A trip to support his best friend at the NBA draft briefly cost Trae Golden his eligibility.
The Tennessee sophomore was able to buy it back for the cost of his airfare and some mileage in New York City.
According to documents obtained by an open records request from the News Sentinel on Friday, the Vols ruled Golden ineligible on July 19 after it discovered Tobias Harris had picked up the tab for his former teammate to fly up and celebrate Harris' first-round selection by the Charlotte Bobcats last June. Harris was later traded to Milwaukee.
In an email to SEC commissioner Mike Slive and NCAA representative Jennifer Henderson, UT cited "mitigating circumstances, corrective actions taken by the institution and case precedent" in requesting Golden be reinstated after accepting impermissible benefits that totaled $304.26, which was to be repaid by donating that amount to charity.
The Vols guard wasn't aware of the violation due to a belief "he was just accepting an invitation to attend the NBA draft with his best friend and family," and based on his participation in all 24 games this season, his appeal was approved.
UT also reported two other secondary violations since Cuonzo Martin took over the program last year, though he wasn't responsible for either of them and they weren't tied to players.
On June 21, UT notified the SEC and NCAA of a violation in its advertisement and registration procedures for its Intense Skills Camp, which weren't consistent with the other camps listed on the school's website.
The other violation was reported on Sept. 13 in response to a press release sent by associate media relations director Tom Satkowiak that publicized individual workouts for the Vols and an interview opportunity.
The SEC informed the compliance office of a possible violation, which Satkowiak initially thought was permissible "because it stated the individual workouts were closed to the public."
A pair of violations by the track and field program also were reported by UT since September:
Impermissible contact with a prospective student-athlete when assistant coach John Frazier called Marcus Brown at Maryland Eastern Shore before receiving proper permission to contact.
Assistant coach Jerome Romain made two impermissible phone calls to recruiting target Cameron Burrell during an 11-day period in August.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 15
lofter writes:
No wonder there are so many violations in college sports. Who can keep track of what is allowed and what isn't. (other than the NCAA)
voloffaith writes:
Just call me and I'll be there......ticki..picki..lil boo boo's
johnlg00 writes:
And the rain of rampant cheating accusations continues to pour down on UT! Oh, the horror...the horror!
Dalton writes:
Cue cartoon monocled character with scroll of obscure rules stretching off the end of the globe...wrong advertising?....and best friend...no longer with the school...can't spend his own d@#$ money on you...where's the competitive advantage?....Stuffed suits and common sense=oil and water
movol53 writes:
The NCAA doesn't know the rules either they just "make'em up" as they go along. Their "rule of thumb" is if it has anything to do with common sense then it must be a violation!!!
HtownVol writes:
Not much but is there a few incidents that teams like the big blue are allowed to get away with that teams like UT would not?
Didnt Lebron James hang out in the locker room at a certain school during a game last season? But Trae cant get a 300 dollar ticket to see a friend get drafted? I understand the rules but man, dont they have bigger issues?
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
Don't forget, Jay Z minority owner of an NBA team can hang out with UK and he gets fined but UK gets to keep on cruising with no fuss no fines and nothing else.
DarkGable writes:
Universities should fire the NCAA and form its own collegiate organization. That would put an end to this power hungry NCAA.
bvol1inSC writes:
Why in the *%^?!#& this story now? It happened last year?
SunshineVol writes:
Tobias Harris snookered the NBA and UT.
easleychuck writes:
Kentucky runs a clean basketball program. IF you have any doubts just look at whom the coach is.
FanNotSheep writes:
Thank goodness Pearl wasn't at UT when all these secondary violations occurred -- the program would have received the death penalty.
Read the rules folks. It is obvious they exist only to allow the NCAA to go after any and all programs and coaches it puts on its list. This is exactly how the Soviet Union kept its citizens under its thumb. Anyone could be arrested at any time for any -- or no -- reason at all. I would love to see the NCAA meet the same fate as the U.S.S.R.
RockVegas writes:
Tennessee is the only school that gets hit with the Bull,it's crazy.
allvol32 writes:
The NCAA rules mean only what the NCAA interprets them to mean as proven with the Cam Newton "he's ineligible - oh wait - no he's not" travesty.
VolunteerLifer writes:
The ncaa is a joke.
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