UT Chancellor Donde Plowman meets with media outlets Wednesday, speaking on the NCAA’s recent investigation into the university’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) practices. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UT’s Chancellor took some time in front of the cameras Wednesday, publicly standing behind her heated letter to the NCAA’s president over its investigation into the university’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) practices, calling the decision an attack on student athletes.
“When you’re leading a university and someone attacks you and makes an allegation that isn’t true, I will always respond,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman referencing a letter she sent to NCAA President Charlie Baker. “The most significant thing about that is, I will always stand up for our student athletes, and that’s where the attack was really on if you want to be honest about it.”
Plowman’s statements come after Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Virginia had filed a joint lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing it of breaking anti-trust laws. Plowman said she didn’t know much about the suit, but appreciated the support.
“The people who responded, it’s moving, and I appreciate it,” said Plowman. “But we have great people who are in public office in the state, in Washington, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support.”
The NCAA has indicated they plan to bring allegations forward; however, those allegations still have not been formally issued, and details on them remain scarce.
Knoxville Police are investigating a deadly motorcycle crash Wednesday in West Knoxville
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a deadly motorcycle crash that happened Wednesday morning in West Knoxville.
KPD says officers were dispatched to the scene on McKamey Road at Saint Lucia Lane around 8:15. While there, officers deduced that the motorcycle was traveling east on McKamey Road when it struck the side of a large Chevy truck that was trying to turn left onto Saint Lucia Lane from McKamey.
The motorcycle driver, an adult man, was pronounced dead at the scene; police are still working to positively identify the man.
The department added that the truck that was involved in the crash remained at the scene.
University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman wrote a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker Monday following an investigation from the NCAA into Tennessee’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) practices. WVLT News got ahold of that letter through a Freedom of Information Act request to UT Tuesday; here’s a breakdown.
In the letter, Plowman says the NCAA’s plans to bring allegations forward, allegations she says are untrue and could hurt student athletes.
“Earlier today, a team from the University of Tennessee met with members of your enforcement staff to discuss allegations the NCAA intends to bring against Tennessee related to NIL,” Plowman says. “The NCAA’s allegations are factually untrue and procedurally flawed.”
The letter comes as the NCAA has began looking into the University of Tennessee less than a year after the university was fined $8 million for recruiting violations made while Jeremey Pruitt was head football coach.
Those violations were voluntarily reported by the Tennessee system itself, and the school’s honestly played a large part in the NCAA’s final decision when it came to punishment. In the letter, Plowman reminds Baker about Tennessee’s commitment to self-reporting, further stating that the university has not done anything wrong with its NIL practices.WVLT Sports Director Rick Russo and Volquest’s Austin Price discuss possible NCAA investigation into Tennessee Athletics
“As you have seen in our previous dealings with the NCAA, when we are wrong at the University of Tennessee, we admit it,” Plowman said. “In fact, just last year, the Division I Committee on Infractions as well as the NCAA enforcement staff cited exemplary cooperation by the University of Tennessee and said we set the standard other schools should follow.”
She goes on to take issue that Tennessee’s leadership should see praise in the summer of 2023, only to be questioned in such a way the next academic year.
“It is inconceivable that our institution’s leadership would be cited as an example of exemplary leadership in July 2023, then as a cautionary example of a lack of institutional control only six months later,” Plowman says.
However, Plowman’s biggest gripe with the NCAA is, according to her letter, the lack of clarity in the NCAA’s NIL rules and regulations. She references Baker’s appearance in front of Congress directly, further stating that the NCAA’s rules are too vague to enforce any punishment on Tennessee.
“As you acknowledged in the recent congressional hearing, the NIL guidance from the NCAA to student-athletes and institutions has been ‘inconsistent and unclear, and the ambiguity has filled schools, student-athletes, and collectives with uncertainty about how to follow the rules,’” Plowman says.
Plowman claims the NCAA is trying to retroactively enforce regulations and punish institutions to make an example of them, despite the fact that Tennessee complied completely with the latest NCAA guidance on NIL partnerships. She furthers the argument by referencing a recently-passed bylaw from the NCAA that would mean institutions who come under fire in NIL cases don’t have the benefit of presumed-innocence.
“A “guilty until proven innocent” standard is not partnership, is not problem-solving and violates the core principle in our country’s justice system of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’” Plowman says.
When WVLT News reached out to the NCAA about the investigation, Associate Director of CommunicationsMeghan Durham Wright provided the following statement:
With rare exceptions, the NCAA does not comment on current, pending or potential investigations due to confidentiality rules put in place by member schools.NCAA
All in all, Plowman says the university has complied with the NCAA’s regulations, but those regulations have constantly been in flux. The letter marks the start of what is almost certainly going to be a long, drawn out process that could set the stage for NIL deals across college football in the future.
NASHVILLE- On Wednesday, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with Virginia, sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for violating federal antitrust laws with its anticompetitive restrictions on the ability of current and future student-athletes to benefit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). These anticompetitive restrictions violate the Sherman Act, harm current and future student-athletes as well as the State, and should be enjoined.
“Student-athletes are entitled to rules that are clear and rules that are fair,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “College sports wouldn’t exist without college athletes, and those students shouldn’t be left behind while everybody else involved prospers. The NCAA’s restraints on prospective students’ ability to meaningfully negotiate NIL deals violate federal antitrust law. Only Congress has the power to impose such limits.”
After the Supreme Court ruled that the NCAA violated antitrust law by imposing unreasonable restraints on the compensation college athletes may receive, Tennessee and other states enacted laws to foster a thriving NIL market for the benefit of student-athletes. Contrary to those state laws, the NCAA has adopted a shifting and opaque series of rules and guidelines that thwart the ability of student-athletes to get fair compensation for their NIL.
Currently, the NCAA prohibits prospective student-athletes from discussing potential NIL opportunities with schools and collectives prior to enrolling. Prospective student-athletes are:
prevented from negotiating with collectives,
unable to review NIL offers prior to making enrollment decisions,
and cannot adequately consider the full scope of NIL-related services a school might offer upon enrollment.
Student-athletes generate massive revenues for the NCAA, its members, and other constituents in the college sports industry—none of whom would dare accept such anticompetitive restrictions on their ability to negotiate their own rights. Student-athletes shouldn’t be left behind while everyone else profits from their achievements.
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has awarded $21 million in federal funds for electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations across the state. Thirty-one EV fast charging locations are needed to fill gaps along the state’s designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC) which include Tennessee’s two-digit interstate routes and US 64. The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (TEVI) Deployment Plan details how with federal funding the state will install EV charging infrastructure and support the establishment of an interconnected EV network across the nation.
“Tennessee has been home to the automotive industry since the 1980s and those automakers are growing electric vehicle manufacturing,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “With these federal dollars, Tennessee is investing in its future and paving the way to lead the nation as an EV epicenter. We want to ensure that drivers in any vehicle can safely get across the state from Mountain City to Memphis.”
Federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program allocated $88 million for Tennessee over five years (Fiscal Years 2022-2026). TDOT and TDEC, developed a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the grant funding. 167 applications were received from 23 different applicants, comprised of both public and private entities. Ten of those applicants will be awarded contracts to establish 30 new charging locations throughout the state. These awardees will purchase, install, own, operate, maintain, and report on the program-funded EV charging infrastructure.
“In Tennessee, federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are deploying EV chargers and building out a national network of EV chargers that is convenient, reliable, and made in America,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “Today’s announcement builds on the Administration’s promise to deliver a national network of 500,000 publicly available EV chargers by 2030 – a goal we’re on track to achieve.”
The vision, shared by TDOT and TDEC, is to develop a safe, convenient, accessible, reliable, and equitable EV charging network that promotes economic vitality and environmental stewardship.
“Maintaining a clean environment is critical to Tennessee’s continued economic success,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are pleased to join TDOT in making the most of this opportunity and we look forward to how it will benefit Tennessee’s environment and its citizens.”
The NEVI formula funding requires a match of at least 20 percent of the federal funds. For this round of awards totaling over $31 million, private funding accounts for 32%, more than $10 million in private funding for EV charging stations in Tennessee. Other requirements include EV charging stations being located every 50 miles along the federally designated AFCs, within one-mile travel distance from the corridor, and having a minimum of four charging ports per location.
“Tennessee has shown true leadership in state agency coordination between TDOT and TDEC, sharing expertise and building a strong foundation for the state’s EV charging network,” said Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, Gabe Klein. “The Joint Office is proud to provide technical support to ensure these 30 fast charging locations provide a frictionless experience for users.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team dropped a 63-59 decision Tuesday night against South Carolina at Food City Center.
Fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht scored a game-best 31 points, his fourth time reaching that mark in the last five outings, for fifth-ranked Tennessee (15-5, 5-2 SEC) in the setback.
South Carolina (18-3, 6-2 SEC) raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first 2:05, as the Volunteers went scoreless until the 16:12 mark. They, however, then went on an 11-2 run to go ahead, 11-9, with 11:36 on the clock.
Tennessee upped its edge to 16-12 with 8:53 left in the half, but the Gamecocks answered with a 14-6 burst to flip the four-point advantage the other way, 26-22, with 3:01 to go before the break. The visitors’ lead remained four, 30-26, entering the locker room despite 13 points from Knecht.
Both teams shot under 37.0 percent from the field in the opening session, with the Volunteers at 12-of-33 (36.4 percent) and the Gamecocks at 11-of-30 (36.7 percent). Tennessee, though, shot no free throws, while South Carolina went 4-of-6 on its attempts.
The Gamecocks’ leading scorer, junior guard Meechie Johnson, opened the second half with his lone basket, a 3-pointer just 25 seconds in to make it 33-26. Tennessee, though, scored seven straight points in 1:29 to level it at 33 with 17:47 remaining.
South Carolina pushed its lead back to six, 46-40, with 11:31 remaining, as Tennessee had a span of 7:48 without a made field goal. The Volunteers’ cold shooting extended to a 1-of-13 stretch over nearly 15 minutes, as South Carolina went up by a game-high nine, 55-46, with just 3:05 on the ticker.
Knecht responded with a personal 7-1 burst, including three straight made field goals and a free throw, in just 1:50 to slice the deficit to three, 56-53, with 1:07 to go, but graduate student guard Ta’Lon Cooper hit a 3-pointer at the other end to double the advantage 26 seconds later. A Knecht 3-pointer with 31.1 ticks to play cut the margin back down to three, 59-56.
After a pair of free throws by junior guard Myles Stute, Knecht hit another 3-pointer to make it 61-59 with 5.3 seconds left, giving him a personal 13-6 run in just 2:26. Stute, though, knocked down two more free throws at the other end to seal the victory for the Gamecocks.
Knecht, who eclipsed 30 points for the fifth time this season and third straight time at home, finished 11-of-24 from the field. The Thornton, Colo., native, who grabbed seven rebounds, became the first SEC player in exactly 14 years to record 30-plus four times in a five-game span. He also became the third Power Six player in the last decade with 190 points in a six-game stretch—the others are Marquette’s Markus Howard and Oklahoma’s Trae Young—and the first SEC player in 14 years with 25-plus points in five consecutive affairs.
Fifth-year guard Santiago Vescovi, who moved into a tie for eighth place on the SEC’s all-time made 3-pointers list, scored 10 points and notched a pair of steals.
Cooper paced the Gamecocks with 18 points and went 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Graduate student forward B.J. Mack had 16 points despite Tennessee holding him to a 4-of-15 clip, including a 1-of-8 mark from deep, as he went 7-of-8 at the stripe.
Stute logged 13 points, hitting all three of his 3-pointers and all four of his free throws. Johnson finished just 1-of-8 from the floor, but led all players with six assists.
Tennessee limited South Carolina to 19-of-56 (33.9 percent) shooting, but the Gamecocks went 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) at the line and the Volunteers were just 12-of-20 (60.0 percent). Additionally, South Carolina had a 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) mark on 3-pointers compared to Tennessee’s 5-of-21 (23.8 percent) tally.
Up next for the Volunteers is a top-10 clash Saturday at 8: 30 p.m. in Lexington, Ky., as they take on No. 10/8 Kentucky, live on ESPN from Rupp Arena.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Tennessee now owns a 29-9 (.763) record under ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes while ranked in the top five of the AP Poll. • For the first time all season, a Volunteer other than freshman guard Cameron Carr or redshirt freshman guard D.J. Jefferson did the pregame “One Fly We All Fly” dunk, as sophomore forward Tobe Awaka did so on his birthday. • From the 17:21 to the 15:47 marks of the second half, Tennessee committed five personal fouls, including three in the first three seconds of that stretch, and South Carolina eventually entered the bonus with 9:32 left. • From the 17:46 to the 2:57 marks of the second half, the Volunteers went 1-of-13 from the field and 11-of-18 at the line. • At least one Volunteer has scored 20-plus points in 10 of the past 12 games, with a total of 12 such performances in that stretch. • Vescovi tied Alabama’s John Petty (2017-21) for eighth place on the SEC’s all-time made 3-pointers leaderboard, as he now owns 311. • Vescovi moved past C.J. Watson (2002-06) for second place on Tennessee’s all-time minutes played leaderboard, now with 4,081. • With 13 points before the break and 18 after it, Knecht reached 11-plus for the 10th and 11th times in the last 12 frames, dating back to the second session at Mississippi State on Jan. 13. • Tuesday marked the sixth time this season Knecht has scored double-digit points in both halves of a contest. • Knecht is the only Division I player this season with a six-game 25-point scoring streak, as the last individual to do so was the second-leading scorer in DI history, Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis, who had a nine-game stretch from Feb. 2-28, 2023. • The last Power Six player with a six-game streak of 25-plus points was Iowa’s Luka Garza, who did so over two seasons, from Feb. 29, 2020, in the 2019-20 campaign to Dec. 3, 2020, in the 2020-21 season. • The last Power Six player with a single-season streak of 25-plus points was Marquette’s Markus Howard, who amassed a seven-game mark from Jan. 4-24, 2020. • The only other SEC player in at least the last 19 seasons with 25-plus points in six straight games is South Carolina’s Devan Downey, who compiled eight in a row from Jan. 9-Feb. 6, 2010. • Before Knecht, the aforementioned Downey was also the last SEC player with 30-plus points four times in a five-game span, as he did so from Jan. 16-30, 2020. • The last Power Six player with at least 30 points four-plus times in a five-game stretch was Marquette’s Markus Howard, who logged five such performances in a row from Feb. 22-March 7, 2020. • Over the last 14 seasons (2010-24), only four other SEC players have registered 30-plus points at least five times in a season: Texas A&M’s Wade Tayor IV (2023-24), Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. (2021-22), Arkansas’ Mason Jones (nine times in 2019-20) and Ole Miss’ Stefan Moody (2015-16). • The only other SEC player in the last 14 years (2010-24) to surpass 30 points—scoring 31-plus—at least five times in single campaign is the aforementioned Jones, as seven of his nine 30-point showings were above that number. • Knecht, with 191, is the only SEC player in at least the last 19 seasons (2005-24) with 190-plus points in a six-game stretch. • In the last two seasons, the only other Division I player with 190 points in a six-game span is Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis, who had seven instances in 2022-23. • Over the last 10 seasons (2014-24), the only other Power Six players with 190 points in a six-game stretch are Marquette’s Markus Howard (three concurrent stretches in an eight-game span from Jan. 1-24, 2020, as well as from Dec. 1-28, 2018) and Oklahoma’s Trae Young (six concurrent stretches in an 11-game span from Nov. 23, 2017-Jan. 30, 2018). • Furthermore, over the last 19 seasons (2005-24), only four other Power Six players logged 190 points in a six-game span: NC State’s T.J. Warren (three concurrent stretches in an eight-game span from Feb. 18-March 14, 2014), Providence’s Marshon Brooks (two concurrent stretches in a seven-game span from Feb. 2-27, 2011), Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (two concurrent stretches in a seven-game span from Feb. 13-March 4, 2008) and Duke’s J.J. Redick (eight concurrent stretches in a 13-game span from Jan. 11-Feb. 22, 2006). • Knecht is the 13th Division I player this season with a 20-point scoring streak of even six games, including the third from a Power Six conference, alongside Cal’s Jaylon Tyson (Dec. 29, 2023-Jan. 13, 2024) and North Carolina’s R.J. Davis (eight games from Nov. 23-Dec. 29, 2023). • Just two other SEC players in the last five seasons (2019-24) have scored even 20-plus points six games in a row: Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. (seven straight from Feb. 12-March 5, 2022) and LSU’s Cameron Thomas (10 straight from Jan. 26-March 6, 2021). • Knecht’s 13 straight Tennessee points to close the night tied for the 11th-highest individual run in program history and marked his second stretch of at least that many in a row this season. • Knecht is the third Volunteer in the last 17 seasons (2007-24) with at least seven 25-point performances in a single campaign, joining Kevin Punter Jr. (eight in 2015-16) and Jordan McRae (seven in 2013-14). • Knecht’s five 30-point performances are the most in a season for a Volunteer since Chris Lofton logged six in 2006-07, while his five with 31-plus match Lofton’s total that season.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigating ‘situation’ at South Doyle High School (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Our news partner WVLT is reporting, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed, an investigation is underway following the discovery Tuesday of a loaded pistol magazine at an area high school.
KCSO officials say the loaded magazine, also referred to as a clip, was found on a restroom floor at South Doyle High School.
According to KCSO, detectives are working to identify the suspect(s) and the weapon.
Sheriff’s office officials are asking parents and guardians to talk with their children to see if they can learn any additional information about the incident.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police say a Grand Jury finding brings closure to the unsolved 1989 Murder of KPD officer Tony Williams.
The investigation into the 1989 murder of the off-duty officer is officially closed after a Knox County Grand Jury determined there was probable cause to charge a now-deceased individual with his murder.
The Grand Jury returned a finding that there was probable cause to believe that Johnny Warwick, who died last November, committed the first-degree murder of Williams in July of 1989.
Officer Williams was shot and killed while riding his motorcycle on Cherry Street near I-40 while off duty.
The threat made by the Carter Middle School student was unrelated to previous threats made to Halls Middle School by three students at Gibbs Middle School, KCSO said. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Another Knox County middle school student is arrested for making a false school shooting call.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office announcing Tuesday that detectives had arrested a 12-year-old Carter Middle School student Monday for making a false school shooting call.
The arrest marks the fourth Knox County middle school student to face consequences for making fake threats in the last week.
KCSO says this incident is unrelated to previous threats made to Halls Middle School by three students at Gibbs Middle School. They are, once again, urging that parents and guardians speak to their children about the consequences of making these threats.
Officials have confirmed one death in what has been called a domestic-related incident. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Rocky Top, TN (WOKI) A man is dead and an investigation is underway following a shooting in Anderson County.
Officials with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office say deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Cedar Lane in Rocky Top Monday after receiving a call reporting the shooting.
ACSO says 45-year-old Eric E. Patterson was found dead at the scene when deputies arrived; officials determined that the incident was domestic-related.
Detectives from ACSO’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the incident.
