Tennessee men's basketball player Ramar Smith borrowed teammate Wayne Chism's car late Saturday night and wrecked it, according to Vols' coach Bruce Pearl.
"They borrow each other's cars all the time, but Wayne didn't know at first Ramar had borrowed it,'' Pearl said. "Ramar had a cut over his eye and had stitches, but he's going to be fine. We're glad he wasn't hurt any worse, and we're glad no one else got hurt.''
Pearl said it's his understanding that Smith was not charged with leaving the scene of the accident, which occurred on Martin Luther King Drive on Sunday morning, because a friend transported him to a hospital to receive medical attention.
Pearl said Smith, the Vols' starting sophomore point guard, will not be disciplined, but he will be held out of workouts until he fully recovers from the accident.
Smith, Pearl said, called the police and let them know he was the driver of the car, a white Crown Victoria.
Chism, a sophomore who starts at center, was unaware Smith borrowed the car and had already called the Knoxville Police after discovering the car missing at 5 a.m. Sunday.
The police found Chism's car abandoned and wrecked, and after finding blood on the front seat, proceeded to investigate if Chism was involved in the accident.
A UT police report states that Chism was "checked for injuries that would have been consistent with the accident."
Chism also consented to a search of his room and answered police questions. The report concluded that there was "no evidence that would have indicated that Mr. Chism was inside this vehicle at the time of the accident."
Chism told police he delayed reporting the accident because he at first thought the car had been towed because it was parked in a fire lane in front of Andy Holt Tower.
Chism found out otherwise when he called the Knoxville Police impound center to check.
"Obviously,'' Pearl said, "this was very unfortunate.''
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 56
misterorange writes:
These guys really need to stop doing stupid stuff. Chism's car was "borrowed" early Sunday morning or late Saturday night if you are not trying to sugarcoat it. I know this; if one of my "friends" borrowed my car at three in the morning without my knowledge and then wrecked it, there would be hell to pay. I would hope the girl (what other reason would he do this for) was worth it. When this whole thing was done I would kick his a$$, and he would have to pay for the damage to my car. Anyone that has seen the size of Chism, should probably pick another person's car to "borrow."
doctorvol#211700 writes:
Ramar and Crews need to not borrow any more cars, after now two incidents in a short span.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Are all the athletes in K ville Stuck on Stupid or what? GO to class, work hard, play hard, get your degree and then go pro and party like there is no tomorrow. In that order please.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Here we go, folks...less than six weeks into the school year and already three UT athletes are in the papers for screwups...
justingh1 writes:
Why would you "borrow" each other's cars if you both have one drive your own car. Sounds fishy to me.
mlrandle#226831 writes:
Hey TouchdownTN: add Pearl's divorce to the list. It has been some month for UT basketball!
agentorange writes:
it was bad enough reading the reporters and columnists write chicken little stories all year. now we have two hundred dipsticks led by crvol and jayraymond spreading chiken little manure everywhere.
BigUn writes:
Other than parking in a fire lane, I'm not seeing Chism as having done anything worthy of scrutiny here. His story is believable and makes sense. The only part I'm wondering about is why was he up at 5am?
If it comes out that Ramar indeed did call the police and let them know he was the driver of the car and a friend had taken him to the hospital, then I would think everything should be fine.
We can always hope anyway!
Ironcity writes:
No good deed goes unpunished
thevol writes:
Maybe it's Karma for all you a-holes wishing for basketball season at the beginning of football season.
thevol writes:
That is a good theory tngeoff. Fire Fulmer it's all his fault.
wyomingvol writes:
The blame for this lies directly on the coaches...
The football coaches....
blah, blah blah, blah........
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
Wait!
I have the solution!
Just stay the course!
volunteerTY23 writes:
man this makes no kind of since, you don't just take one of your teamates cars and 3 a.m and roll out to martin luther king blvd. and eVOLUTION if you know so much about the club malibu then you would know they close down at 2:30 am, so he wasn't going there, the fact of the matter is these guy's need to get their heads on straight, I have ran into numerous UT basketball players out in the old city, strip, etc. and I know Ican't spesak for everybody else but if I was a star player on a top 10 team knowing I had a chance to make a career as a abasketball player making millions and to give UT it's first national championship!! I would be a little smarter, and learn from major wingate.
lnbadger320 writes:
my a friend of mine and my roommate borrowed his care a wrecked it when we were in knoxville, he never paid him for it. it's funny because we're still friends.
Basketball_Jones writes:
This is not news....I'm sorry but my friends and I used to do the same thing when we were in college. Friend #1 is asleep (passed out) and Friend #2 wants to go to the store to get some food. Usually no big deal, just so happens Ramar had a fender bender. I mean its not like he knocked out some guy with a cheap shot or took a bat after some guy, thats the football teams job.
CoverOrange writes:
You would think that Ramar's second action after arriving at the hospital (calling the police #1) would be to call Wayne and apologize like hell. How did he get the keys? CBP should punish Ramar simply for getting his name in the newspaper for something other than scoring points.
CR, the echo of your thundering genius is so loud posters hear it even under blue skies!
vol4jesus writes:
Slippery grip Coach Pearl. How do you talk to guys about commitment when you toss yours for a girl not much older than one of your daughters?
JSMITH2432 writes:
Get your story straight. She is the same age as his daughter thank you.
joebomb writes:
Why don't you go thump a bible or something vol4jesus?
DaveVol writes:
The players will look at the actions of their coach, and draw their own conclusions.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
so, lemme see; you want these high-profile basketball studs to come to UT, but won't tolerate them still being dumb teenage boys???
you are going to have a tough time on the recruiting trail.
here's the true story: ramar was driving wayne's car because jordan had ramar's car. jordan and jj were tricking it out as a suprise for duke.
can't wait to see the away gaems this year; fans will be yelling 'smokey' for duke, and holding up baggies and giant joints. ramar will be roasted for his driving.
good prep for a hard schedule!!
Basketball_Jones writes:
I don't care who or what Pearl is doing. He is filing for divorce cause he isn't happy. I'm sorry if its against the bible or anyone elses moral upbringing but if your not happy move on. Also who Pearl dates is none of our business, cause the truth is if we were in his shoes we have no idea how we would act or who we would date.
DaveVol writes:
I didn't make any judgments. I only stated that players, like the rest of us, will draw their own conclusions. Just like in the cases of Sutton, Huggins, and LaRussa. The players will decide if the coach walks the talk.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Vol4jesus is high on the Kool-aid. Sober up.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Vol4Jesus, given the name you've chosen to call yourself...the words and attitude you use to express your thoughts can either make, not only those of us who also follow Jesus look good or bad, but even Jesus Himself. Discernment is needed...or change your name.
JSMITH2432 writes:
With the things that went down last year on the team that went unpunished (and unreported) it makes me wonder what guys would have to do to actually get suspended for games. Oh well. They are going to be really good.
wyomingvol writes:
CLAAAAAAAAAANNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!
Another lapse in concentration costs the Volunteers a shot at the title.....
And I am not talking about the football team.....
Equal rights for both sports!
These are not small issues the B-ball team is dealing with.
We have:
1. A fight with a B-ball player and football player where one kid(football, Brooks) gets kicked out of school.
2. The walkon point guard parked on the curb smoking weed at the strip.
3. Major Wingates major dissapointment, too stoned to realize.
4. Duke Crews smokin' the cheebs.
5. Ramar borrowing Chisms car at 3 in the am and wrecking it, then taking off from the scene, regardless of leaving to call police..
6. Pearl himself maybe not being quite the saint/mensch that we have pedalstalled him to be.
7. I know I am leaving somethingS out...
There are plenty of character issues on this team at the moment, percentage wise, I would say higher than the football team.
Only difference, the basketball team is winning for the 1st time in a LONG time, so everyone is willing to turn the blind eye.
Classy approach, Coach P is lucky he is winning.
buzz29 writes:
Note to Ramar Smith: Bone up on your driving skills and learn some better cover stories before/if you make the mistake of going pro early.
tnbasketball23 writes:
You all are pissing me off! Stop judging our players. They are human, unlike you! Don't you have anything better to do? Look at yourselves and your own families! Are your kids PERFECT? Are you or were you PERFECT? Have you ever made a mistake? What if people had nothing better to do than to talk about you and all the mistakes YOU'VE MADE and still are making?!? You make me SICK! Find something else to do. I know! What about finding something positive about someone and talk about that!? That would be GREAT, wouldn't it?
A VERY ANGRY FAN ...
marinevol writes:
Is it softball season yet?
vol4jesus writes:
Gentleman, I merely raised the question about credibilty. If that affends yousorry. We all need accountability to keep from straying the straight and narrow path. Thanks for correction on girlfriend being daughters age. He was unhappy? OK, I'll remember that next time my wife makes me unhappy. I'll just forget my vows and move on to so-called greener pastures. I can only imagine the pressures on a marriage like the Pearls with all the travel and time away from family. I just look at my own brothers marriage where he traveled heavily and he is in the final stages of divorce. So no glass houses here. By the way ,to those who name the name of Christ ,sometimes our preacher says things that might give us a bad light, but if he is preaching the word and the offense comes about as a result of conviction of sin from the Word then so be it. It goes to motive of the heart. Do I purposely attempt to offend or try to make a rational point that doesn't come across the way I intended. I know my heart(imperfect) b4 my creator is ok and He will chasten me when I get out of line. Again apologies for the misunderstanding.Also I appreciate the rebukes with proper motive of protecting name of Christ. Church meeting in 23 see ya.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Bro, even if your facts are true (and do you know for sure?), then to spread them here naming names is simply gossip. If you have a genuine concern, then you go to someone one-on-one. That's the scriptural way to handle it. There's no beef with your discouragement with what may have happened (I feel it, too), only with how it's handled...here, publicly. I understand your heart...just don't agree with your next step.
scvols writes:
I do not think we heard the last of this, I hear cover-up.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I agree completely with the angry ut fan dude. It is my point as well. coach Pearl is a hard-charging guy. He is probably a real pain-in-the-ass for a spouse.
He's a damn good coach. I love the style of play and his energy. I don't think he coddles players when they mess up.
The players??? They seem like the kids I grew up with; they party, they run around, they....are teenage boys!!!
The media could to a little more to cut 'em some slack. Not every freaking time a kid pisses needs to be in the paper. Heck, probably have these media guys cheat on their taxes and their wives.
No wonder europeans look at us as a bunch of hicks. they only value us because we are good at kicking germany's butt.
GreerVol22 writes:
Yes, we were rather fond of killing huns weren't we?
Oh well, that aside, it is easy to lose focus of the everything when your blinded by a nice piece of a$$.
That was a bad thing to say, Lord forgive me...be with the starving pigmys...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
greervol:
too funny!!!!!!
I saw a docu once about how britain tricked us into joining 'their' side in ww1. they cut all of germany's transatlantic cables, and 'made up' war stories to support their cause. Britain was nervous as we had a large ex-german population in the US, plus they wanted us to send boys for the trenches.....
JSMITH2432 writes:
If you don't beleive what these people are saying about this team and their coach then come hang out on campus for a night. With that being said I don't really care because they are really good basketball players and many programs are the same way. I just find it really funny that these people who are probably four counties away and have never seen one of these guys out at night uses the "don't trash our great players and coaches who are also great characters" line.
vol4jesus writes:
PJHADDIX I CAN'T GO ONO-ON-ONE IN THIS VENUE. IN STREET LIFE I GO TO THEM AND THEM TO ME WHEN NECESSARY. BIBLICAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLINE NOT TO BE SLIGHTED. AGAIN THANKS FOR THE REBUKE.
vol4jesus writes:
PJ what was my next step that had disagreement with? Looked back over post. Unless you are referring to divorce itself.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Sorry I'm not explaining myself well, v4j. What you said in your first post about Pearl was something I had never heard...and didn't need to hear. I don't know where you heard it, and I don't know of it accuracy. But regardless, it didn't need to be spread here. I agree completely with your accessment IF it's true, but it's best to encourage things that are good and true without dragging someone's name though the mud in the process. This isn't the place for that...and if it's not true, what kind of damage has been done. Does that help? pj
vol4jesus writes:
ty sir.
joebomb writes:
foosball is the devils game!!
wyomingvol writes:
Mama say alligators are so ornary cuz they teef hurt.... Don't you be talkin' bout my mama....
wyomingvol writes:
FYI CR, Ramar Smith, Duke Crews, PASSLEY(direct bad attitude smoker/walk on from U of W,Milwakee) are all Pearl recruits, not problems inherited from 'Buzz Ball'. Chris Lofton, Dane Bradshaw(a loss of character to the team with his departure), Jajuan Smith, are fully Buzz's recruit.
I know I would of been in a ton of trouble if I had a 3am wreck in a 'borrowed' car rippin' around town.
Kneejerk Fan: Look the other way as long as we are winning.
If You aren't winning, The Pope couldn't run a clean enough program to avoid the crosshairs.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
v4j, know that i do appreciate your heart and convictions...and <shhh> i'm not a sir.:-)
tnbasketball23 writes:
Ok, let me ask all of you smart people here ... where did you get your information about our basketball players? Did Ramar tell you what time he left in Wayne's car? Did he say where he was going? Did Duke give you any information about his situation? What did Wayne tell you? I know these guys and I don't think they told you people anything! When's the last time you talked to Tony Passley? Let me know what he told you B/C I'm gonna ask him if it's true or not! This is all HEAR SAY! What if you, your son, your wife, husband, your mother, what about your grandmother, your daughter goes to the store B/C they're hungry and someone puts a comment on the Internet about your daughter ... saying she was going to some bar at 2 am looking for some man to pay her for sex or whatever they wanna make up .... how would you FEEL? I mean for all of you people to use what little brain you have! Think about other people, their feelings, their lives, reputations, families ... How you would feel if people were saying things about you that they didn't know to be true!??????????? GOD is the JUDGE! You people shouldn't be spreading rumors! I have a big headache from all this. Be nice, PLEASE : ) Are there any positive comments out there? I'd love to hear them.
Thanks,
A true, loving, supporting, UT Men's Basketball FAN!
GO VOLS!
ALL THE WAY!
Oopps ... I forgot to ask ... Can I hear from all the perfect people, please, pretty please. Thank you for your time.
tnbasketball23 writes:
Can't wait to hear from you!
Colliervol writes:
Is it HEAR SAY if it's in a police report? Duke Crews had pot in his room and Wayne Chism reported his car stolen. Anything "hear say" about those two statements. Two things to think about tnbasketball:
1) High profile athletes are news on a college campus and in a town like Knoxville. Anything they do makes headlines. That's why they have to be better than the regular student. (It ain't making ESPN if a regular student gets caught with pot or has a car stolen and then wrecked by a teammate.)
2) If comments on an internet site makes your blood pressure go up like this, I'd suggest turning off the computer or getting some Valium. You'll see a lot worse than this before it's over.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.