaches, recruiting staff and at least one booster.
Tennessee went before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions April 19th and 20th in a two day hearing that lasted over 20 hours and included former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, his wife Kasey, former AD Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, assistant AD Tyler Johnson and others appeared before the committee in person.
In addition to those who attended the hearing in person, former defensive coordinator Derek Ansley – who was named in two violations – was a part of the hearing via zoom. Also former recruiting employee Bethany Gunn, who is named in multiple violations, was a part of the hearing remotely. Former tight ends coach Brian Neidermeyer, who has negotiated a deal with the NCAA for his penalties, was also a participant of the hearing via zoom. Both Gunn and Neidermeyer were fired in January of 2021 along with Pruitt. All told, nine employees were fired that month as a result of the early stages of the investigation.
Following the hearing, Plowman said she was looking forward to moving forward with the football program.
“We are really appreciative to the infractions committee panel for their time and attention,” Plowman said following the hearing. “This was a lot of work. They are going to have to make a decision. We can’t wait to get the decision and move forward with our football program and athletics.”
The NCAA will announce their ruling in a noon press call, and following that call, Tennessee will respond to the ruling. Tennessee will not know of the ruling until later this morning.
