Tony Vitello debuts new look while discussing Vols SS Maui Ahuna
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello debuted a new look on Tuesday while discussing UT shortstop Maui Ahuna, who is still looking to be cleared by the NCAA. Ahuna, who transferred from Kansas to Tennessee after the 2022 season, hasn't been declared eligible by the NCAA due to a self-reported violation by UT. The talented […]
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello debuted a new look on Tuesday while discussing UT shortstop Maui Ahuna, who is still looking to be cleared by the NCAA.
Ahuna, who transferred from Kansas to Tennessee after the 2022 season, hasn't been declared eligible by the NCAA due to a self-reported violation by UT.
The talented shortstop will miss his fifth straight game on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, after the Vols' 10-0 win against Alabama A&M, a beardless Vitello spoke with reporters about the Ahuna situation and how the Hawaii native is handling it.
(Tony Vitello with no beard is going to take some time to get used to.)
"I don’t have a specific update," said Vitello when asked about Ahuna. "I know professionals from different entities are working on it, which makes me feel as good as I can and hopefully him as good as he can about it. People that are way more professional than me and a lot of people that are looking out for the kid’s sole interest."
Vitello said that Ahuna is handling the tough situation "like a champ".
“Like a dang champ," pointed out Vitello when asked how Ahuna is handling not being eligible yet. "He has been really good about getting extra work in (the cages) and on the field because he knows he is not going to be burning a bunch of calories out there."
"He is just a fun-loving kid in general," added Vitello. "Then I thought his family handled it as well as they could this past weekend, too."
Hopefully for Ahuna's sake, the NCAA comes around quickly and clears him. He's been held hostage long enough over some silliness (Tennessee allegedly booked him a flight before they had his transcripts, a Level III violation). Ahuna can never get back the games he's already missed. There's no need for this to drag out any longer.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
