"We will never give up on Tyler; sometimes things happen to the wrong people at the wrong time.''Wayne Chism
The Tennessee men's basketball team returned to practice Friday knowing it will finish the season without its team leader after the announcement of senior forward Tyler Smith's dismissal from the team.
"Anytime you lose a brother, a teammate you've been with, it's very tough,'' senior point guard Bobby Maze said. "Life moves on, you take the good and the bad out of it, and now we've got to move on and play the No. 1 team in the nation in front of a sold-out crowd.
"People say we're short-handed, but this is what we've got, and we're still confident in ourselves.''
The 16th-ranked Vols (11-2) play host to top-ranked Kansas (14-0) at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in a game that will be televised nationally by CBS (WVLT).
UT senior Wayne Chism said Smith will remain with the team in spirit.
"Tyler will always be family to us, and Tyler will always be in our mind,'' Chism said. "The thing I want people to know about Tyler is that he's a good person, and he loves his son (2-year-old Amare) and would never do anything to jeopardize the career he wants to have so he can give his son the things he didn't have growing up.
"We will never give up on Tyler; sometimes things happen to the wrong people at the wrong time.''
Smith, along with teammates Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins, was in a rental car stopped for speeding on Jan. 1. Two guns and a bag of marijuana were found in the car when it was searched, resulting in misdemeanor drug and weapons charges.
Williams, Tatum and Goins are indefinitely suspended.
UT coach Bruce Pearl said he has stayed in close contact with Smith on a daily basis as the process leading to Smith's dismissal played out.
"Tyler and I have had tremendous contact,'' said Pearl, who took Smith under his wing after Smith's father, Billy, died of cancer in September 2007 - shortly after Tyler transferred to UT from Iowa.
"We discussed (Thursday) where we were at with this, giving him an opportunity to understand, and then today we made the announcement,'' Pearl said. "We're going to deal with this (media) today, and as quickly as possible, try not to deal with it and move on forward.''
Sophomore Scotty Hopson said he owes a great deal to Smith, and plans to stay in contact with him.
"Our camaraderie as brothers, as friends, doesn't stop,'' Hopson said. "Tyler helped me so much on and off the court, toughening me up, teaching me about the game and letting me know what to expect,
"It's different coming from him than a coach, because he has been out there,'' he said. "It gave me confidence knowing Tyler was behind me and believed in me.''
Chism, who had the best performance of his career with 18 points and career highs in assists and steals in an 88-71 win over Charlotte on Wednesday, said he also learned a great deal playing alongside Smith.
"I've sat and watched Tyler a lot, and what I learned is that even when you're down, or having a bad game, you still have to talk to your teammates and help others,'' Chism said. "The other night, I stayed patient, and I was able to see a lot of the things Tyler would see and that led to all those assists (six). I learned that from him.''
Maze, Chism and Hopson were unified in their confidence that Smith will rebound from his difficult situation.
"Guys aren't worried about Tyler, because we know he's a good guy and he'll make good of this situation,'' Hopson said. "We'll keep him in our prayers, and with God, he'll do fine.''
Hubert Surgery: UT junior walk-on Michael Hubert underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery Friday at UT Medical Center.
Hubert, from Hendersonville, injured his knee during practice last month and is expected to return next season. He appeared in four games this season, making all three of the 3-point shots.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 34
nocleats writes:
LOve the sinner, hate the sin..
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Wow Wayne sure looks different.
mempuss writes:
Always orange! stay up tyler!
WhoIsJohnGalt writes:
I fully support Coach Pearl's decision here. Nevertheless, this is a sad day for UT basketball and a sad day for Tyler. But Tyler is not a kid; he's a 23-year-old man. When you make bad decisions they sometimes have bad consequences, and he has to accept that. It sounds like he has. I hope Tyler learns from this and makes something of his life. I wish him well.
ctexorange writes:
Good luck to you Tyler, people make mistakes in life and learn from them. You will always be in the UT family.
bigorange61 writes:
I could swear that picture was JP.
reachkim00 writes:
Se ya thug.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
Tyler has been my favorite UT player for since his first season here. It's really hard for me to turn my back on him because I feel like his actions don't represent the person he is. I really think he's a good man and I definitely hope he decides to continue playing basketball. Go TS.
khelton657 writes:
"would never do anything to jeopardize the career he wants to have so he can give his son the things he didn't have growing up."..too late, already has....
VOLKING writes:
Dear KNS,
Please stop smoking weed and identify the correct person in the top photo. Hint: It is NOT Wayne Chism.
charles57#1378642 writes:
Coach Pearl obviously knows something he hasn't shared with us! YET.
rk40977#297843 writes:
He created his own profile.
vet4ut writes:
and ignorance is bliss...
CoverOrange writes:
I'm still trying to figure out what actions were bad. Yes he had guns, but he didn't shoot anybody, didn't rob anybody, didn't hit anybody with them, didn't wave them around menacingly. Tyler's crime was having a gun that is associated with crime. Not that the gun was used in a crime but just associated with crime. Guilt by association? What evidence is there Tyler used the guns in anyway?
Volsbygod1 writes:
Haha I do believe that is J.P. Prince. Tyler smith is still the man.
jigsha (staff) writes:
Yes, the photo caption had an incorrect name. We have fixed it. The photo is of J.P. Prince and not Wayne Chism.
Jigsha Desai
gvx
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
"Tyler will always be family to us, and Tyler will always be in our mind,'' Chism said. "The thing I want people to know about Tyler is that he's a good person, and he loves his son (2-year-old Amare) and would never do anything to jeopardize the career he wants to have so he can give his son the things he didn't have growing up.
***********************************************
Wayne, he already has! This incident has cost Tyler and his family Millions of Dollars. Tyler and the Vols had a decent shot at the Elite Eight this year, maybe a Final Four,,which would have greatly increased his Draft Stock.
ATF takes a very hard line on altering firearm serial numbers. They prosecute it and it carries a five year Prison Term! It doesn't matter if you altered it, or received it that way! Tyler isn't going to play inEurope because he won't be able to get a Passport. The Courts frown on felons leaving the Country!
I hate every part of this situation, most of all for Tyler's family, and then for the Vol Nation, but Tyler did this to himself!
All_Vol writes:
Well said.
All_Vol writes:
Go back to the hole you crawled out of.
mrvica#308650 writes:
I am really sorry for Tyler in that he made bad decision and put himself and his school in a position that required this action. I agree with some of what you say, but I do not believe that his race had anything to do with the resulting consequences of HIS actions. He, and he alone, placed the guns in the car, knowing the school rules. The only place where race may have entered in is that, perhaps if they had been white, the police may not have stopped them, but face it they were speeding. Do not use the excuse that many do it, because that does not excuse him. I have been ticketed before when many others were speeding along with me but that arguement did not save me a ticket (and I am a 72 year old white man). I suspect because of the gang culture, there are many young black men that feel like they "have" to pack heat, but that does not wash with regard to Tyler's position as an athlete and, more importantly a team captain and leader. Neither does your statement that many parts of the world accept the drug use. This part of the world does NOT and if you (Not necessarily saying that YOU do) or any others want to use it then you/they should go to that part of the world. One major problem we have now in this country is that all too many people come into our country and think that they have the RIGHT to do all of the things they were allowed to do in their home country, regardless of the laws of our country.
I agree that the punishment of Colquitt was not equitable, but in the culture of this country there is no comparison between booze and guns and pot. My biggest argument in the Colquitt issue was that others with the same offense at the same time were treated much more harshly, but just remember that that was a different coaching staff and different Athletic department. Also, I don't beleive that that situation was as much race as it was the name!
I wish Tyler the best and truly hope that this major mistake has not cost him too dearly in his desire for an NBA career.
ktm589 writes:
You are an idiot. These guys know he was wrong and he is paying the price. There is nothing wrong with them supporting a friend when they make a mistake. Hope you never need any friends to help you.
sweetmama writes:
I can't believe the photo in the paper this morning! The players should stop glorifying their "fallen" team-mates. Putting their jersey numbers on their shoes? Give me a break! They aren't dead heroes; they broke the law and violated team rules. They had guns, booze and pot in the car! They all knew it was there. Pearl needs to get a grip on this team. What the four did is NOT okay. He should not allow the remaining players to put the stupid ones' numbers on their shoes!
sweetmama writes:
"What actions are bad?" They broke the law(possessing two firearms without a permit--one with #s erased and possession of pot) and violated team rules (guns, booze and pot). Being stupid isn't a crime, but what they did WAS a crime.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
Tyler should have borrowed a truck and displayed the guns in a rack in the back of the truck. That would have been okay
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Yes. AND you don't have to make millions to provide all that your son needs. What your son needs is his dad...and for his dad to be physically present and providing, not just $$$$, but by being a positive, loving, wise role model. Make your son rich in the things that matter.
mercuryvol writes:
Not if the SNs are altered.
CoverOrange writes:
Plas, I've read your stuff before and know you're an okay guy. Don't read into it more than I said. I'm not looking at it as an UT athlete but as if it could be anyone of us average Joes. No, I don't want anyone shot anywhere but the thing is we don't know if Tyler was planning to do anything with the altered gun or than protect himself. Altered guns are ASSOCIATED with crime which makes them criminal to have. But that doesn't mean that a violent crime had or was intended to be committed. If your point is that all guns should be outlawed, well, you see where outlawing weed has gotten us. What Nuke and Mike Edwards did, what Turk McBride did, what Brent Schaeffer did were worse, IMO, than Tyler toting with a toke.
When Knoxville hits 20% unemployment with a largely uneducated population then you can compare it to Detroit.
CoverOrange writes:
Take it a step further. WHY is having an altered gun bad? Because violent criminals have been known to use them. But the logic doesn't apply in reverse. Having one doesn't automatically make you a violent criminal. No more than driving a red sports car makes you a speeder. But you are suspect. And that is Tyler's crime. He is suspect of a crime yet to be committed.
TennHillbilly writes:
Two unregistered and loaded guns hidden under the seat. One of them had the numbers filed off. Tyler claimed ownership of both guns.
We don't know (and may never know) if either or both of those guns had been used previously in a crime. I'm not saying Tyler used them in a crime, but someone may have. If the FBI has determined they have been and Tyler doesn't come clean about where he got them, then he could be blamed for those crimes as well.
CoverOrange writes:
Totally agree. If and when, then there will be serious trouble.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
Time to move on. Tyler expressed remorse, his teammates are understandably bummed, but Pearl said it best, "We're going to deal with this (media) today, and as quickly as possible, try not to deal with it and move on forward.''
That's how it has to be.
Volsbygod1 writes:
They can put Tyler's number on their shoes if the want there is nothing wrong with that, he was their teamate that was a least on the team sweetmama. Don't act like you were in the car and you know exactly what happened, he could have been taking the fall for a teamate for all you know.
Basketvol writes:
"home boy?"
Your biased perspective is revealed by referring to Tyler as such.
volsn3 writes:
DO THEM A FAVOR AND STAY AWAY....VOLS DON'T NEED A GUN TOTING POT HEAD AS A MENTOR....YOU MADE YOUR BED NOW GO SLEEP IN IT BY YOUR PATHETIC SELF...I HAVE GUNS BUT I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT FILING THE SERIAL NUMBERS OFF THEM....THAT IS WHAT THUGS DO WHEN THEY START MAKING PLANS....YOU LET THE VOL NATION DOWN......LEAVE KNOXVILLE AND LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE
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