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Marijuana was confiscated from the residence hall room shared by University of Tennessee men’s basketball players Duke Crews and Josh Tabb, according to a UT police report.
UT coach Bruce Pearl said Friday he was aware of what occurred Monday night, and that was part of the reason Crews was suspended indefinitely from the team Wednesday.
“Other than a police report being filed, there’s not much I wasn’t already aware of,’’ Pearl said. “Our student-athletes have a responsibility to be role models. When they make poor decisions, they lose the opportunity to participate and represent us.
“Duke needs to surround himself with the right people.’’
Crews also has failed one drug test since enrolling at UT a year ago, a source in the UT athletic department confirmed. School policy is such that an automatic suspension does not take effect until a second offense, but the student-athlete becomes subjected to an increased amount of substance tests.
Crews, 19, was not in the room at the time of discovery.
UT Police Captain Keith Lambert said the marijuana was a “minor amount,’’ and that charges are typically not brought unless the offense is at the felony level.
Lambert indicated that if paraphernalia such as numerous baggies or scales are found, it could be determined there is intent to distribute, which would also trigger charges. Lambert said such evidence is not present in Crews’ case.
The UT office of student affairs is also dealing with the issue.
Pearl, who has been out of town recruiting this week, said he’s confident Tabb was not involved in the incident. Tabb has been staying with a friend and not living in the apartment.
According to the report, UT police responded to the residence hall in reference to a confiscation at Crews’ apartment at 8:16 p.m.
The report states that Bob Sterner, the assistant hall director, had gone to Crews’ room to respond to a noise complaint earlier that evening. When the occupant opened the door, Sterner reported smelling a strong odor coming from the room he believed to be marijuana.
Sterner contacted Maxine Thompson with the dean of students office and received permission to search the room. Upon returning to the room, no one was present.
Sterner’s search uncovered a small bag of marijuana inside a shoe under the couch and a small bag of marijuana in the top dresser drawer in the front bedroom. An air freshener top with some leaves and residue of marijuana were also in the top dresser drawer in the front bedroom.
Crews, from Hampton, Va., averaged 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. He led the Vols in blocked shots (32) and field goal percentage (.518) en route to All-SEC Freshmen honors.
Pearl said Crews will not be allowed to work out nor weight train with the team.
The Vols are holding supervised individual team workouts once a week. UT will begin regular season practice on Oct. 12 before playing its first exhibition game Nov. 2 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols open the regular season Nov. 9 at home against Temple.
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Comments » 39
Ironcity writes:
What a shock
juicetke#226846 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
juicetke#226846 writes:
More info:
http://www.wbir.com/sports/story.aspx...
DannyVol writes:
I usually don't like to say "I told you so", but I can't pass on these two cases from yesterday:
Hunter wrote:
"Uh, since when was it published that this is a drug thing? How about we not jump to rash conclusions because you are a self-perceived "Vol insider"
The common sense ability to read between the lines just a little bit does not make someone a "Vol Insider", only someone with a lick of sense.
Bigbluevol wrote:
"Nothing in this article indicates drugs…In talking to those close to the program, this suspension is from Pearl and not from the University. In other words, Crews has not received an automatic suspension by the University for a violation of any policy including substance abuse."
Hmm. I reading a story written by a journalist close to the program, it appears that Crews likes the reefer a little more than those people "close to the program" knew or were willing to tell. By the way, just who did you speak to? A UT traffic cop or a janitor?
People, if you are going to be wrong, don't be hateful about it and don't quote anonymous sources that are either nonexistent or not in a postion to know.
wyomingvol writes:
This is a direct reflection on Coach Fulmer and the Tennessee football program.........
Had to get it started! ;)
doctorvol#211700 writes:
sad to now know that this is how it happened, particularly knowing the issues that have been "smoldering" for a while.
bigbluevol writes:
All I said was nothing in the article indicated drugs. The quote I put up was from Brent Hubbs' Volquest.
BigUn writes:
Sad that this kid has all the talent in the world, but apparently his attitude and lack of focus might ruin his life forever.
Hey Duke, I know it's a hard decision to have to decide between possibly making millions in the NBA or washing dishes at Grady's for the rest of your life. But pick one and stay with it will ya?
I've heard others comment that watched him in the Rocky Top league that his attitude is very bad and he isn't very respectful either.
bigbluevol writes:
I don't have a username over there. The article was emailed to me. Sorry that I posted it instead of just providing a link. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. So, if it appears that I am talking out of both sides of my mouth, I apologize.
mjohnsonvols writes:
Looks like Pearl is a lot like Fulmer has no direction in his program. This is crazy you bash Fulmer for this kind of stuff then when it happens the basketball team it is what a shame we will get through this or it was the footballs teams fault. TN fans are pure DA.
GO VOLS!
smitbo7 writes:
Just chillin' man, just chillin'
VolMoment writes:
Another Fl. or Ala. fan is juicetke. His wife if he is man enough to have one, must run around on him. What a sorry post on this site. Crawl back in the hole you came out of.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Wow some basketball players are smoking some weed. I'm really shocked here.
agentorange writes:
legalize it and tax it. look at the multi-billion dollar alcohol industry that has grown out of its legalization.
RockyTop1 writes:
Duke either play (get) straight or go and distract someone else! We need you but not with this type of distraction!! The fan base deserves better and so should you! Bruce keep the heat on! GO VOLS!!
budd#207344 writes:
FIRE PEARL !! FIRE PEARL!!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Has someone started the FIREBRUCEPEARL.COM page yet? Fire them all. Fire all players in all the sports. Fire all the coaches. Nothing less than perfection and National Championships!!
yeavols#228407 writes:
I like a good party..but honestly...is there anything I can believe in at UT anymore? Why yes there is..ticket prices going up.
BigUn writes:
This firePearl stuff, supposedly poking fun at Pearl supporters and Fulmer bashers is quite humorous.
When the basketball team has 13 or 14 incidents w/in 18 months then maybe we can talk. Pearl kicked off Jemere Hendrix is first year here when he could have really helped the team. Fulmer let people like Tony McDaniel stay and play after video evidence showed him knocking out another student in a basketball game.
DannyVol writes:
Nothing has changed over the years in regards to student athletes except the "screw-ups" get caught more often doing stupid things. Personally, I think the authorities, which includes the administration and police, are much more willing and definitely more able to hold athletes accountable.
The use of drugs among athletes is not any higher than say 1985, when after 9 p.m., athletic dorms throughout the country smelled like Cheech and Chong lived there. Back then, it was a rare occasion when any authority figure stepped in for any reason. Athletes pretty much had a free pass and they knew it. Someone had to be truely in harm's way before the police were called.
The flaws and weaknesses among the student athletes (and college students in general) have not changed a bit over the years. The thing that has changed is the fact that the authorities are no longer told to look the other way...or choose to look the other way for fear of being blackballed.
DSaVol writes:
For all you morons out there that want to throw FB into this equation - ask someone to do the math for you. How many players has Fulmer had in trouble and how many has Pearl had? Get your mama to help you and you can even put it in percentages. IT AIN'T CLOSE! MAYBE it will be some day but not today so STFU and go throw your money away on a fat millionaire that can't beat anybody without a direction in their name!
Now for all you jumping on Crews and expressing shock and surprise and disgust - were you doing it it in the first 3 months of this year??? Were you doing it last week? Didn't think so. Right or wrong you don't know him, have never had a conversation with him and are in no position to say anything other than this was a stupid thing for him to be involved in - DUH! You too - just STFU about anything else. Oh sorry, you're TRUE VOL fans! What a joke!
OldNumber7 writes:
I am beginning to figure out who Phil's friends and relatives are reading these ridiculous Fulmer-support love posts. Either that or you are gaining some benefit from him by getting tickets or maybe you hang with his kids. You people need to get your heart strings out of this and look at it without emotion and with objectivity.
Tennessee's program is dried up and stagnant, it has been for a decade. - it's time for a change.
newtonrail writes:
I knew DS couldn't resist taking up for his "pets". Trouble is I agree with him, except his continual bashing and name calling of Fulmer. Not crazy about Coach Fulmer myself, but it can be done with respect to the position. Actually, DS the %'s you are talking about are getting close between BB and FB because of numbers differential. Hendrix, Wingate, and Crews in the last 12 months with only 11 guys on Scholarship. We can leave out Pee Wee getting caught right after he left, and the walk on last year ? What about those %'s?
agentorange writes:
Pearl's players have been involved in crack. Fulmer's have not. Fulmer wins.
BigUn writes:
Of course Pearl actually kicked off Hendrix and Wingate, although w/Major he didn't have a choice because the university took care of that for him, and now Crews.
Wingate, Hendrix weren't recruited by Pearl, but he handled the situation. Pee Wee left the team then was caught. Not sure what your point is there, but it wasn't until last year that Fulmer finally started kicking guys off the team for less infractions than others had been doing before them.
It's not that guys get in trouble with basketball or football, to me it is how it is handled. Like I said, show me one person that agrees with Fulmer in keeping Tony McDaniel on the team.
agentorange writes:
The TN'N has the police report. Those are nothing but allegations and, in fact, (you can't trust cops) no one can prove that was Duke Crews' dope. He should fight it. I'm sure he has people in his dorm room all the time. Any of them could have put that stuff in there.
chrisw2967 writes:
Its Fulmers fault.
smith7206 writes:
Fulmer obviously planted it!
Ironcity writes:
Wingate was an automatic removal from the team and Pearl had nothing to do with it. The only player he has kicked off the team he could have kept was Hendrix. Don't forget Patterson and Passley who also got in trouble. I love coach Pearl but like all basketball coaches he trys hard to keep these kids in school and on the team. I think DannyVol hit the nail on the head. These problems are no greater here then anywhere else, the only difference is now the authorities are more likely to prosecute.
FWBVol writes:
NEWS FLASH!!! No coach is going to say, "I recruited a thug-jerk." All of them are going to give us the "He's basically a good kid, but needs to watch the company he keeps..." line. I support Bruce Pearl and the basketball program, but with all the time and money UT or any other SEC/Big Time program spends on recruiting, most coaches would have to know if a kid might have some red flag issues. I live near the Gulf, and people see red flag warnings all the time, but make the choice to get in the water, and then seem surprised when they almost drown. It seems to be that way with a lot of college coaches in every sport as well.
PureOrange writes:
It is very sad to have all these athletes who are blessed with a lot of talent, but no brain.
Colliervol writes:
I was about to say. There is just a small difference in supervising 85 players versus 12. That might have something to do with the difference in number of incidents in the football program. Duh. If you want to do the math DSA on a percentage basis, one incident out of 12 basketball players would equal seven out of 84 football players. Have we seen seven incidents out of the football team in 2007?
I have lost a lot of faith in Fulmer's coaching lately but let's face facts. He has had a lot better discipline record lately than he did in 2003-2005 and he deserves some credit for that. Of course, with DSA, we all know that ain't happening.
DSaVol writes:
Ok Collier you win - FOOLMER gets credit for "improving" his discipline record from just a year or two ago. Of course just as we're not leading the nation in anything on the football field we're FINALLY not leading it in arrests anymore either! I believe the Great Fat One had about 17 in about a 15 month period at one stretch. But of course he didn't have 9 assistants and about 40 managers/staff to keep his guys in check either. Bottom line is all this Pearl vs Fulmer talk is pretty comical. It's real obvious to any objective eye which one is a winner and which one is a dinosaur. But hey, we still have LA-LAFAYETTE to look forward to don't we! Another directional school win for a program with NO direction!
ZacharyUTK writes:
Way to go, Duke. Smokin' weed in your dorm room. Smart, buddy. Smart.
Colliervol writes:
DSA, you're the one that brought up percentages, not me (and I didn't even need mama to help with the math).
At the end of the day, we agree on the end result as far as the football team goes. (Took me a while to come around but I'm a little stubborn.) The only place we differ is that I'm only basing it on the on-field results and observations. From what's been said, I think you have other reasons besides that. But, hey, whatever. There are plenty of divergent opinions on how Phil got where he is but there appears to be a lot of agreement on where he is now.
DadwasaVol writes:
Crews should have done what Dick Cheney did after shooting that guy - tell the cops to come back tomorrow after taking time to sober up.
justingh1 writes:
Maybe Ramar should've "borrowed" Crews' weed then he could've went into his room toked up,listened to some Hendrix,and just chilled quietly. No arrest,no wrecked crown vic,no stitches to the face,and no bad publicity for the program!
hueypilot writes:
Ever notice the similarities to DSAVol and a rattlesnake? DSaVol first gained prominence and was heard early and often in the 2005 season. Like a rattlesnake when the clouds gathered and the sky was gloomy, he came out to slither about this site. His prediction in the off season of a blowout by Cal in Knoxville(You will recall his being accused of having a man-crush on Jeff Tedford) were found to be.....without merit, and with UT back out in the sunshine, DSAVol, like the rattlesnake, slithered back out of sight. I think he resurfaced briefly in the overcast days following losses to Arkansas and Penn St. Now that the clouds are gathering, he has come back out in sight, just like a rattlesnake, to give us all the benefit of his wisdom. I for one, just want to shout out a big Thanks to DSaVol.
DadwasaVol writes:
Yes, Hueypilot, DSaVol has slithered back. A loss to Georgia and we'll hear he's truly qualified to become the next head coach.
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