Nobody can accuse College of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman of being a one-trick pony. The NCAA can communicate to her versatility.
In Plowman’s first go-round with the NCAA, she was the quintessential southern hostess.
She couldn’t have been extra hospitable within the NCAA’s investigation of former UT soccer coach Jeremy Pruitt. She welcomed the governing physique of faculty sports activities. Her response was principally “How can I assist you to?”
Plowman did all of the heavy lifting earlier than the NCAA even caught a whiff of Pruitt’s quite a few transgressions. UT’s inside investigation dug up the recruiting dust on Pruitt and his comically inept workers and virtually wheel-barrowed it over to NCAA headquarters.
The NCAA subsequently lauded UT for its cooperation and targeted the brunt of its punishment on Pruitt and his workers.
Conclusion: The Vols bought off gentle, Pruitt bought the dreaded “show-cause” penalty and UT didn’t should pay its failed coach one cent of buyout cash. Plowman deserved a lot of the credit score for the favorable consequence.
Now that the NCAA once more has come calling on UT, it has been launched to a distinct Plowman. The southern hostess has been changed by the fiercest of lionesses. She has eliminated the welcome mat, slammed the door, and known as the NCAA every part however competent.
Miss Congeniality is now armed with a sledge hammer. And the NCAA is her goal.
Why? As a result of the NCAA has alleged UT broke guidelines involving identify, picture, and likeness advantages for athletes.
That prompted Plowman to go scorched earth on the identical group she as soon as handled with extra respect than it deserved.
Though I’ve lavishly lauded the chancellor for the way she strategically steered UT by way of the land mines Pruitt left behind, I like this Donde higher. Maybe, that’s as a result of she has been so unrestrained in her evaluation of an establishment famend for inconsistency and ineptitude. Actually, the NCAA has managed school sports activities as poorly as Pruitt managed Tennessee’s soccer program.
However I’m not about to waste psychological vitality bashing the NCAA when Plowman is keen and in a position to fireplace away, as evidenced by the e-mail she despatched to NCAA President Charles Baker, a former Massachusetts governor. Knox Information obtained the e-mail by way of a public data request.
Plowman mentioned the NCAA was “intellectually dishonest, morally mistaken,” and that it “violated the core precept in our nation’s justice system of harmless till confirmed responsible.”
She additionally took a swipe at how the NCAA’s NIL pointers have been “unclear and inconsistent.”
Inconsistent? Unclear? Nothing new there. I bear in mind listening to a rant from former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian on the identical topic whereas I used to be protecting a Remaining 4 a number of many years in the past.
Plowman mentioned UT has finished nothing mistaken. Perhaps, it hasn’t. Nonetheless, how are you going to know for positive in terms of NIL offers?
In ruling that student-athletes may benefit from their identify, picture and likeness, the NCAA mentioned up entrance that NIL packages couldn’t be used as a recruiting inducement. However how might they not be? And the way might you show they have been?
For instance, suppose an athlete commits to a college whereas saying how a lot he likes this system and coach. Then, as soon as dedicated, he bargains financially with a sports activities collective. How are you going to show the NIL deal was the explanation for his dedication?
The NCAA’s case in opposition to Tennessee is expounded to the recruitment of five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and a flight he took to Knoxville when he was a highschool soccer participant in California.
The flight was first reported Tuesday by the New York Instances. The timing and supply of cost for the flight might decide whether or not that constituted an NCAA violation.
Extra: Why Tennessee soccer ought to rejoice Nick Saban retiring from Alabama | Adams
This NIL enterprise is simply so murky. What’s authorized in a single state may not be authorized in one other, which implies finally instances like this must be determined in court docket.
The NCAA’s latest document in court docket hasn’t been favorable.
And this time it does not have Plowman in its nook.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He could also be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Observe him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This text initially appeared on Knoxville Information Sentinel: A distinct Donde Plowman greeted NCAA for Tennessee NIL investigation
