Tennessee Athletics Director Danny White fires back with statement amid NCAA chaos

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•02/01/24•

_Cainer

Another day, another statement regarding the recent NCAA investigation into the University of Tennessee athletics department that came to light this week. This time, it’s Tennessee athletic director Danny White who took to social media to stand his ground.

“The NCAA generally does not comment on infractions cases because there is a rule against it; however, that has not stopped them in the past from leaking information to the media as they did this week about us,” the statement read. “Their actions made this ill-conceived investigation public and forced us to defend ourselves.

“It is clear that the NCAA staff does not understand what is happening at the campus level all over the country in the NIL space. After reviewing thousands of Tennessee coach and personnel phone records, NCAA investigators didn’t find a single NIL violation, so they moved the goalpost to fit a predetermined outcome. They are stating that the nebulous, contradictory NIL guidelines (written by the NCAA not the membership) don’t matter and applying the old booster bylaws to collectives. If that’s the case, then 100% of the major programs in college athletics have significant violations. This is obviously silly and not productive, as is blaming membership whenever they are challenged. We need to be spending out time and energy on solutions to better organize college athletics in the NIL era – something that NCAA leadership failed to do back in 2021. Student-athletes, prospective student-athletes, coaches, and administrators across the country deserve better, and I refuse to allow the NCAA to irrationally use Tennessee as an example for their own agenda.”   

The message from White follows an NCAA statement released on Wednesday amid public backlash towards the organization – in support of the university – and following a joint lawsuit from the attorney general’s offices of Tennessee and Virginia earlier that day.

“While the NCAA generally does not comment on specific infractions cases, it is important to remember that NCAA member schools and conferences not only make the rules but routinely call for greater enforcement of those rules and holding violators accountable,” the NCAA statement read. “In recent years, this has been especially true as it relates to establishing and enforcing a consistent set of national rules intended to manage the name, image and likeness environment.

“This legal action would exacerbate what our members themselves have frequently described as a “wild west” atmosphere, further titling competitive imbalance among schools in neighboring states, and diminishing protections for student-athletes from potential exploitation. The NCAA remains firmly committed to protecting and expanding student-athletes’ NIL rights and opportunities. However, our membership has steadfastly supported the prohibition on impermissible recruiting contacts, booster involvement in recruiting prospects and the use of NIL offers as recruiting inducements.”

Sports Illustrated first reported the news that Tennessee was once again under NCAA inquiry. The New York Times reported on Tuesday of an alleged flight regarding then-quarterback recruit Nico Iamaleava that could be the focus of the investigation. Since, Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Senator Marsha Blackburn have all issued statements in support of the university. Plowman’s response was a three-page letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker, where she was highly-critical and one where she did not back down from on Wednesday.  

Tennessee has yet to receive a formal notice of allegations as of Thursday afternoon.

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