Tennessee's athletic department isn't opposed to recruiting intermediaries but also knows to be wary.
"I don't have my head buried in the sand," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said Wednesday. "It's a part of the world that's out there. There are well-intentioned people out there and in some cases there are some people that aren't well intentioned."
Hamilton declined to comment specifically on Brian Butler, who helped steer UT freshman tailback Bryce Brown through the recruiting process.
Butler has been the center of media scrutiny for his role in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes, including Brown when he was a sophomore at Wichita (Kan.) East High School.
UT is still awaiting word on its appeal to the NCAA for a reduced punishment for Brown, who could be suspended for a game or two and ordered to pay back money the NCAA ruled he should not have obtained as an amateur athlete.
UT's recruitment of Brown has not been questioned.
At issue is money raised to help Brown and nine other prospects tour at least 13 Southern colleges.
The 34-year-old Butler raised funds for the six-day tour of campuses by hosting barbecues at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, holding a fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse and collecting donations from four individuals whom Butler did not identify, according to The Wichita Eagle.
One of those boosters is an unidentified former NFL player, CBSSports.com reported on Thursday.
The identities of those individuals would be key to the NCAA's case. Had any been donors to college programs, those donations would jeopardize a student-athletes' amateur status.
Butler admitted selling the tours as academic endeavors even though athletics were clearly the main reasons for the trips.
"I deemed it initially, and marketed it that way, as an academic tour," Butler told The Wichita Eagle. "I know you can't get money donated when it has anything to do with athletics."
While Hamilton has no reason to believe Butler did anything wrong, he said the inclusion of recruiting mediators is a "slippery slope" but defended those with altruistic intentions.
"I think that can be very innocent," Hamilton said. "People want to help people out."
As for now, the NCAA investigation isn't the most pressing issue with Brown. Just staying on the field is his chief concern.
Brown participated in some individual drills Thursday but left practice shortly thereafter with a sore hip that has bothered him all week.
"You could tell he couldn't move very well on it," UT coach Lane Kiffin said following practice. "We pulled him at that point."
Kiffin seemed surprised that Brown's hip wasn't better after a day off.
"He was hurting today," Kiffin said. "I hoped after a day off he was going to be able to come back and practice full today."
Kiffin said UT's training staff will monitor Brown during today's light practice to determine if he'll be ready to participate in Saturday's scrimmage.
When Brown does return he could still be limited in practice. If Kiffin hasn't heard from the NCAA on Brown's eligibility for the season opener on Sept. 5 against Western Kentucky, he would be forced to limit the player's reps.
"It is a situation that is strange that way," Kiffin said. "We've already put in stuff for him we were going to run in the first couple of games.
"There comes a point where we obviously need to know (the NCAA's decision) because that affects our team, that affects our offense. We're giving him plays and reps that if he's not going to be there, we have to give to somebody else and change our game plan."
Kiffin said Brown is "OK" with the uncertainty but acknowledged that it was taking its toll.
"This is hard for him," Kiffin said of Brown, who is unavailable for interviews as per UT's media policy on freshmen. "It would be hard for anyone. Right now it's in question to him if he's going to have everything taken away that he's worked for everyday."
That work ethic, Kiffin said, is what makes it so hard on Brown.
"Football is No. 1 to him and being a great player is No. 1 to him," Kiffin said. "Every decision he makes is about that."
Hamilton defended Kiffin for bringing the ongoing investigation into the public spotlight on Tuesday.
"He's trying to protect the kids," Hamilton said. "What that shows to a student-athlete that is over there is my coach has said he's going to have my back - he's got my back."
Hamilton and Kiffin have shared their opinions on the Brown-Butler relationship but both know that doesn't mean too much.
"It's what the NCAA thinks about it that ultimately matters," Hamilton said.
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Comments » 75
rynrem writes:
whats the punishment we are appealing
deadheadvol writes:
none of this will matter in a year, GBO
gohawks1 writes:
Where is the top stadium to watch college football? Go here to vote for Neyland stadium:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destin...
Go Vols!
alfrizzle097 writes:
While Hamilton has no reason to believe Butler did anything wrong, he said the inclusion....
Butler admitted selling the tours as academic endeavors even though athletics were clearly the main reasons for the trips.
Perhaps not legally, but morally he stole from any people that honestly thought they were furthering someone's academic career. But you can imply he did nothing wrong? Shame on anyone that shares tha view.
smashmouth98 writes:
The NCAA is such a joke. there were 9 other players that participated in the tour & they are only investigating Bryce. unreal
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
team needs to focus on football, not the distraction.
Volborn writes:
Sounds like it is much more than a game or two suspension: "Have everything taken away that he's worked for everyday". Sounds like one of those donors donated to a college.
alfrizzle097 writes:
It sounds to me like there is a "text book" ruling for a case like this. The NCAA automatically gave out that ruling. Now UT appeals, and they will consider the specifics of the case instead of the general subject of it.
stayingorange writes:
One thing's for sure, the NCAA couldn't care less about getting anything done on anyone's timeline but its own.
Luckily they were all over that Memphis and Derrick Rose thing, just 38 wins, a trip to the NCAA championship game and one year later.
Volborn writes:
I hope u r right!!
Volborn writes:
I just don't think a game or two suspension qualifies as "taking everything away".
CoverOrange writes:
This is an open and shut case. Bryce is no longer an amateur and should not be allowed to participate with amateurs. He is a professional Campus Tour Taker, no doubt about it, and should make himself available for the NCTT draft next season.
RockyTop_Tampa2 writes:
Why don"t they tell us what ruling is? Seems to me if it was something as simple as a game or two they would. This makes me feel like its more than that.
RockyTop_Tampa2 writes:
You're right. Just hard to be patient with all the excitement surrounding the vols this year. I hope he still plays, but CLK has things turned around either way. GO VOLS!!!
CoverOrange writes:
I see by your eloquence that sarcasm is a concept just beyond your itty bitty mental grasp.
CoverOrange writes:
What were they supposed to do three weeks ago? Hold him out? Kick him off the team? That would have been pretty stupid if the ruling went the other way.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Is that you Urban Meyer?
Or just some teblow wearing gayter fan? You look really foolish trying to make this out to more than what it is. What do the mighty gayters have to worry about anyway? Could it be that you know there's enough talent at UT to beat UF with the right attitude and the right coaching? You're hear talking smack because you can see the writing on the wall. Admit it. Get your jabs while you can 'cause you know your window of opportunity is about to slam shut. VB!
allvol32 writes:
7 posts from the same pathetic Florida loser in less than an hour. KNS - please take out the loper garbage yet again.
MemphisVol1485 writes:
It has already been said that this was 2 years ago and had nothing to do with his recruitment by Tennessee. You don't have to worry about that guy giving us money.
davethevol writes:
After reading that, it does sound quite a bit more serious. You actually might be onto something. I hope not, though.
CoverOrange writes:
So what you are saying is that the UTAD should have come clean and told us that Bryce was under investigation three weeks ago? While that may have "set the right expectations for the fan", whatever that should be, it would have been a great disruption to the team and the in particular the 4 RBs competing for a starting spot. Damned if you do damned if you don't.
bluetick writes:
And THAT is why there should be no independent agents trying to be some kind of super star to high school athletes. The village idiot knows not to accept money from former NFL players for ANY reason. If that SOB has done something to make some of these players lose their amateur status, he should be hung upside down by his nut sack. What an idiot!
cc1 writes:
Look who is cheating now. I say let the kid play and kick his dads butt for letting him hang out with people like that. They are kids when we were 16 we would have taken money from anyone,it is not b browns fought and i am a gator fan. let bb play and get rid of the ncaa.
jerseydevilvol writes:
If anyone cares this is a statement from brian butler on his website. It also has the list of high school players he has trained since 2007.
Somewhere on the list has to be the other 8 the ncaa is looking into.
http://www.potentialplayers.com/news_...
Irwin_Linker writes:
I bet the former NFL player was Barry Sanders. Just a guess, but he is from Witchita, and a running back soooo. Only a guess, but that would be nice none the less.
tonyinskeep writes:
the wichita eagle says the NFL player in question is Cleveland Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley
HallowedHill writes:
My understanding is 1 game suspension and repay his portion of the bus tour. None of the other players on the tour are ineligible and none of the schools visited by that tour are being investigated (of most interest, UGA and UF).
ctownvol writes:
And just what position do you play?
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
before BB signed, we all knew there was a potential problem concerning his 'agent'. We were all just hoping nothing would happen. Hopefully just a one gamer and then things will quiet down.
at least this is publicity for the program.
rockytoplady writes:
Yes, all Vol fans go vote for Neyland Stadium! We know it is the most special place to watch a collegiate football game. There's a great picture of it in USA today.
tnbanker_govols writes:
The worst case scenario is that he gets a two game suspension and he has to pay some money back. While this is a setback, it's just a minor one. It's a whole lot better than not being able to play at all. Besides, I'm a little more concerned about Brown's health right now....he's obviously in a good deal of pain. Have they released a diagnosis of his injury??
volnks writes:
My guess is if it were not so close to the beginning of the season, we would not have seen anything reported in the press. I think this is UT's attempt to speed the appeals process and keep the NCAA from dragging their feet on this one.
jedtrdvols34 writes:
The ruling has been passed down by the NCAA so what KNS and SCOUT as well as others are reporting is consistent 1 to 2 game suspension for Brown. Why the appeal by UT? Two reasons: 1. This kid does not have a silver spoon in his mouth and probably does not have cash on hand to immediately by this back and why should he have to? He is not the one who raised the money his friend did. If he is the friend he claims to be then he should pay it back. 2. A two game suspension means Brown's first college action will be in the swamp and Kiffin alluded to this in the above article not having his star recruit and gamebreaker not having any game action prior to this showdown is aggravating. This tells me that this staff is not going to Gainesville to just make a good showing but to win and I say it is about time! CPF is a good coach but every college football fan in this country knows that everytime but once (2001) that he faced Florida he was already losing by two touchdowns mentally before the teams came out of the tunnel. Those days are over and I like our chances in every game this season with one of the best defense minds in football matching wits with 18-22 year olds.
1974Vol writes:
1-2 game suspension may be moot if the hip doesn't come around. If its a hip pointer it could that long or longer before he can go full speed anyway.
corrinebrown writes:
Me thinks the real problem here is the NCAA wants to discourage"handlers"like this blood sucker pig BUTTler
CoverOrange writes:
I think you hit the nail. Brown is being used as an example. Receiving a benefit does not obviate status as amateur otherwise nearly every secondary violation would make players "professional". This should be about the booster and the school he boosts, not the athlete.
alfrizzle097 writes:
You have got to be kidding me, right? Brown was never not going to get scholarship offers to any schools that his GPA met the bare minimum to qualify for acceptance.
It clearly states that they mislead people by telling them they were taking academic tours when really they were looking around for football. Allow me to paraphrase the quote from Butler: We weren't telling the truth because people are more likely to do what you want if you lie.
Yup. He is a virtuous man with a heart of pure gold.....actually, that isn't the point I'm trying to make. I'm just saying that everyone is so concerned with Brown's eligibility that they have managed to forget about morality in favor of technicality.
Ringleader writes:
UT was actually notified in January not to offer Brown, by letter from Mike Slive of the SEC. He also notified LSU at the same time, and they did not offer after his visit. The NCAA letter is two months old, not last week. Read todays AJC for tips of facts. USC also failed to offer after his visit. The fact about Miami, is that they formally withdrew their offer a month prior to signing date. You can archive the Miami Herald for the facts. Whatever, Hamilton and Kiffin shose to offer, knowing the baggage was attached, now the baggage is being inspected. The NCAA has ruled Brown is not an amatuer, dating back to the tenth grade. This is not over something that happened in the tenth grade, but something that started in the tenth grade. It will not be over a few hundred dollars. Why has the letter from the NCAA not been released to the public, time for an information request to UT.
musicjl#606296 writes:
OK. I'm extremely confused. I thought the article said one to two game suspension at most. Now people are saying he might not be eligible to play, ever? I'm totally lost.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, then, why don't you give us a vote in that poll(;-P)? You wouldn't want some yankee stadium winning such a poll, would you?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
No, that wouldn't be "taking everything away". However, although we don't have a definitive answer at this point, the "game or two" and repaying the donated money might just be a MINIMUM penalty. It could be MUCH worse, but we just don't know right now. At least no one is alleging that UT did anything wrong, but I was one of those who was leery about Brown's and Oku's involvement with Butler back before we signed them.
musicjl#606296 writes:
Anybody notice that Blake Bell is on the list of ones with a commitment offer so far, that have been through his camps? Wonder if he will have to go through all of this too, since he is one of the top QB prospects in the 2010 class......
chargervol writes:
Believe what you see, not what you hear. Everything here is speculation. The NCAA, Lane and coaches, Bryce and Hamilton are the only ones that actually know whats going on. Butler knows everything, but has no credibility. These handlers(weasels) would not have a place if the NCAA would change the requirements. They would have to have the NFL's help. When the player signs he is there for four years(barring redshirt). If he is kicked off a team for any violations, he would have to sit out a year before joining another team(any level). These kids would feel alot less pressure to get to the next level. They would have to accept coaching and responsibility. Anywho, just a thought! GO VOLS!!!
RollTideJoe writes:
You can't have a story without putting Florida or Alabama in the mix.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks! But I do have to say that it MIGHT NOT be so much fun playing in Neyland from now on!
Go4Two writes:
This maybe the NCAA's way of showing CLK that he needs to respect the rules. This happen when he was in the 10th grade give me a break.
the10sevol writes:
actually, we don't have to put them in there, you "fans" of other schools do that on pretty much every article on our site, lol.
realistically, lizards and red elephants are, as willie so eloquently sang, "always on our minds", they are our two biggest sec rivals.
note to witchie: i referenced "on our minds" not "in our heads", don't want any trademark infringement issues with you (although there are those who say my head could be shrunken a size or two at times).
GBO
VolunteerLifer writes:
I don't understand why the ncaa waited til now to throw their weight around. They had the essential facts in February, according to Butler. What has the ncaa been doing in the meantime? In that time, Brown has ben recruited, enrolled in summer classes, and involved in practice & preparations for the season. And NOW the ncaa decides to come down with some disciplinary action? Seems like their procrastination and failure to clean this up in timely fashion could be the basis for an appeal.
dbc5361 writes:
Dumb post... Why do ANY kids go to college?? 99% of the time it is to get to the next level, aka a great job. All kids have pressure. A student has pressure to get a 4.0 instead of a 3.5 so he/she gets hired for their chosen career over the lesser candidate.
If I wanted to work for Boeing and didn't need a college education to do so would I spend time at a university?
In this case, it's not about the handler.It's about the head coaches. If a High School stud has a handler and the word is out he may be shady then all that has to happen is coaches NOT offer a scholarship to the guy. That will eventually drive the "handlers" out of business. But... there will always be schools that are desperate and will offer such a kid and may have to bite the bullet some day... Ex. Tennessee.I don't blame Kiffin one bit, it's a win/win situation for TN.
the10sevol writes:
please see bolivarbob's link above. this has "selective enforcement" written all over it. the ncaa has an axe to grind with clk over the secondary violations, and they are just petty enough to wait until this point of the preseason to to "enforce" something.
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