Ten months of peace and tranquility. That's what University of Tennessee football fans had enjoyed OFF the field since last Spring's string of violations, transgressions, and illegal activities landed Tennessee in the national spotlight as Renegade U.

Sure, last season's 5-6 record produced dozens of ON-the-field troubles, but at least the team stopped behaving as if it was auditioning for "Goodfellas, Part Two."

Well, that quiet season ended when senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Raymond Henderson got the "court season" off and running early last week with a pair of dumb moves just about 24 hours apart.

Mitchell was indefinitely suspended for his bad behavior on The Strip. Henderson was sent packing for making an "inappropriate comment" to a girl and her mother in a local restaurant (in addition to some previous troubles).

That was quick and decisive action taken by UT coach Phillip Fulmer. Clearly, he's not interested in having his team go down the crime-syndicate trail again.

But before you say, "Mission Accomplished," know that the real penalty might still have to be paid by Fulmer himself. He's facing the kind of no-win situation that only a five-win season can bring about.

Many fans are calling for the hangin' judge. They want any player involved in off-field foolishness to have the "book" thrown at them. (Although, from the looks of last year's team, there aren't many UT players who could catch said book if it were thrown at them).

Fulmer is in the unenviable position of being the judge, jury and executioner. On the one hand, he's promised players' parents that he will treat their teenage sons like his children. That means forgiveness, tough love and second chances.

Most parents don't banish their sons and daughters for a single mistake made in early adulthood (and this was Mitchell's first foul-up).

On the other hand, the program (and Fulmer) suffered some serious black eyes last year due to the off-the-field mayhem. And it does seem that the time has come for an "anybody who moves ... gets it" mentality. Sort of a "one strike and you're out" policy.

The two incidents last week were dumb, juvenile moves. The kind made by athletes and non-athletes alike. There was no gunplay, no face-breaking sucker punches, no sexual assaults. Just stupidity.

Does that call for the hangin' judge?

Not in the case of Mitchell. At least not in Fulmer's eyes. Mitchell is a probable starter in a defensive front that features six new faces out of seven. Henderson? Well, he wasn't expected to play very much, so it was "adios, muchacho."

And that's why Fulmer might be the one who eventually suffers the consequences of his players' mistakes. If he doesn't suspend Mitchell for at least one game, is he sending the message that contributors get a longer leash than back-ups? What does that do for team discipline? Or team morale for that matter?

A lot of Vol fans would probably be unhappy with that decision.

But what if Fulmer suspends Mitchell for the California game in September, possibly the most important season-opener during his tenure? Trust me, if UT loses to Cal in the opener, there will be a lot of "here we go again" talk in restaurants, internet chat rooms, talk shows, and newspapers.

If Mitchell is suspended, will the Vols' defense miss the leadership of a fifth-year senior? Can its young defensive front, minus one of its more-experienced players, stand up versus one of the West Coast's best offenses?

If he is suspended for the season-opener, and the Vols do for one reason or another lose, well, even more Vol fans would be unhappy about that decision.

Keep your eye on this one. Fulmer's handling of this seemingly small incident in May could have serious implications for him and the program this fall.

After all, if a coach wins championships, most fans don't care if the boys on the team act like the boys in "Lord of the Flies."

But go 5-6 and fans will notice how you handle discipline issues. And how your handling of those issues affects the final record.

And that's certainly not what Fulmer wanted to be hearing about this spring.