A six-figure University of Tennessee donor called the school’s chancellor an “attack gator” because of his ties to the University of Florida and another called its athletic director “self-serving” and “inept.”
Those comments were among more than a dozen email messages received by university administrators from high-level donors that contained name-calling and threats to pull donations in the run-up to the March 21 firing of former men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl over NCAA rules violations.
One donor sent a one-line email from his iPhone to Mike Hamilton the day after the athletic director hinted at a coaching change during a March 16 radio interview: “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Bad decision,” Hamilton replied. “Previously scheduled interview on different topics, should have canceled.”
The 14 donor email messages and a handful of others between UT officials and trustees were released Friday in response to a News Sentinel public records request. The names of the donors, all of whom each contributed more than $100,000 to the university, were redacted because of state laws protecting donor identities.
Despite the threats to pull donations, athletic department spokesman Jimmy Stanton said officials have not seen a decline in contributions and that there has been more positive feedback since the hiring of new coach Cuonzo Martin.
“More than likely in an emotionally charged situation, this is always to be expected,” Stanton said of the negative email.
Hamilton and UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek declined to comment on the situation, saying the administration was reserving all comments until after a June 10-11 meeting with the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
Donors, however, were more than happy to share perspectives on exactly how they thought the administration should respond to the infractions.
On March 20, the day before Pearl was notified of his dismissal, one donor told UT President Joe DiPietro to “call off your little (fellow) attack gator, Cheek. What are you AgHeads thinking???”
The comment referenced both DiPietro’s and Cheek’s connection to the University of Florida, where both served before coming to UT, and their agriculture department backgrounds.
“I will never stop doing everything in my power to have you fired at the (board of trustees) level if you persist,” the email continued. “I have only donated $220,000 to UT, but I know well 2 of the top 5 all-time donors. They feel the same as I.”
Other donor email messages also threatened to pull funding, including one who wrote to several administrators and fellow donors on March 19, between the time when Hamilton foreshadowed the firing in his radio interview but before the actual dismissal.
Referring to the honorary degree presented to former Vice President Al Gore in May 2010, the donor stated, “I have already cut my annual donation back after that gaffe and will slice it to the bone if Pearl is discharged.”
Another donor, on the same day, sent a three-page email to DiPietro and others, saying, “I can assure you, as have several other donors that I am aware of, that should coach Pearl be terminated, there will be a detrimental affects (sic) to the UTAD financially.”
Some of the email supported Cheek and DiPietro while attacking Hamilton. Others supported Hamilton and lashed out at the chancellor and president, who they deemed unfit to make athletic decisions because of their academic perspective. Most of the email supported Pearl — but not all.
On March 19, one donor was so upset by Pearl’s comments following UT’s NCAA tournament blowout loss to the University of Michigan — “We got into this together and we should see it through together,” Pearl had said — that he wrote Hamilton about them.
“This is way more than I can choke down. I am incensed at the arrogant ignorance of that comment. I, and thousands of other Tennessee supporters, had nothing to do with HIS actions. I worry for you … and some others that are caught in this meat grinder,” wrote the donor.
Hamilton replied shortly after: “I’m going to stand for the truth and if some want me out because of that, I can sleep at night. Lift me up in prayer when you can.”
One email, from a donor who apparently attended the UT board of trustees meeting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in late February, did write DiPietro to express his frustration with Hamilton.
“Hamilton has splintered the fan base of Tennessee and been an embarrassment to UT fans across the country along with the coaches he hired,” the email reads. “I would love to be president for just a day. I’d fire that self-promoting inept AD, promote Pat Summitt, then you could have your job back.”
Megan Boehnke may be reached at 865-342-6432.
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Comments » 137
VolNExile writes:
OK, God bless the Freedom of Information Act.
It will be interesting to see if money talks in this area, as it seems to do in every other facet of public life these days.
chrisw2967 writes:
fire Hamilton and Cheek at the same time.
VolinCalif writes:
I agree with you but I think it is now too late to change what is done. I loved Bp but I do kind'a like Zo. Don't really know until the team hits the floor next year.
richvol writes:
I have felt from the beginning that Pearl had gone too far and had embarrassed the University like no other official had ever done but the PR gaffs that the Chancellor and AD delivered in handling this mess contributed greatly in further embarrassing the school. The statements and timing of their announcements were seemingly done by children they were so unprofessional. They all deserved to be fired.
WaltGoVols writes:
It is disappointing to hear of this last ditch support for Pearl so late in his cycle of "break the rules/lie/get caught/break the rules again" mode pf operations.
Surely the skids are being greased to get rid of Hamilton by now.
Walt
UT '81
WaltGoVols writes:
I am too lazy to research it, but if you use a federal FOIA request, how can a state law "protecting donor names" take precedence? Federal laws, you know, trump state law.
That is one reason we have the FOIA, in order to follow the money.
I am going to stop just short of calling BS on the assertion that the donor names had to be redacted and wonder if the KNS is just not in collusion on protecting the high dollar donor names.
Walt
UT '81
iowavol writes:
Nice to know Mike can sleep @ night. Let him sleep with the fish.
SummittsCourt writes:
Meeting with NCAA on june 10-11.
Fire cheek & hammy on june 12.
rocky_topper writes:
Put hammey back in the VASF/Tennessee Fund. He is good with raising monies. He is in over his head and is horrible at running the athletic department which is proven from his track record while being in that position. We'd better get rid of GATOR CHEEK very soon before he rids UT of any type of challenges presented to UF in regards to athletics.
doh writes:
These guys are too good at fundraising to be fired. Money talks. These donors will have to follow through with their threats before action is taken. The majority of fans dislike hammy and cheek. But I dont see any changes until the money stops coming in.
RememberTheVols writes:
I'm disappointed that they didn't release any of my emails . . . guess I wasn't a big enough donor.
VOLunTEAR writes:
Perhaps now we know where the REAL problems lie with UT athletics.
gobigorange27 writes:
The big donors quoted expressed my sentiments too. UT with Cheek and Hamilton can make it without me, but not without a lot of me. I'm telling them and you now, they have lost 5 basketball season tickets next year. I hope Hammy and Cheek are happy. I'm not!
volman2010 writes:
And we are sick of people like you! Your ignorance of American and world history will not be an excuse when the final day is here, you should know that.. Regardless off Basketball the man ask for prayer in a tense situtation and for for a person to use that as a bad thing will only serve the enemies of mankind and none other. The blood flowed and a new body created and now is standing on the right hand listen for the horn of battle. A battle that will lift the scales that now cover our eyes.. For we see darkley at this moment but will see very clear on that day.. Good intention are meant here but positive a attack will follow..Just glad i want have to read it..
CarbonCopy (Inactive) writes:
Yes lets punish the man for his faith. His job performance is surely a result of his beliefs. I you don't believe in anything that's your business, but your comments are beyond ridiculous .
Please enlighten us on what a real man looks like, with examples please.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say "Thunder" Thornton is a blow-hard...everyone that knows him; knows that. Witch Doctor say "Thunder" suffers for a SERIOUS case of little-man. Witch Doctor say now that he a has barked...he's fine.
Bones never lie.
gobigorange27 writes:
My aren't we self-righteous! Pearl is the only coach to be a stand up guy and admit what he did. He could have been like Jim Tressel or Jim Calhoun and "don't know nuttin' 'bout nuttin'.
RashaadSalabeb writes:
Ditto!
volsfan74 writes:
Ringling Bros. Circus has been replaced by the UT Athletic Department. I love my University and will always bleed Orange but some of this junk is getting embarrassing.
tomkats3242 writes:
I am so happy to know that big money is thinking what I am thinking. I wish I had millons to give UT but the little bit I do have will not go to the university as long as Hamilton and Cheek are there. FIRE BOTH so I can write my check.
orangepeel writes:
Alright. I am glad big money donors feel the same way I do. I encourage all UT fans to quit donating money, going to games or buying UT merchandise until Hamilton and Cheek are gone. The only way to make a difference is to hit them in the pocket book. Fire Hamilton and Cheek.
Huttdawg100 writes:
I think that Hamilton will be let go/forced out shortly after the NCAA hearing in June. Like it or not, he'll have to present our side of the case. In June, I expect Cheek and Hamilton to eith resign or be fired.
To be honest, this article makes me feel good about UT. I think that we got some people on the Board of Trustees and some other powerful donors that see Hamilton like many of us see him: an AD that has failed our program. As a Tennessee graduate, I don't feel comfortable with the leadership from Hamilton and/or Cheek. After reading this, I think that a regime change is inevitable. Ernie for AD!
arkyvol writes:
nice to know that some of the fat cats are as disgusted with hammy as us ordinary fans.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say youre an idiot of the classic kind "Hell lets burn down TBA and fill-in Neyland to support Tennessee".
Bones never lie.
skm writes:
sounds like some of the rich donors at ut are as dumb as the people who dial into vol calls. put the torches down people, you'll see the only thing that ut could have done was let pearl go after he receives his show cause. hiring cuonzo will save us about 2-years probation.
if ut wants to hire pearl again in four years, they may get their chance - no other d1 school will touch him.
dcap8424 writes:
Pearl didn't cheat... he lied. Cheating implies some competitive advantage was gained. Most of the recruits that went to the cookout didn't even end up going to UT.
EMBuckles writes:
One supporter said that he has "ONLY" given Tennessee $220,000! SHEEZE!! Must be NICE to have that kind of money to give away! I respect and admire him for giving to UT, however, if I was him, I'd remove the "only" from that statement!
GerryOP writes:
After this scathing expose` of violence and hatred, I'll betcha' some of those same 6-figure donors will also stop dealing with the KNS. Really, KNS, this is truly not Pulitzer material.
And as the once proud good-ship KNS sinks in the dusk of the era of newspaper publishing, you can still hear the KNS reporters wailing "We stand for truth and justice ... at any cost," as they all start dusting off thier resumes and scamper to the nearst book store looking for copies of "Electronic News Media for Dummies."
GerryOP writes:
The sky darkens, the earth trembles, lightening flashes, and the thunder rolls as the UTAD ticket department reads the message that gobigorange27 is cancelling -- did you hear me, CANCELLING -- his 5 basketball season tickets. Horrors! Whoa is us! The sky is falling! 0.025% of TBA will be setting empty next year.
agentorange writes:
still think/hope Hamilton is a goner after the NCAA hearing.
McMinnVol writes:
The article references a private e-mail in which Hamilton requests prayer. That is hardly trying to "hide behind Jesus" as you said.
It seems to me like part of the dislike for Hamilton is that he is a committed Christian. Is he perfect? Nobody is - including us Christians. But there is no reason to constantly downgrade someone for expressing their Christian faith in public. That is the major problem with our nation and schools today - any reference to Jesus must be silenced because that is no longer "politcally correct." That despite the overwhelmingly evidence that our nation was founded as a Christin nation.
GO VOLS!
xd9x19 writes:
Poor wittle rich UT donors gots their panties in a wad. It's wild...we could just replace "UT" with "D.C." or "Wall Street" in this little scenario. Big money guys wanting things run their way and it they don't get their way, they threaten to pick up their marbles ($$$) and go home.
I'm forming a theory that big time college athletics is just as corrupt as politics. The more successful the program, the more corruption lying underneath. They guys funding the success are more interested in the success than in whether or not they cheat to get there and their only interest in the lives of these young men is limited to the scope of years of eligibility. They care not if the players that bring them "success" end up in the gutter afterwards.
Hacksaw57 writes:
Now, finaly, the only voices that the University cares or even slightly thinks about listening too are speaking out - the BIG DONORS. Enough is enough!
tennisvol writes:
Hamilton should have already been gone with all the decisions he has made. He must know some people in high places.
VOLsince68 writes:
You really need to be careful how you throw around the word "ignorance". Statements like this are just plain stupid.
Pearl got caught in a lie about having Juniors at his house for a BBQ. He didn't give them money or cars or homes like others have done. Yes, he was wrong, but he DID NOT cheat in any way.
It's over, let's move on. And Hammy needs to be relieved of AD duties and just stick with the VASF. He does seem to be a good person, he's just not an AD.
GO VOLS!!!!!!
jone8191#247590 writes:
Bruce Pearl on his worst day is better than all his predecessors on their best day (except Ray Mears). Why did we not take our medicine, thumb our noses at the NCAA and continue on with Bruce? Connecticut did that and their results were not too bad this year. Hamilton should be fired on the basis of the Lane Kiffin hire alone. Tennessee seems on the verge of burning their entire athletic program down. I dropped my 30 years of football season tickets during the Kiffin debacle. The decision seems to feel better by the day.
FWBVol writes:
I am a Christian and I don't want to give Hamilton a pass because he is a fellow believer. I think there are some good reasons for him to be dismissed, most of which have to do with PR nightmares surrounding the firings of Phillips Fulmer and Bruce Pearl. Was it time for Fulmer to go? Maybe, but I would have liked to have seen him had another year, but I have no problems with his firing. Did Pearl need to go? IMO, yes, because the NCAA was probably about to throw the book at us and Pearl.
Just because I believe Hamilton needs to be fired doesn't mean I wouldn't pray for him if asked to do so.
Being a Christian doesn't make one immune from being human and making human mistakes, but it does give us a hope and comfort in times of trouble.
I would dare say that Mike Hamilton took a mission trip on his vacation time. If he had been with his family at Disney World or the Grand Canyon during that same period of time would you be taking a shot at him for being in Florida or Arizona?
Coates writes:
What goes around comes around, Hammy! Many will be gleeful the day your butt is shown the door. hahahahahaha
VOLsince68 writes:
I guess we can argue over Pearl all day then Skippy......ha
What I was most upset by in your comments was the "I support a major NCAA ban". Why should UT be punished with major NCAA bans when Pearl was the one that lied to them about something that gave UT no competitive advantage?
While he did seem to pile up a lot toward the end, none of them were major violations. The major violation was him lying.
I just didn't like that comment. That's all. If you were referring to Pearl himself, then I retract my comment.
GO VOLS!!!!!
Volumnus writes:
Things to remember:
1) Who hired Pearl?
2) Who hired Kiffin?
3) New Years morning 2010.
4) Who had oversight power?
5) Who had oversight power over that group?
6) Why has lying been tolerated in our AD?
7) Why did we not control out business with class?
8) Are we not worse off image wise and morale wise than we have been in 40 years?
Now if the Board of Trustees can remember those questions and answer them honestly, there should be a clear cut path of direction.
I have never been as disappointed by my Alma Mater as I have been over the last 3 years as a whole. The actions of a few affect everyone. The admin choices don't appear to be working out any better than the Athletic Department choices.
We need an Andy Holt, or a Joe Johnson back at the helm of our University. This is sad.
UTKin1992 writes:
Exactly how did these emails and text messages get released? I don't consider it to be good business nor wise to throw your higher-end donors under the bus in the media.
I find both Hamilton and Cheek's methods immature, inept and bush-league.
abnermc writes:
You are laughing to keep from crying like Urbie. We would cry too if little Weis was in K'town.
GerryOP writes:
You're absultely right dcap8424, Pearl lied. And many of us feel that lying is a much more serious offense than cheating. Thanks for setting the record straight.
VOLsince68 writes:
CC, I didn't disagree with your comments about the donors. Just the part about you supporting a major NCAA ban. Wasn't sure how to take that. Not sure I still am.
For the record, I loved Pearl and what he did to revive our BBall program. But I'm not one of these that wish he was still here. The bottom line is that he had to go. What really got me over everything else was that he called AC's parents and tried to get them to lie about it too. That pretty much did it for me. And for those still wondering, I'm sure that's why he didn't become a Vol.
GO VOLS!!!
samvol writes:
Well its apparent that the majority wanted Pearl out…his gone!
charlyand#601962 writes:
The UT athletic dept. will certainly notice when the rest of us cancel. You better believe mine will be gone and I assume lots of other fans.
off_the_porch writes:
Why bring "Trump" into this. :-) IMO, this is considered State business and for that matter state records which must be kept and shared if requested. I do not think that this is a state vs. Federal issue.
tnsportsman writes:
CLEAN HOUSE NOW Board of Trustees! FIRE Hamilton now, And FIRE those FL Swamp Lizards, Cheek and DiPietro too!
The 100 or so 5,000 to 10,000 dollar Donors I have talked too wants this 'FL Clan' GONE! We might not mean as much as smaller Donors to these clowns, but UT need US 2,000 plus small Donors more than ever these days!
You can't tell me Our University can't find WELL QAULIFIED Tennessee Grads to lead our Volunteers and that will give their all for TENNESSEE!
As Donors, Alum and Fans lets 'Circle the BIG ORANGE Wagons' and run these Idiots out of Knoxville! Moving Van Time!
GO VOLS, VFL!
lafollette37766 writes:
Do not know about Cheek but it is a safe bet that Hamilton will be gone after the meeting with the NCAA and may be gone before that. There is a lot more phooey comming down the sewer pipe.
givehim6 writes:
Truth is Pearl would have gotten fired even if he would have got the Vols to the sweet sixteen. Hammy was going to get rid Pearl to save UT from the NCAA.
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