Why Vols fans should have a lot of respect for Jeremy Pruitt after NCAA penalties were announced
It's understandable if Tennessee Vols fans aren't big fans of former head coach Jermey Pruitt. The NCAA investigation that officially wrapped up this week centered on recruiting violations that occurred while Pruitt was in charge of the program. And those recruiting violations happened during a period of time when the program wasn't very successful (Pruitt […]
It's understandable if Tennessee Vols fans aren't big fans of former head coach Jermey Pruitt.
The NCAA investigation that officially wrapped up this week centered on recruiting violations that occurred while Pruitt was in charge of the program.
And those recruiting violations happened during a period of time when the program wasn't very successful (Pruitt went 16-19 during his three years as the Vols' head coach).
Despite the investigation and lackluster results, Vols fans should have some newfound respect for Pruitt as a person after details of the NCAA hearing in Cincinnati were reported this week.
VolQuest's Brent Hubbs explained to On3's Andy Staples on Friday how Pruitt went in front of the NCAA committee and pleaded for Tennessee's current players and coaches to not be punished.
"Here's the other thing Jeremy Pruitt did," said Hubbs. "At the hearing in Cincinnati on the last day, when they wrap things up, he stood up to that committee as they were finishing up and he said to them — I've talked to multiple people who confirm this — he said to them, 'Guys you do whatever you need to do, but there is no reason in the world that the current players on that football team should be punished in any way, shape or form. They didn't have anything to do with any of this. They do not deserve a postseason ban. They should be able to go play for a championship if they can earn that right. They do not deserve to be punished for this'. And he absolutely stood up and said that after being drug through the mud for 18 and a half hours over a two day span."
Pruitt's coaching career might be ruined. Who knows if he'll ever get a shot in college football again thanks to the six-year show cause ban and automatic one-year suspension the NCAA handed him. But despite having every reason in the world to be bitter toward the Tennessee football program, he made it a point to stand up for the players on the Vols' roster. And like Hubbs says in the video above, who knows if it actually made a difference. But I think Tennessee fans have to at least respect that Pruitt did the right thing by making that statement to the NCAA.
Folks can say a lot of things about Pruitt. They can complain about his ability to manage a program or the fact that Tennessee lost some games under his leadership that they shouldn't have lost. But one thing that can never be debated is that Pruitt deeply cares about the players — even the ones he didn't coach or recruit.
Ohio State HC Ryan Day wants to permanently end Tennessee Vols’ style of offense
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day wants to permanently end the Tennessee Vols’ style of offense
Featured image via Matt Pendleton via Imagn Content Services, LLC
