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UT awaits Knox County Schools investigation

The University of Tennessee will await the findings of a Knox County Schools investigation of an alleged sex and grade-fixing scandal involving an assistant principal at Powell High School before taking any action regarding freshman football player Lee Smith.

Athletic department spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter said UT football coach Phillip Fulmer was scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon with the 18-year-old Smith, whose name surfaced Tuesday in a signed affidavit obtained by the News Sentinel.

In that document, Smith denied any inappropriate or sexual relationship with Kim Kallenberg.

Copies of the redacted affidavit were later given to media outlets.

Kallenberg has been on administrative leave since July 14 while Knox County Schools’ human resources department conducts an investigation into allegations she had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student and changed several students’ grades.

It remains unclear whether the alleged inappropriate relationship and grade changing are related.

Carpenter said Fulmer spoke with Smith’s father, Powell assistant coach and former Tennessee offensive lineman Daryle Smith, on Tuesday night.

Both Lee and Daryle Smith have said Lee was not involved.

"They’re both saying nothing happened," Carpenter said. "We’re going to have to monitor things with Knox County’s investigation, and we’ll have to wait and see what Knox County’s investigation turns up."

Knox County has not set a timetable for completion of its inquiry.

Kallenberg, 36, denied all allegations Tuesday through her attorney, Greg Isaacs.

Drew Edwards may be reached at 865-342-6274.

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