University of Tennessee police found walk-on defensive back Vince Faison passed out behind the wheel of his Dodge truck with the engine in gear, his foot on the brake and a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit before officers arrested the 27-year-old former professional baseball player early Saturday morning for driving under the influence.
According to a UT police report released Monday, police received a call around 3:45 a.m. Saturday of someone passed out behind the wheel in the drive-thru of the McDonald’s on Cumberland Avenue.
Police found Faison “slumped behind the wheel of the vehicle,” and then opened the door to check on him.
After noticing the car was in gear and Faison’s foot was on the brake pedal, the officer put the truck in park and tried to verbally wake up Faison, police said.
That attempt failed and police roused Faison only after raising and dropping his hand three times.
Faison consented to a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI after its completion.
He was later taken to the UT police department for a breathalyzer test before being booked into the Knox County Detention Center around 6:20 a.m.
UT police did not release the alcohol influence report, however according to UT police, Faison’s breathalyzer test revealed a blood-alcohol content of 0.22 percent. The legal limit in Tennessee is 0.08 percent.
Under state law, a first-time DUI offender must serve at least 48 hours of the minimum 11-month, 29-day sentence, pay a $350 fine and court costs and loss of license for one year.
On Saturday, UT coach Phillip Fulmer suspended Faison for two games. Faison is the first of five Vols charged by police since Jan. 11 to be suspended.
Faison, 27, enrolled at Tennessee last month after a nine-year professional baseball career that began when the San Diego Padres drafted him with the 20th overall pick of the 1999 draft.
Before being drafted, Faison signed to play football for the University of Georgia.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 52
volinky writes:
Good grief...
TommyJack writes:
Was it before or after they screwed up his order?
BornaVolDieaVol writes:
This dude seemed real mature in an interview I heard a few months back on the Sports Animal. Guess the college life is rubbing off on him fast.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dang, maybe he thought McDonalds was a holy place. Sanctuary . Ours was (back in the day) to spring for a dozen Krystals with double onions. No Bud could ever be smelled over that.
Doubt if we'd overcome blocking a drive-thru. Life goes on.
TommyJack writes:
sphs: You're the wrong one to talk about "leading anybody on"
volinSmyrna writes:
KNS. NOBODY CARES!!!! Put this in the gossip section of your paper. This is not a sports story. Where are the articles about a "high profile" intramural star that got arrested for DUI. Give me a break.
ckwhite writes:
No kidding! Let's pour some salt on that wound!!
BluetickBlues writes:
Wonderful, first the 18yo now the 26yo players too. Brilliant young minds I tell you. All my faith in the Vols rest in the hands of Eric Berry. May God bless you child...
ctownvol writes:
I heard the hamburglar slipped something in his coke, and he passed out while waiting on his double cheeseburger with no pickles. I know grimmace got me like that once...
dowdpat#654244 writes:
I think it is important to know the details. In the past 3 weeks many on this site have pointed out that it seemed like the police had arrested (yelling in a parking lot) or pulled over (License plate light out) UT players for ticky tack reasons. Passed out in a drive thru is ridiculus. I'm guessing he didn't blow a .08. I would boot him from the team.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Glad no one got hurt in the process...hang in there, Vince.
I pray that the Lord will use this in your life.
agr_vol writes:
he probably had ordered his food about 45 minutes before, trust me it happens all the time at that mcdonalds
agentorange writes:
well, all these stories have made me so interested in all the vols private biz, i'd like to know some things about the guys who make a living writing about these kids/young men playing football. how bout an article on all kns reporters' criminal backgrounds (including arrest..not just conviction..history), their grades from high school through undergrad (and postgrad if applicable), state of birth, resumes and driving records.
Pullingguard writes:
Can't the Knoxville Police let a guy sleep in his own car? Well, no they cannot, but don't you get sick of the KNS making a big story out of each incident that happens at UT... Is there any wonder why recruiting has gone to the dogs? NO... because when they visit K. Town they only read the negatives.. Considering that most everyone at UT is under age to drive why not restrict alcohol beverage permits around 10 mile area of UT... Would that Work? NO... Things will work out..
ronbliss writes:
I was almost his agent out of high school and I told him to sign with the Padres. At least he would be getting paid to be drunk.
Bliss Ful Thinking Is Always The Answer
losvolsganan writes:
Settle down guys. KNS is just trying to get our reputation as a party school back up there w/ LSU and FSU. Then recruiting will really take off!
(just kidding)
The guy may have been having one of the worst days of his life and obviously made some very poor choices. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call and he will grow up. I second BigVolinCarolina's prayer in Jesus' name.
ONUV writes:
looks at all the sheep getting their panties in a wad
outermonvolia.com
TommyJack writes:
losvolsganan: "grow up"? Hell, the man is already close to Medicare, Part B.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Tell me again what the D in DUI stands for?
TommyJack writes:
orangeblood: dozing, apparently
Phowell23 writes:
Oh come on KPD he was just tired of waiting on the McDonald's to get his order right and took a nap. Good grief.
UTBEATEMALL writes:
This sounds very fishy! This (kid) needs some serious counseling or needs to be checked for traces of the date rape drug.
johnlg00 writes:
iam4ua**, Faison played minor league baseball out of high school, so he had college eligibility left. Have you ever heard of Chris Weinke? He won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State at about the same age because he played baseball first also. Just because you haven't heard of such a thing doesn't make it something weird. Just crawl back under your rock and quit showing your ignorance.
For some of the rest of you, Faison is not just a "walk-on", he was an INVITED walk-on who agreed to come here without a scholarship because he could pay his own way, even though he was highly-recruited for football in high school. He did us a FAVOR by coming here in such a fashion. I'm sorry about the DUI incident because, as someone said above, he seemed as if he was more mature than that. I hope he learns from it.
UT_Tim writes:
The party at the dorm was so loud he went for a drive to get some sleep.
or
The light stayed red so long, carbon monoxide built up and knocked him out.
bigbluevol writes:
iam4ua, doesn't building a dynasty usually start with something better than a .500 record? I mean, for crying out loud, if that's the standard, then you guys have been laying a great foundation for a while.
Colliervol writes:
Some of you guys absolutely slay me. If it was just one walk-on who got in trouble, it wouldn't be worth noting. But do you not think that FIVE INSTANCES IN A MONTH is worth noting? I believe you should be referred to as the Three Monkeys Fans ("See No Evil, Here No Evil, Speak No Evil"). Because obviously you don't care what these players are doing as long as they can play "Fuhball". Embarrassing themselves, the school, the alumni and, oh yes, right before signing day? No big problem according to you I guess. I'll grant you that this is a big bottom-line business and we're not looking at Harvard and Yale here but there should be limits as to what will be tolerated.
Also, you do recall 2004-2005 don't you? If you don't learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.
TommyJack writes:
Colliervol: Agreed. But what do you want to do with'em? Life without?
Hunter writes:
Good thing ESPN doesn't consider us relevant enough to make these national stories......ouch.
Colliervol writes:
Don't know TJ. But there has to be a better way than what they are doing now. (And I ain't gettin' paid $2 million a year to figure it out.) But I'll be willing to bet that if they have a few more, you'll see Hamilton step in and set some ground rules.
Personally, I'm still a fan of the "one time and you're on double secret probation" with the punishment of watching the entire team run. Two times and they're gone. But that's just me.
johnlg00 writes:
TommyJack, I'm with you. Colliervol, NO ONE is happy with these incidents. Our coaches DO care about character in our recruits, but they just can't be watched 24/7, except apparently by the KPD. The process by which athletic miscreants are disciplined has pretty much been taken over by the NCAA and the conferences. There is a process now, and peremptorily ignoring it opens a school up to litigation. All of these incidents ARE a problem, and I am sure the athletic staff is doing all they can about it. If this keeps up, I am sure we will hear about dismissals and such. It is NOT just happening to us; we just hear more about it because it is happening HERE and the KNS nearly always reports it. The main difference with other places is that their local media often DON'T report such things. And if there are any of you who don't think such things happened here in the past, I could tell you some stories....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Colliervol 3:13- Good point. Hamilton will step in when he gets the call. When all this disturbs someone's breakfast in their chalet, rumblings will begin.
A two-lane drive-thru would have solved this.
Does the NCAA require you to have 85 players on scholly? Just wondering......
volinSmyrna writes:
My opinion is that this has gone on as long as 18-22 year old young men/boys have played football, or just gone to college for that matter. However, in the Brittany Spears era of media reporting, this stuff makes the news. You almost never heard about these things 15-20 years ago. So 18-22 year old college students have just now started drinking and getting in trouble??? Come on. I'm not blaming the media for the kids getting in trouble. I just wish that they would leave it alone and let the authorities and the people responsible for these kids sort it out. If they are convicted and get in serious trouble, then fine report it. Most all of these cases get reduced or tossed out (for everyone - not just athletes), but these kids' reputations are ruined in the process of these reporters trying to make a name for themselves.
Colliervol writes:
Sorry johnlg but I haven't heard of any other school with five in a month. And very few with the 21 incidents in 17 months that we had in 2004 and 2005. Maybe I just haven't been paying close enough attention. (Of course, that's discounting FSU and their 35 with the grade scandal. But they've always been on a different plateau when it comes to miscreants.)
Volinsmyrna, there is a huge difference in your run-of-the-mill student and a football player. If my freshman daughter gets popped for a DUI, it ain't likely she's going to appear on ESPN or the front page of the KNS. A football player at a major school has to hold himself to a higher standard because he is in the public eye and he represents the university. It would be nice if it was the "old days" in a lot of areas but that time is gone. If they get arrested, it becomes news and that's not going to change.
johnlg00 writes:
Colliervol, of course you are right that five in one month is too many, but 21 incidents in 17 months out of a population of over 100 18-22-year-old males (mostly) is not out of line compared to the general population of that age. BTW, are the numbers you provide only football players or do they include all athletes? I'm just asking, since the subject population would be somewhat higher otherwise. You are of course right that high-profile athletes should know they are under a microscope in a town like K'ville and hold themselves, and be held, to a higher standard. But, again, what would you have the authorities do about it? As I indicated above, they do not have a completely free hand in this.
volinSmyrna writes:
colliervol...I do agree with you that student-athletes absolutely should hold themselves to a higher standard. My beef is the coverage these guys get when they stub their toes. OK...if a guy is passed out behind the wheel of a car in gear, that is reportable. But, for example, if a guy is just yelling and waving his arms in a parking lot, why waste ink on that? In my opinion, certain newspaper and tv "reporters" have an agenda to make themselves look good by making others look bad. Where are the stories of the other 80 players doing what they are supposed to, helping out in the community, making the Dean's list... To me, those are the stories of interest we should be hearing about from the KNS.
bigbluevol writes:
sphs-- I hope you're right, but I think most everyone who had any hope in your predictions has lost it.
smokymtman writes:
Hey, so the guy drinks a little and stays out until 3:45 am; maybe he's trying to forget he's at UT??????
TommyJack writes:
Colliervol: Miscreants!! I LOVE it.
Pound the miscreants!!!
gohawks1 writes:
volinSmyrna has a good point, and it's the same with all media. We hear all about the miscreant behavior (that one's for you, TJ) when these guys get out of line - and I don't fault the media for that. My gripe is that we should hear more news on those athletes who do good things in the community and exhibit positive behavior.
When is the last time we read an article like that? Think about it, KNS. Bad news is not the only news.
rbatten9#231828 writes:
While its bad he was that drunk. Thank goodness he didn't kill himself or anyone else.
DekanGator writes:
He only had two beers
Colliervol writes:
johnlg, those 21 incidents in 17 months were on the football team alone back in 2004-2005. You are correct that it probably isn't out of line if you take 100 regular students during the same time period. My point is that the chemistry student who is passed out in the drive-thru at McDonalds or is yelling at the po-po in a parking lot at 4 in the morning isn't going to make the front page. A football player at a major university will appear on the news every time it happens and nothing is going to change that.
Sure I'd like to hear more stories about the good ones. And there are some of those. But most of those kids are just doing what they are supposed to do and they don't even look to publicize the good deed themselves. It's much easier for the KNS to look at the police reports than fish around to see if some football player is doing something good.
jevolball7 writes:
I was listening to Fox radio and they broke in with "breaking news from UT". All it lacked was the 3 beeps from the national security test! Is this "emergency related news"? However, if he was passed out,then the cops did the right thing....for once.
redneckerson writes:
sphs - yeh, the boat's filling up - with your BS.
jevolball7 writes:
Idea: Block off the strip at each end on weekends. We could eliminate the KNS's M.O., thus no news. And perhaps, pay off the national debt,with all the fines the pigs would collect. We all know now where we find a cop. The strip,the Pilot,(or any other free food trough),or studying up for their GED and figuring out to drop that last 150lbs to pass that doughnut sprint.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tngeoff 4:59. Thanks for the fritter link. Maybe we could have a fritter face-off on signing day in 2009, if we participate. With Meatloaf's "Bat Out of He##" in the background.
Ralph would want the big odd ogg to judge however. Maybe a new recruit. Naw.
On a frivolous matter, maybe the Mickey D's old grease smell took Vince off his game. He could see the goal. What a shame. If he doesn't shape up, pound Dupree. Check the charts.
TommyJack writes:
jcvet: The answer is, you gotta have at least 11 to start a game.
johnlg00 writes:
jcvet, we don't necessarily know what the situation was with the freshman you mentioned. Maybe there were other issues that we were not aware of. Acting the fool in public is not the only way an athlete can get in trouble. CPF is smart enough to know that he would have a problem with the rest of the team if he were perceived as playing favorites.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TommyJack 11:00 - Any chance Hamilton will ban Phil for two games for poor recruiting? Probably not.
4ss#446072 writes:
We need a new dead horse to beat!!!
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