Tennessee junior linebacker Daniel Brooks and senior basketball forward Jemere Hendrix didn’t take advantage of their "one more chance."

The two athletes were kicked off their respective teams Monday after each had been told that one more incident would lead to his dismissal.

Their individual fault in a Monday morning altercation, however, appears to be very diverse.

An unnamed football player confirmed Tuesday that Brooks did not throw a punch in an altercation with Hendrix and fellow UT forward Andre Patterson.

The player said that Brooks tried to walk away from Hendrix and Patterson when Hendrix hit Brooks in the back. Patterson did not throw a punch, the source said.

UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl said Brooks and Patterson were arguing when Hendrix approached the two.

"Jemere was a peacemaker at first, then when language got to be what it was, it turned," Pearl said Tuesday. "There’s no place for that conduct on our college campus, and it doesn’t represent the rest of the student athletes.’’

"Just like Phillip (Fulmer, UT_football coach) had done with Daniel, I’d given Jamere one more shot.’’

Hendrix was charged with marijuana possession and driving without a license in August in Covington, Ga.

Pearl has suspended Patterson indefinitely.

Brooks’ participation, or lack thereof, in the fight wasn’t the only concern raised about his behavior Monday.

On Monday, the News Sentinel reported that Brooks, in his car, followed Hendrix, Patterson and an assistant basketball coach. The three were traveling in a golf cart.

Fulmer and UT running backs coach Trooper Taylor denied that there was a second confrontation between the two parties. Brooks maintained that he was simply driving back to the athletic complex and accidentally crossed the golf cart’s path.

Taylor was given a promotion and new title to reduce off-field incidents. Eight UT football players have been arrested or cited since January for crimes ranging from aggravated assault to underage drinking.

Taylor, UT’s assistant head coach of player development, said the Brooks and Patterson feud began over a girl.

"I hate it for the kid because I really feel like he was going to bounce back," Taylor said of Brooks. "Sometimes kids want to do their own thing and they have to learn the hard way.

"This is a situation where Daniel is learning the hard way. We’re not going to lower the bar. We’re going to raise it."

Taylor said Brooks’ latest mistake was not telling UT coaches or administrators that he had a problem with Hendrix and Patterson. The situation began at a party Saturday night.

"It doesn’t matter who it is," Taylor said. "If it’s your starting quarterback or your fourth-team tailback, if you hurt the Tennessee family, regardless of who you are, you’re not going to be a part of something special.

"This is a special place and it requires special people to be a part of it."

Brooks had been suspended for the first three games of the season following his arrest and guilty plea to a charge of driving without a license.

Taylor said he didn’t know where Brooks might try to continue his playing career. Taylor said UT’s staff would help him find a new college home.

Taylor said immediate success on the football field could help Brooks stay out of trouble wherever his new destination might be.

Sophomore defensive end Xavier Mitchell said he and all of his teammates are fully aware that there is a tighter watch on the program after the recent embarrassing incidents.

Mitchell said Fulmer sent a strong message when he dismissed receiver James Banks last December.

"Coach Fulmer is very serious about what he talks about," Mitchell said. "He’s been really lenient this past year.

"He told us at the beginning of the season, there will be no incidents. I took him serious. I wouldn’t want to test him.

"If you don’t want to be here, coach Fulmer will be more than happy to dismiss you."

Senior captain Jason Allen said Brooks had made great strides lately and seemed destined to make an impact on the field. Allen said his former teammate tried to avoid the confrontation as he walked to class Monday morning.

"I heard that he handled the situation professionally, walked away from the situation and didn’t want to be involved in the situation," Allen said. "Talking to Daniel yesterday and through the summer, he turned a 180 degrees.

"He was doing a lot of good things, staying out of trouble and just wanted to do good thing with his life. Daniel’s a good person and no one can tell me different."

Allen said he tried to take Brooks under his wing as he went through his various off-field problems that ranged from traffic tickets to fighting.

"In the heat of the moment, you’re your own man," Allen said. "You’re going to make your own decision. Daniel made some decisions that he’s going to have to live with the rest of his life."

UT defensive coordinator John Chavis and senior linebacker Kevin Simon seemed particularly upset about the incident.

Chavis abruptly told reporters that he didn’t want to talk about the incident when he was asked about Brooks during Tuesday’s media session.

Simon said he was upset that no one stood up for Brooks given his defenseless position.

"It’s probably a good thing I wasn’t around," Simon said.