A pair of suspended players are back in.
An incoming signee is already out.
The status of four other newcomers still hasn’t been determined.
The numbers game was never going to look as good as Derek Dooley wanted heading into his first fall camp with Tennessee. It also might not be as bad as the first-year coach anticipated when he took over. But either way, with the Vols reporting on Tuesday for their first practices this afternoon, in some ways UT’s roster remains a work in progress.
“I think it’s probably less (turnover) than what it was a year ago,” Dooley said. “But I don’t know, you always have a lot of attrition when there’s a coaching change, and it’s just part of it. There was a time in the spring when I was really concerned, but we’ve done a pretty good job of getting everybody (in for camp).
“It’s good to finally get to the season. It’s certainly been a long six, seven months.”
Dooley’s first six or seven months clearly haven’t been boring, and business might have even picked up during preparations over the last few days for the start of camp.
The lack of developments or charges against defensive tackle Marlon Walls and linebacker Greg King led to the decision to reinstate the players from suspensions for their roles in the Bar Knoxville brawl on July 9.
Cornerback Dave Clark, a junior college signee, was ruled academically ineligible for the season, leaving another hole in the defensive backfield after the dismissal of safety Darren Myles following his arrest in the bar brawl. That combination helped prompt a different sort of roster move — the switch from offense to defense for receivers Marsalis Teague and Ted Meline.
And the continued uncertainty about four other signees — defensive tackle John Brown, defensive back Eddrick Loften, defensive back Marcques Dixon and linebacker Martaze Jackson — left some questions heading into the fall about the complete roster, which sits 10 scholarships under the limit of 85 with only two more spots left open for those four players due to NCAA rules capping additions.
“There are four guys who still are in the process of doing some things, whether it’s procedural or administrative or work, that they have to do before they come to be a qualifier,” Dooley said. “But we have 17 new players and seven mid-year guys that were here this spring, so that’s kind of where we are on the initials.
“We anticipated having several of these issues, we knew it when we signed them, so none of them are a surprise.”
Dooley obviously wasn’t expecting to deal with issues for King or Walls heading into the season, though barring another surprise the matter appears to have been resolved for the sophomores.
Both players were allowed to report to the team after being indefinitely suspended by Dooley despite not being charged by police in the hours after the brawl last month, and neither will be forced to miss any playing time when the season starts against UT Martin.
“It’s still a little tricky because there hasn’t been full closure by the legal process, so I can’t talk much on it,” Dooley said. “But I can tell you this: I’m extremely comfortable with what the facts are and with what happened and their role in it. It’s been consistent since Day One, and there’s been no new information that would lead you to believe otherwise. I’m very comfortable with the discipline that we have put on them, and I’m comfortable with the attitude and the remorse that they feel like they’ve had, and I’m confident they’re going to be two great ambassadors for our program.
“So I have no qualms whatsoever in bringing them back now. The only thing that could possibly change is some new information that I had no idea was out there. I don’t anticipate it happening. I’m always a little reserved until you get full closure legally.”
Dooley also is still waiting some closure academically. But with or without it, he and the Vols are going to work with what they’ve got.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 27
tennesseebee writes:
How about the number "first" game?
writer#358485 writes:
It's almost football time in Tennessee! And I for one can hardly wait. I'm prepared for anything from a surprisingly great year to an "oops, maybe next year". All the prognosticators on here can put away their hatchets or their rosy glasses (admit I haven't seen too many of the latter). But it's almost time to do what football teams are designed to do--play the game. There are so many variables in this complex game that anything can happen and that's what makes it interesting! Go Vols!
trollhair writes:
I can not believe they would allow those suspended players to come back to the team. What kind of example is that? If you are a football player you can get away with anything and everything so your 'team' can win a stupid ball game. I have NO respect for this team.
Orange_Juiced writes:
Can you tell us what all they did during the bar brawl...I mean seriously...I want to know. You seem to know. Seriously. I'm not doubting you at all because I really do want to know what happened that night and I think you can enlighten us. I mean did they throw the first punch? or were they simply there like the other 15 players that have not been suspended. I mean I agree with you if you say they were the main culprits...BUT if there was new information that CDD got after the fact that you know...might have exonerated them...then I guess I'm okay with the suspension being lifted...I mean especially if they...King and Walls...were/are no more guilty than say...Da'Rick or Montori. I mean since you know all the details...please tell us...seriously.
Peace and GBO
Halls3 writes:
I don't mind them coming back after the legal process is finished. They were indefinately suspended from absolutely nothing. No missed practice, game time, etc. This is not discipline in my opinion but hey it is my opinion. Just like I believed Myles should have been gone the first time, not given a slap on the wrist to be an idiot again.
Bigger_Al writes:
They were in a bar fight, and were never charged with anything.
Meyer would have never suspended them in the first place.
Saban would already have them back.
nocleats writes:
Im confused! I always thought that mid term enrolees could count back to the year before if needed, in this case to the 2009 freshmen class. I know this used to be the rule. I thought thats why the former staff and this staff were pushing for mid termers as a way to get back up to the 85 scholly limit. I understand the 25 players but, again, I thought the mid termers could be applied to a previous class if it did not have 25. Anyone?
rockytopatl writes:
I posted here the day of the indefinite suspensions of Walls and King that I could not see how Dooley could possibly have all the facts, that he was too quick on the draw. Neither was mentioned in the police report. Neither was charged. Now it appears Dooley either knew something the police didn't, or Dooley was wrong about what he thought he knew.
Why no word about Rogers? Shouldn't the story at least have said that Dooley wouldn't talk about him?
nocleats writes:
They were never charged with anything at all, there is no legal proceeding to finish. On Rogers, it appears as though the bouncer who did not want him charged with assault is not going to press charges and it will be a no contest. The player who may have kicked the policeman is no longer on the team or enrolled in the University of Tenn.
nocleats writes:
The entire team had to run because of it, everyone, even the ones who were not even in Knoxville when it happened.
voldavid writes:
i saw a wreck today! i guess i should get a ticket. dimwit
CCLC writes:
For the record, put me down as being officially amused and entertained by some of the regional AND national handwringing over Houston Nutt welcoming Jeremiah Masoli to Ole Miss. What these criminals did in Knoxville is MUCH worse than everything Masoli did put together. For that matter, CMR dismissed Zach Mettenberger last spring for far less.
KptDBVol writes:
your grading of crime is skewed as bad as your choice of amusement and entertainment.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
It baffles me why these JUCO guys can't seem to qualify..Isn't the reason to go to a JUCO is to straighten out your academic shortcoming???Hopefully Loften qualifys;He was a great last minute pick up..What good is it to be a top#15 DB out of high school if he can't pass a basic math test..WHAT A WASTE
gatorhator4eva writes:
i agree, there alot of doubters on here. All i can say is defense usually is the biggest concern for any team and with smith at the controls we should have no problems. If our inexperienced offense and qb can shake the jitters of the first couple of games, this team is looking promising. I goto the florida-tennessee game every year and i can not wait; it is looking better and better everyday. Everyone here, even some vol fans on here have some doubts, but what ive seen from dooley, i have no doubt that we are in good hands and he is in charge. GBO
p.s. football time is tennessee is only 31 days away.
CCLC writes:
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”
Ayres_Hall writes:
Some of you guys, obviously, did not read the article. Dooley disciplined both guys and he witnessed their remorse. He believes they both have learned and will be better men (I think he used the word ambassadors).
The brawl issue will die soon. I say it's dead in about two weeks when we can't settle on a center to lead the OL. Too bad we don't have another under-sized walk-on to anchor our OL.
VolGrad writes:
Apparently you have no respect for yourself, either. You see what you want to see, or just speak without knowledge. Me thinks you have a beef with Dooley and do not care what the actual facts are regarding these players level of involvement. You already have your mind made up as to the outcome, so nothing Dooley actually has stated means anything at all to you. You would argue with a signpost.
G B O !!!
bkgunter writes:
Get over yourself and stop holding athletes to a higher standard than other students. They do not need your respect.
theoldbear writes:
I predicted last year's team would only win three games, and I was wrong!
If they had only won the three, I'd have been ashamed.
This year's team may only win three games, but if that is all they win, I will be proud of them and proud to be a Tennessee Vol.
I was ashamed to be a fan of a program with Lane Kiffin as head coach.
I am proud to be a fan of a program with Derek Dooley as head coach.
This year, our team will be winners, regardless of their record on the field.
CCLC writes:
Dear sir,
I know you mean well...but "that dog won't hunt".
People want winners.
just sayin'
newguy08 writes:
I followed this story when it first hit. However, I haven't kept up ... Can somebody tell me the person(s) whom were actually charged with the assault on the KPD officer ( Capouellez ? )
CCLC writes:
none of that matters. Tennessee needs some scholar athletes ...UT is short handed right now. Welcome back Fulmer-Ball.
oskie_score writes:
Now this young man is a TRUE Vol!
A good read for those interested...
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/pos...
Stay healthy Tauren and reap what you sow!
Good luck!
Colliervol writes:
I guess it's sort of like the old question: "If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, did it make a sound?
If a couple of folks get beaten up in a barfight and nobody gets indicted, did anybody commit a crime? Your comparison is wrong at this point. Masoli was indicted and, so far, nobody from UT has been in this incident. (Don't even know who Mettenberger is but that will tell you that, unlike yourself, I'm not obsessed with other schools' websites.)
Now mind you, I'm curious why the KPD hasn't been able to pin this on somebody. I'm all for punishment of the guilty parties but till the KPD comes up with something, I don't think Dooley has grounds to kick anybody else off.
swampbuggy writes:
I read the article and don't any problem with reinstatement. Of course it doesn't really matter what I think because UT is not my team. I will say that the action taken by Coach Dooley was on par with what other coaches in the SEC do under like circumstances. At Florida if a player is in trouble, and the charges are dropped, or if the prosecuter decides not move forward - then the player goes back to the team. If, on the other hand, the player is convicted Coach Meyer takes the action he feels is warranted. Coach Dooley just did the same thin. And so has Coach Saban, Coach Spurrier, Coach Richt -- you get the idea.
CCLC writes:
Fair post, food for thought-
The Knoxville police haven't brought charges beyond those on the night of the incident. If that is the case, then Dooley has two choices, keep the suspension and bring further suspicion on his players or re-instate them and 'move on.'
The only problem is there are too many unanswered questions about the night at Bar Knoxville.
Am I the only one that see the discongruity of the two statements in the following quote (taken from ESPN.com's article linked above):
"The pair has been suspended since the July 9 brawl, though their roles in the incident have never been made clear by police. Dooley said Tuesday he's comfortable with the punishment Walls and King have served and said the pair have had good attitudes and shown remorse about the incident,"
Dooley is playing lawya ball here. The police don't have anything on his boys. His boys have shown remorse to the coach for the incident (indicating they were involved), but Dooley knows the police can't do anything legal to them, so he's putting them back on the team.
I wonder if Steward Mandel thinks Derek Dooley is a dirty coach?
just sayin'
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