Langley
Vinson
Dave Hooker audio:
Cornerback Brent Vinson and defensive tackle Donald Langley won't be a part of Tennessee's travel squad for the UCLA game Monday night,.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said following Monday's practice on Haslam Field that the suspensions stem from a violation of UT's class- attendance policy.
The punishment is in accordance with an SEC mandate that went into effect last fall in which three unexcused class absences result in a suspension from 10 percent of that season's athletic competition.
The announcement provides some clarification on Vinson, who was buried on UT's depth chart during preseason camp despite a standout freshman season in 2007 and the reputation as being one of the best athletes on the team.
Langley was one of the players expected to fill the void left when defensive tackle Chase Nelson suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this month.
Fulmer said both could return to play against UAB on Sept. 13, provided they uphold their academic standing.
Still Waiting: Linebacker Gerald Williams' academic situation is still on hold. The transfer missed his fourth straight practice awaiting academic clearance.
The hoopla is surrounding an online class that Williams took at UT to complete his junior college requirements. The Vols are waiting on the certification paper work to be completed and returned.
This isn't the first time Williams has had to wait to play for UT. He signed to be a Vol in 2005 and has since taken a year off to focus on academics, gone to prep school and attended junior college.
Close friend Vladimir Richard said Williams is keeping his spirits up despite the tough situation.
"He's just being patient," Richard said. "Everything is pretty much clear. We're just waiting on that paperwork to be sent over."
Richard said Williams has stayed upbeat thanks to his play before being sidelined. Following UT's Aug. 16 scrimmage, tape study revealed Williams registered eight tackles.
"He's staying real positive right now and I'm helping him with that," Richard said. "He's not letting all this stress him out."
Missing the entire season seems unlikely, yet Fulmer admitted that every day Williams isn't on the field, it gets more disconcerting.
Despite being less experienced in UT's system than senior starter Ellix Wilson and sophomore backup Nick Reveiz, Williams has shown enough in preseason camp that Fulmer said he'd make the trip to UCLA as long as he's eligible.
"He's just a big, physical presence in the middle there," Fulmer said. "When he tackles you, they go down. He could definitely impact our football team and I'm hopeful that it all works out."
Fulmer said he hoped to hear news on Williams' case any day.
In Action: Freshman fullback Austin Johnson (foot/ankle) and sophomore defensive end Chris Walker (groin) returned to practice after missing last week with minor injuries. Both are expected to be available for the opener.
"It was really tough because I felt like I was getting to that point where I was game ready," Walker said of his injury.
Walker said he could have practiced last week but agreed that taking the more conservative route was the right choice.
Fulmer said freshman tight end Aaron Douglas should be able to help UT soon. Douglas has responded well in practice, overcoming offseason shoulder surgery to give the Vols depth at a position that is without Jeff Cottam, who underwent back surgery last week.
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
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Comments » 95
MrBamSeydu writes:
WHAT!! This isn't good, mainly at DT.
MrBamSeydu writes:
note to the newbies: I didn't say "1st" like some sort of tag game. See how that works??
atvolfan#654430 writes:
Langley is a pretty big loss for us, but we're pretty deep at corner so Vinson is not so much.
rockytopjeff writes:
all off season we come through clean. Less than a week before the start of the season we get this phooey. I knew it was too good to be true
jeremyinitalia writes:
Maybe they could use this to get to the game (otherwise, Vol fans take note)
The UCLA football shuttle bus operation will continue at the Parsons Co. parking lot, located at the corner of Walnut and Fair Oaks avenues in downtown Pasadena this season.
Fans wishing to take the MTA Gold Line to the games can exit the Gold Line at the Memorial Park Station in Pasadena and walk a short distance to the Parsons lot.
We are pleased to announce that beginning this season, Football fans will be able to park at the Parsons lot for free. The cost to ride the shuttle round trip will be $2 per person.
dvols writes:
gerald??
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Was Vincent the one some called the best athlete on the team?
Langley, ouch...
BSweet writes:
Wow, was I relieved! I thought VINSON was ineligible but turns out it's some kid named Vincent. What a relief!
Seriously, it sucks to lose both. Langley is needed for depth and Vinson has such dynamic potential. I hope both get their noses into those books and get straight. Remember boys, STUDENT-athletes. Get your academics in order.
miamiVOL writes:
its Vinson, this reporting is pathetic, is there even an editor or can you one just upload their own stories as it appears
spvol writes:
You've got to go to class, guys.
BSweet writes:
A new name on the recruiting radar- Tavon Austin. Savage, any info on this kid? Scout has us recently getting into the hunt for this kid, who they rate as a 5 star RB.
vol98 writes:
If this is from last semester...no wonder Vinson was not playing with the ones. Whatever happened to Faison anyways. Why is everyone is so upset about Langley. He is project in the making.
Vol43 writes:
What gets me is that these guys know the rules. They skipped class and now they stay home. I guess they will watch the game instead of being in it. That's weird.
invisiblekid writes:
Not much of a suprise, Vinson has been widely reported to be in the doghouse and there hasn't been much said about Langley the past three weeks.
Guys better grow up or they are going to be left in the dust. Vinson is fighting for PT in an already crowded secondary and Langley has been passed by Victor Thomas in the rotation.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tngeoff - what would Homer Simpson have done?
Hmmm, class or beer.......
IBleedOrange444 writes:
It's going to be the MBR wrecking crew now. (Morely, Berry, Rogan)
I was watching the UK/ UT game from last year the other day and they could've nick-named Vinson toast after that one 'cause he was getting burnt out there. His shoulder also slipped out in the 4th quarter.
Guys, just go to class and go back to sleep when you get there. That's what I always did. It's called learning through osmosis.
Jamey1210 writes:
Did anyone else take from this article that these guys are not supposed to be suspended by regulation but Fulmer chose to make an example of them? I don't just sounded like the rule will go into effect this semester.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
Ah.....Jacob Hester..one of my all-time favorite college players. UT should still roll over UCLA with the OL that they have not to mention the QB issues. Looking forward the the SEC taking center stage this weekend with UT and Bama victories.
cobbwebb writes:
you have to be kidding me! what part of go to class, do these knuckleheads not understand? this falls on the coaches and players!this is the kind of thing that really ticks me off,your not only here to play football, your also a student! this isnt high school any more boys, you cant get through on athletic talent alone! i hope this is a one time problem and not a recurring one.
Jamey1210 writes:
Hey DC, We might not miss him in this 1st game but what everyone wants is to see him healthy. He has been refered to as the most athletic guy on the team and people no his potential is not even close to being reached. He needs to get on the field to get more playing time and experience. But you are probably right he might not be missed saturday but it could have proved crucial once we get to the Florida game. Well that might have been your point. Cause we all know who your rooting for on that saturday.
gohawks1 writes:
phooey. As if the DT situation isn't dire enough...
RJ_Vol writes:
The right thing.
cobbwebb writes:
dc- im gonna miss both these guys, last time we were in pasadena our qb went down early, and bam we are staring a true freshman qb square in the face.you never know when a guy is going to be counted on!
budrhon writes:
So much for Utopia!
utwick writes:
It happens everywhere and the timing is never good. I would hate to be the one to let my team, school and family down (not necessarily in that order).
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Ummm Geoff...it is the player's fault. They are young men who must take some responsibility for keeping up with their obligations. Going to class is one of those. I paid my way through college and might have missed three classes my entire career. Perhaps missing a great trip and bonding experience will help them understand the consequences of their actions...let's hope.
ctownvol writes:
You have got to be kidding me!!!
imw8n4u writes:
Bamablows - the last time we were in Pasadena we were rolling early until our punter (Leaverton)had a complete meltdown and Leonard Little caused a late fumble to preserve victory. That was Peyton's senior year I believe.
ctownvol writes:
I understand the pitfalls of putting so much passion and energy into the fate of 18-22 year old men, but is asking them to go to class too dang much? Hopefully in the grand scheme of things this won't hurt us too badly. Who knows? Maybe it will actually help somehow, but I'd rather be going to Pasadena with a full plane instead of two empty seats. That's for sure. I'm just so ticked off right now. I'm gonna go kick the neighbors bulldog and go to bed. Good night fellas!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Ya know, I was puzzled about them saying the other day that Victor Thomas was the least ready of the top four dt's and I opined they meant to say the top five, because they were not counting Langley who had sounded much more active and dynamic on the field and in the weight room. Now I see why the said more on Thomas less on Langley. Hopefully he'll heed this warning.
FWBVol writes:
DCflorida, Hester "trucked" a lot of people. He was one of the best fullbacks in the SEC and had good speed to boot.
Vinson played with a badly separated shoulder most of last season. There was even an earlier story about how it would just pop out if he rolled over on it when he was trying to sleep.
I hate that he didn't take care of class attendance, and there is no excuse for it. On the bright side, it seems to indicate he passed the class.
Need_2_Know writes:
If this doesn't get their (Langley and Vinson) attention, maybe steer them toward the biography of one JAMES BANKS, one of the most talented failures ever at UT. And, in all honesty, I hope for the best for James, would like to have seen him excel at Carson Newman. But for all his talent and athleticism, he likely achieved something no one else could have done . . . he deprived himself of a professional football career, and he deprived college football fans of a terrific show. Too bad, we all lost in that deal.
Get it, guys?
OrangePower11 writes:
1st
You people have more issues than meet the eye if someone having fun bothers you that much...get a grip, get over it, and understand that in America, weez can duu whateeveer wees wants ta
murrayvol writes:
yemmusdarb: Yes you did. Postponing until your second post doesn't get you off the "hey look at me" hook. :)
cleVOLand writes:
Good move, Coach. Well played. This must have been what the chatter was earlier this summer about an acedemic problem in the D backfield. A lot of people were afraid it was D- Mo again. This also explains the 3rd string issue for Vinson. Let's take care of business, fellas, and beat the Bruins!
SmokeDog72 writes:
They should be well rested for UAB. I will sleep better tonight.
murrayvol writes:
When you say your prayers this evening, be thankful it's not Berry and Williams and Florida is not looming on the horizon.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Gonna be hot in Pasadena, will wish we had more than 4 dt's. Bet they borrow somebody from one of our other units before its over.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Hey.....TAP ON THE BRAKES!!!!!
This is a good thing. The messge is being sent to all the players to stay focused this year......Get it? UCLA is decimated. Stop panicking. Man up, for heaven's sakes............Thanks for coming out..............
GreerVol22 writes:
"I tried coach, I really tried. I just got lost, .....3 times. Dang, this school is big"
Is it really a stretch to understand why these guys can't stop anybody on the field???
Ironcity writes:
Fulmers not messing around. Better shape up. Your not at UGA or UF
longtimefan writes:
how hard is it to go to class? give their scholarship to somebody that wants an education!
LeFemmeVOLtal writes:
What most of you fellas dont know is that Langley's mother was very ill and that was likey his reason for missing classes. Most academic departments at UT dont differentiate between excused and unexcused absences.
Just cause you may be excused from practice doesnt mean you'll be excused from class....yea it sucks
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Guys its too bad that we don't realize one truth among some colleg football players. There are not as mentally into the games that we folks go nuts over. I guess you could say that some players could care less if their team wins the game or not. Visit a dressing room some time after the game and you will realize the players most of the time are talking about things other then the game they just played....Its we fans who take the game far more seriously than the players ever do....But its fun for us anyway.
xvolx writes:
LET THE CIRCUS BEGIN.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
FREE GERALD
volfan73120#211815 writes:
iam4ua- Someone has been whizzing in your cheerios.
FWBVol writes:
what iam4ua fails to mention is chair stacking is a graduate course in Tuscaloosa. They have take "indentifying a chair 101" second semester of their freshman year.
BigOrangeVol writes:
I have a good friend that was an A-A at Bama in the late-80’s and he took Wood Bending (for making boats) and Bass Fishing to keep his GPA up. Bear wanted to make sure his boys were eligible!
So I'm4yearsold, I'll call your fictional Chair Stacking 101 and raise you with legit UA classes of Wood Bending & Bass Fishing.
My Royal Flush beats your high card 5 Dillweed. Shuffle up again and I'll take all of Lunch money your Mommy gave you!
RockyTopVolFan writes:
One would think that with all the advisors, tutors, mentors, aides, gofers, etc. that our "student"- athletes have here in RockyTop that attendance would be so closely monitored along with student progress so as to prevent the above from happening.
I guess if the student/athlete does not have the desire to accomplish what is required, he will just have to flunk out and go play somewhere else.
Come on guys...you need to do better than this or you are history here.
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