The NCAA Sends Notice of Allegations to the University of Tennessee
On Friday the NCAA sent a Notice of Allegations to the SEC East University of Tennessee Volunteers. The organization is facing violations regarding 18 allegations made against Jeremy Pruitt and staff back in 2021.
It is alleged that between November 2018 through 2020, Jeremy Pruitt, then head football coach along with his wife, assistant coaches, and recruiting staff have broken the NCAA ethical code of conduct.
The allegations declared that the football program has spent nearly $60,000 in recruiting and courting both prospective and current student athletes. Benefits included: lodging, meals, airfare, cash payments, and more in hopes of luring the athletes into the program.
The violations were self reported in a inquiry made within the program which led to the release of Pruitt in January of 2021.
Danny White, Athletic Director said in a press release on Friday: "Receipt of our Notice of Allegations was an expected, requisite step in this process, a process our university initiated proactively through decisive and transparent actions, This moves us one step closer to a final resolution."
The University has spent upwards of $852,000 on the investigation.
In November of 2021, the school made it clear that it has self imposed penalties against the program, but exactly what, has not been released due to NCAA bylaws.
Moreover, the school has 90 days to respond to the notice. At which point, the NCAA will have another 60 days from the date of response to hand down any further penalties to the University and those mentioned in the allegations.