Tennessee will be without two defensive starters for the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin on Jan. 1.
Defensive tackle Demonte Bolden and weakside linebacker Rico McCoy have been ruled academically ineligible, a source confirmed Friday.
Bolden missed practice this week because of academics, and was suspended for the Louisiana-Lafayette game for the same reasons.
Tennessee expects final word on any other academic casualties later this afternoon. Following Thursday's practice, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he was concerned about three or four players, possibly more.
ESPN.com first reported the suspensions late Thursday night.
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Comments » 18
racasey71 writes:
as a Chattanooga native and a Vol fan, I was excited for Demonte, but his UT career overall has been a huge disappointment. I hope BJ Comeman dosen't follow in Bolden and Riggs Jr, (who potential/talent vs. output was a disappointment) footsteps.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
bolden's been lazy since he arrived and this carried over into his study habits....some people never realize that college is different than HS...
lnbadger320 writes:
pathetic, i wonder if he'll get it straightened out for his senior year. the hits just keep on coming.
mtnvol writes:
Kaplan, help me understand. The substantive difference between this story and the one posted at 10:48 AM is confirmation from "a source" and a byline? However, I am impressed that you guys admitted getting scooped by ESPN. ;-)
etvolfan writes:
Thanks Bolden and McCoy for letting down your team, school and the fans because you all were to lazy to get your butts to class. It's time to get some "student" athletes that actually care about getting a free education.
mtnvol writes:
TnTD, why are you concerned about my tail? Kaplan your daddy?
AccurateOne writes:
etvolfan: Its called Vanderbilt and Duke! LOL Just joking with you. Unfortunately its been like this at UT and most big schools for a long time.
etvolfan writes:
Good one AccurateOne! I think that Student Athlete is an oxymoron now a days? Oh, well?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Who will start for McCoy? Good OJT, against probably the slowest team we have played. Get ready for straight-ahead backs. Get 'em Vols.
Sad about these two, though. Man!
Ironcity writes:
Lets face it, some guys are not cut out for college. Doesn't mean they are lazy, stupid or dumb. In some cases like Boldens and probably McCoy's, these guys are here for one thing and that's to get prepared for the NFL. They likely have no intention of graduating and have goals only limited to keeping eligible for football. Unfortunately in this case they failed at that. Bolden had to go to prep school when he got out of high school. It really should surprize no one that this happen to him. I wish Bolden and Rico well and hope they can get back on the field next season, however, I would not be surprized if they decided to move on.
mtnvol writes:
touchdown, you make me LOL! Anyone who flames others like you do has issues....deep, dark issues. Maybe you can talk to Dr. Phil or Dr. Ruth.
utvolz#637682 writes:
I hope it's just these two and not more. Certainly let their teammates down by not getting their business done in the classroom!
Frank in Miami
wyomingvol writes:
Thanks for throwing Your GRADUATE teammate under the bus after the SEC Championship Game and being a consistant under acheiver since arriving here Demonte'.......
You can talk all the s*&^ You want, but You wont be able to hit the field and back it up You lazy MF.
Ainge has consistantly produced and help his TEAMMATES win.
You have not.
Get a dictionary for the big words, and someone to read it to You if neccessary.
If You don't come back, You wont be missed. Tennessee is a TEAM, maybe You have to learn how to spell it before You can be part of one.
Harsh, yes. Mean, maybe. True, absolutely.
airship writes:
Dont be to hard on these players. Its very hard to complete six hours of class work. Thanks for letting your team and fans down. As for the player who go to class i thank you.
invisiblekid writes:
A guy like Darwin Walker sure makes Bolden look like a joke. It's time for Bolden to rescind the title of team leader and step away from the mic.
"I didn't feel it (that UT was going to win)," Bolden said. "I'm not a quitter. I never will be a quitter, but I didn't feel it."
He apparently didn't "feel" going to class either. There is still hope for Bolden though, just look at Kellen Winslow Jr., he has made a career of being a jackass and pretty good football player.
airship writes:
Basket weaving class must be a pretty tough class.
ThaiVolFan writes:
Right now all that comes to mind is how Bolden called out Ainge after Ainge's rough game in the SEC CG. I thought that was classless, especially after Demonte's front D line was run over much of the year while Ainge and the offense bailed them out time and time again. Now Demonte can't even play in the last big game of the season. I believe Demonte's words were something like, "if we could have just traded a couple of players this game would have been different." Well, who needs to be traded this game. Big mouths are made for eating their own words. I hope Demonte does some serious growing up before next year. We need senior leadership, not senior backstabbing and irresponsibility.
Go Vols!
dfreeman writes:
Amen to that ThaiVolFan!!
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