The Tennessee men’s basketball team missed holding on to all 13 of its allotted scholarships by an agonizingly close margin.
The Vols’ multi-year Academic Progress Rate of 924 fell one point shy of the NCAA’s mandated 925, resulting in the loss of a scholarship for the upcoming season, according to figures for the 2007-08 academic year released by the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon.
The news was better for UT’s baseball team, which was subject to a historical penalty last season.
In its second year under coach Todd Raleigh, the baseball team saw its multi-year APR jump nine points to 898. The resulting improvement means UT’s baseball team will be penalized only 0.33 of a scholarship this season after incurring the maximum penalty of 1.17 scholarships last season.
Despite the departure of 10 players since December, UT’s football team will not be penalized for the upcoming season and actually saw its multi-year APR increase by one point to 949.
“The Thornton Center has been very active in the NCAA’s academic progression discussions and has put in place a great framework to make sure our athletes stay on track,” said men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton. “If our student-athletes aren’t winning academically, they won’t be competing.”
The player transactions that caused men’s basketball to fall below the required standard involves players dating as far back as Brandon Crump, who played under Buzz Peterson, to the dismissals of Duke Crews and Ramar Smith last spring.
Crump graduated from UT with his bachelor’s degree and was taking graduate level classes his senior season. But because Crump didn’t finish his studies, the Vols were docked a point.
Former Vol Major Wingate left one day after the APR’s census report was taken. Had Wingate dropped classes one day earlier, UT would not have lost a point. That day earlier, however, was Labor Day.
The dismissals of Crews, Smith, Jemere Hendrix and Tony Passley all counted a point against the Vols, but Crews’ was the most costly.
Unlike the other three, Crews was not eligible when he left UT. Crews later became eligible, but the Vols don’t get to count it in their APR.
When a player isn’t eligible and doesn’t graduate, it’s considered an “0-for-2” if APR terms. If a team has any players of “0-for-2” status and falls below 925, the team automatically loses a scholarship.
Had Crews been eligible when he left, UT would have scored a 925 and had 13 scholarships to offer.
As things stand, if junior Tyler Smith elects to return for his senior season, the Vols are oversigned and will have to release a current player from scholarship.
UT coach Bruce Pearl has confirmed on two occasions that the player could be redshirt freshman Philip Jurick, who was not encouraged by his prospects for playing time next season.
Tennessee fared better than some of its SEC peers in the APR.
Auburn was the most penalized school in the SEC, being hit with scholarship reductions in men’s indoor and outdoor track (0.03 of a scholarship), men’s swimming and diving (0.99) and men’s basketball (1).
South Carolina also lost one men’s basketball scholarship, while Ole Miss was penalized three football scholarships.
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 85
panties4tebow writes:
gator4, Your mother is yelling for you!
GIRL BRING MY PANTIES BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! AND NO YOU CAN NOT STAY ALL NIGHT WITH DC AGAIN TONIGHT!
bugman (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
tnboystuckinkentucky writes:
hey VOLstuckINky, where r you at in KY? I'm in lexington and could use a friend during football/basketball season...
suPEARLman writes:
Peace Jurick!
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
Bugman i hope your not disrespecting my president in anyway with that comment. He is trying his best to drag this country out of the deep hole the last 8 years got us in so please save the sideways comments about obama for the rush limbaugh sites. This is govolsxtra.com please leave the political rhetoric at the door.
The_Greater_Pumpkin writes:
Congress can create a bunch of hearings to go over this since sports are as important to them as our mortgage mess!
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Why not? He's had to fix everything else left behind by W.
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
Oh well as far as Jurick is concerned. Pearl said he wasn't expected to be an impact player. Kenny hall will be more of a factor then he would have ever been. I saw a little footage of Kenny Hall in an AAU tournament in Atlanta, i was impressed with his athletic ability for a 6,9 guy. He was quick and was rebounding then pushing it coast to coast blowing past guys and going to the rack. He was a little slim and will need to grow into his frame, but i see great things for kenny hall at UT. Cant wait to see if makes an immediate impact this season.
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
who is this dc guy is he serious? let me guess your probably a bandwagon fan of somesort. Your favorite teams are probably florida in college football and north carolina in college basketball. I have only one team no matter the sport, college football, mens basketball, womens basketball, etc.. Thats a little something we like to refer to as true fanhood which im sure you know nothing about. Go Vols.
CoachNeyland writes:
I vote we let go of Steven Pearl.
Vol_Stuck_in_Florida writes:
I agree with you Mikesean. I have been around all other types of fans since I moved to Florida, and NONE of them love their team like we love Tennessee. The only one that comes close is LSU. Also, yes Steven Pearl can definitely be let go by the team. No pros whatsoever to keep him on the squad.
GreerVol22 writes:
....my president......bwaaaa!!
seriously the NCAA has to get a grip. The kid was working on on graduate work for Pete's sake and the holiday thing is should be appealed in some way.
VolinSippi writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
smokeysal22 writes:
The problems this country has goes much deeper than the past 8 years and previous administration, of course they contributed as well to this economic downturn. I wish people would look at themselves and realize that they helped this recession along with the living on credit, interest only loans and entitlement attitude. People don't need a government to bail them out, they need to take responsibility for themselves and their family and get away from this entitlement attitude that is so prevelant in our society. I earn my money the old fashioned way, I go to work and provide. And BTW, this issue with UT losing a scholarship stinks!!! I believe Tyler will be back and raise his draft stock, I hope Hopson hits the weights and comes back as a force next year....
SGidds writes:
Steven Pearl isn't using a basketball scholarship. Letting him go wouldn't solve the problem.
HtownVol writes:
Peace out Phillip. I hope Tyler comes back and Phillip has to go. We need Tyler this year. Then when we get that 2010 class in we will own the SEC again, didnt do too bad for a down year. I know the UK fans think they will be on top.. coach crapalot has had that top talent every year at UM. He has not been able to pull away from UT, so why would he be able to do it at UK? We will be just fine. BP has been the greatest thing to happen to UT b-ball in ? I am only 25.
Whats up ith the guy that said that we hired a bad football coach? Did I miss something? Did the season already start? Is he going on the Raiders? P. Carrol, N. Saban...
And this Hood kid. People cant say anything about him. His mistake was 6 years ago. And he has alot of people that says he is a great kid. How can a UF fan talk about another teams troubles? Every team in the SEC ( except Vandy maybe) has some records on their players.
campbo73 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Colliervol writes:
Yep cat, talent is good but then you have to watch Calipari coach them and that's where it gets dicey.
You also have to listen to him run off at the mouth whenever a camera appears close to him. After 9 years of listening to him down here, a root canal is more pleasant. I guarantee you before it's over that he will whiz on your head and try to convince you that it's raining. He did that to the Memphis fans for years and they bought it hook, line and sinker.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Don't think Pearl in on scholly. Hasn't been any talk lately of the Calif. kid (what's his name?). Dad was a big NBA star.
He was rumored to be leaving. Anything new on him??
dshawn13#224876 writes:
whats the deal with flordia and panties? I must have missed something.
crappieking writes:
You might have heard, Bledsoe annouced he's going to KY. Memphis fans are all up in arms mad. It looks like KY is putting together a stellar squad. Especially if Meeks and Patterson stay. Anybody heard any news on our recruits? CP really needs to get aggressive. Looks like coach Cal is not playing around.
panties4tebow writes:
Go to the bottom of the extra page and look under sec news and read the article and you will know. A Great Funny Read!
HtownVol writes:
Renaldo Woolridge
Pullingguard writes:
Stop for a moment and think how the NCAA is so student oriented... They (NCAA) take no reasons for any happenings, although, UT had some that should have been considered..The student athlete is a by product, sorta like another cabbage head on the truck. UT because of circumstances of some years past is one point short, so what happens, kick a player off the team, and if they cant transfer or afford another college then put them on that cabbage truck, for the knuckle heads of the NCAA really dont give a hoot, especially about the young man or woman they are affecting possibly for life. In some respects it would be nice if Congress threw a wrench into the NCAA and demanded a play off in football...Possibly the NCAA is too strong, interfers too much, and serves little purpose in the best interest of the athelete..
UTandETSUfan writes:
Could be worse. Next year UT-Chat's football team has a postseason ban due to academics... Poor BJ Coleman, even if he goes undefeated next year, no FCS championship. Shoulda stayed on the Lane Train! lol
Colliervol writes:
Didn't watch the Kansas game did you Tater? A classic example of his coaching accumen. He is an ace recruiter though, I will give you that.
Also, it took Cal 4 years to get Memphis out of the NIT much less win a game in the NCAA. What has Pearl done in his first four years? (And at a "football school" to boot.) I think maybe we should give Pearl the same amount of time as Cal had to get to the Final Four if we are going to make a comparison.
Besides, you should hear what the Memphis fans are saying now. 90% of them are saying it was a product of his recruiting and not coaching. (It was also a function of Cal figuring out the RPI system and getting a high seed every year. Everybody knows that's the key to advancing in the tournament. I never could figure out how you beat 25 humptys and 2 or 3 decent teams and get a 1 or 2 seed but he certainly did.)
utvolz#637682 writes:
You are AN IDIOT!
What was that, your mother calling you home for dinner?
Look both ways before crossing the road...
Frank in Manchester
TooLegit2Quit writes:
They should change it back to the way it was where high school athletes could enter the NBA Draft. That way there would be less athletes that were one-and-done. I agree, it takes away from the game somewhat. I also believe if you are good enough you should be able to go. Although the amount of high school athletes declaring for the draft did get a little ridiculous towards the end there.
volball7222 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How good does it feel not to have to see former HCBG?
utfan15govols writes:
Do you realize this is a Tennessee site, who cares about Kentucky. Post your Kentucky phooey somewhere else!
798orange writes:
Yet another in a long line of worthless commentary.
dvols writes:
cat you think you feel good now....
just wait to they build a new PLUSH CLUB up there in lexington....then you will be straight up pimp...
i'm qutie sure all that talent want be hangin round the horse barn singin "my ole kentucky home'
i'm just sayin
nothin wrong with plush club
i'm just sayin
GreyhairedVol writes:
He has never been disrespectful to you or anyone else. Why would you be this rude?
ballewville6 writes:
het catscratch if i were aj stewert,donald williamsand josh harralson i would sue the university of kentucky and calipari and those players who were gettin paid to come to kentucky foe 3 million each because they had done nothing for cal and kentucky to be kicked to the curball those who signed for uk after the so called grat cal arrived should have to redshirt and cousins should be made to stay at memphis and wall wasnt going tto kentucky or memphis ,so if he signs for uk the ncaa investigators should spend atleast 6 months finding the money trail to cousins and wall,cal is another eddie sutton or patino he will leavw when ncaa catches him and throw the book at uk while he skates away to another school,you can always get great talant when you can afford to dish out good large amounts of money as former ucla great john wooden told me about 10 years ago when i asked him if he ever paid to get players and he said yes along with the kentuckys the carolinas and several others
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
Why don't you ladies go b#tch slap each other. Real men only here. The Ghost has spoken! GO VOLS!!!
ANGRYWOLF writes:
I thought this was about the basketball team and not a forum for silly right wingerts to get all political..
So those so and sos need to stick to subject matter...
Too bad the team lost a scholarship...
GreyhairedVol writes:
I really enjoy reading you post CatScratch. You are not like the other gentlemen that are very disrespectful. Many UT fans are a little envious in what is happening in Lexington right now.
If they say otherwise then they are full of shite.
So as far as I am concerned come on back.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Rules are the rules no one should wine about the lost of scholarship. Hope this is not a trend with team. You can win the right way-it is just harder to do it that way! Go Vols
FLVol writes:
I wish people would stop talking about the last 8 years as what got us here. Why don't you look at the last 70 years dating back to the great depression.
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
Why would the rule be that an existing player would lose the scholarship? Shouldn't it be a scholarship for next year? I'd be so pissed if I was the worst player on the team and Duke Crews getting the boot meant I had to pay for school or transfer.
GreyhairedVol writes:
Yea it don't seem fair. Kind of sucks.
GreyhairedVol writes:
Vol_In_Ohio If you don't mind me asking what part of Ohio are you in?
CoverOrange writes:
The dumbest part of this is the Brandon Crump story. He left of his own accord, out of eligibility, in good standing, IN FREAKING GRAD SCHOOL!!!! And it costs a point? Unbeweavible!
Would the NCAA prefer schools handcuff student-athletes to the desks until they graduate?
GOJO writes:
Amen Brother, preach on!!
coach75 writes:
i would think that because wingate had to wait to withdrawl until after the holiday and that fell a day after the cutoff date there should be a chance for an appeal. if not then the ncaa needs to look into changing some policy. but all this could have been avoided with kids doing what they were expected to do when they were given a scholarship.
TXTN writes:
Wow, tough break. 1 point. I can't believe Brandon Crump not finishing grad school docks us a point. That's ridiculous. Someone needs to take a long look at that rule. The fact that a basketball player managed to graduate early, should be something to be commended, not reprimanded. However, I don't think losing Jurick would make or break our season if Tyler comes back anyways.
halloffamebowler writes:
Amen plasticman.They are dumber than a coal bucket.
SFOrange writes:
good. after all UT is supposed to educate and graduate it students.
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.