Tennessee: Recruiting Violation Stirs Bitterness

Recruiting Violation Stirs Bitterness: The recruitment – and subsequent release – of would-be Tennessee Volunteer Tyler Smith has produced a secondary violation of NCAA recruiting rules and lots of bitterness. The school reported that a booster violated rules by encouraging Smith to attend Tennessee. As a result, the school will cut ties to the booster for two years, even though the booster insists he had a personal relationship with Smith for years. As a friend of one of the assistant coaches under former coach Buzz Peterson, the booster has known Smith since he was in middle school. Smith changed his mind about attending Tennessee after the school canned Peterson in favor of Bruce Pearl. The latter said Smith never gave his staff a chance, but Smith and his family disagree. Pearl had refused to grant a release of Smith’s commitment. In the end, Smith is attending Hargrove Military Academy this season and plans to sign with a Division I school for next season. Volunteer fans should not get their hopes up for a second chance at Smith.
[10/29/05]