Amber Gray has decided to pursue her women's basketball career rather than return to Tennessee and will transfer to Xavier.
"They were pretty open-minded," the redshirt sophomore forward said of the Cincinnati school. "They know how hard I've been training. They were willing to give the opportunity."
UT announced last month that Gray, who underwent brain surgery last summer for an aneurysm, would not be cleared to resume playing.
Gray said she has no resentment toward Tennessee.
"I respect the decisions they've made," said Gray, who is from suburban Cincinnati and will be close to her family and her doctors at Xavier. "There's no bitterness, no nothing. Pat (Summitt) and her staff have helped me in the process."
Gray, who will petition the NCAA for a hardship waiver to play immediately, said that she considered staying at Tennessee but still wanting to play was the overriding factor.
"From the beginning, my goal has been to play," she said.
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Comments » 19
alvol writes:
Best of luck to you, Amber. I hope everything works out well for you. You deserve it. Thanks for your dedication to the Lady Vols.
pomp_and_circumstance writes:
The Amber Gray misfortune has a much larger bitter/sweet story than this notification. She was a good player with great potential. Too bad KNS has no sensitive writers to humanize this and make us feel humble.
BxVol writes:
Wishing you the best of everything Amber, both on and off the court.
KCHS63 writes:
I appreciate your sensitivity to Amber's story, but believe me, many, many Lady Vol and Vol fans have followed her saga with close attention and concern. It was an honor for her to become a Lady Vol and she always will be one. I respect her choice and her determination and will now become a passionate fan of the Lady Musketeers of Xavier, unless they face my beloved Lady Vols. More than anything, I'll be pulling for Xavier to reach the NCAA so that Amber can set foot at least once more on the floor of Thompson-Boling Arena so that she can experience the love that the Lady Vol Nation will always feel for her.
Thank you to Amber and her fantastic mother. You will ALWAYS be in our hearts!
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Best wishes to Amber. I'm sure the negavols will be out soon, comparing this to the Emmanuel Negedu situation...
bigdisbig writes:
Godspeed to you Amber. You are a quality lady who has battled thru adversity. I hope to see your name in the spotlight at Xavier.
Know that every quality Tennessee Vol fan is with you and behind you.
I hope you take some fond memories of UT and harbor no resentment for that can harm your growth as a person. Live Love and Laugh much my dear.
ThugTillIDie writes:
Totally off subject, but ESPN is reporting that the NCAA has questions about Josh Selby's amateur status and he isn't cleared to play. I am loving this so much.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Great, great, GREAT post, KCH. I couldn't agree more with all your points. She will, indeed, ALWAYS be a Lady Vol.
Godspeed, Amber. Hope the NCAA honors your request for hardship, and hope your career at Xavier is everything it would have been at Tennessee had circumstances been different.
GO LADY VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
huntined#565710 writes:
Just wondering how she can play at one school but not at another????Insurance---risk---what??
volboy81 writes:
The best of everything to you, Amber! We'll miss you in orange, but understand your decision.
pomp_and_circumstance writes:
I followed the saga, where it could be found, also. But so much was like following stock quotations on ticker tape. Here is the perfect opportunity for KNS to do a closure story. Beginning with the tumor discovery and the ladies circling the wagons at the Cincinnati hospital. The limbo, the rehab. The clearance by one medical opinion and the grave doubts by Pat and staff. There had to have been some gut wrenching decision making going on with Amber caught in the middle. I imagine Pat and staff would appear heroic in a deeply human and non-glamorous way if someone concluded this saga in a fully fleshed account. Or this stage of the saga. Amber might go on to excel at Xavier, and what a sensational feel good story that would be.
d_ray writes:
"UT announced last month that Gray, who underwent brain surgery last summer for an aneurysm, would not be cleared to resume playing."
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Ms. Gray, I know you want, maybe even need, to play basketball .... but think of your health first. Follow the medical advice. Please.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
Precisely. Don't do what you love, do what everyone else thinks is best for you.
Millisa writes:
Amber-Best of luck to you in all that you do You will be missed here in TN. Still praying for you Take care and May God Bless You Always :) :) :) Your a Lady Vol no matter what :) :) :)
YankeeVol writes:
Good luck, Amber Gray... I hope all of your dreams and goals will come true.
ladivolfan writes:
Next time I fly in to Bradley International, I'll let you know. I'll be the one in the Lady Vols Seven....oops, I mean Eight Times National Champions t-shirt.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Good luck Amber! Best wishes! Xavier is a good program and they have a pretty good team. Definately a top ten team this year.
YankeeVol writes:
That was me, Mike -- wondering if you'd wonder if it was YankeeVol....
98reax writes:
Pomp, I have to agree, the really "goose-bump" human interest stories in the women's game get pushed aside, ignored so often. The majority of sportswriters are male; they seem reluctant to reveal their compassionate side, unless of course there's some scandalous tint to the story, not unlike the 'Brittany and her sister' saga.
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