Tennessee gets last word as Jeremy Pruitt NCAA infractions hearing ends early

CINCINNATI – The University of Tennessee took center stage Thursday on the second day of an NCAA infractions hearing that had mostly been focused on former football coach Jeremy Pruitt.

And then the hearing ended a day early.

It’s hard to judge whether that fast finish is favorable to Pruitt or UT because the hearing is closed to the public and media at the Cincinnati Westin Hotel. But UT Chancellor Donde Plowman was pleased when the hearing ended.

"We are really appreciative to the infractions committee panel for their time and attention," Plowman told Knox News. "This was a lot of work. They are going to have to make a decision. We can't wait to get the decision and move forward with our football program and athletics."

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Plowman did not comment about the specifics of the case. Pruitt declined comment.

Under member-imposed confidentiality rules, neither the NCAA nor the involved parties or school can comment about the case until the NCAA Committee on Infractions panel releases its full decision.

The body language of both sides appeared looser on Day 2.

Pruitt, either optimistic or putting on a brave face, smiled each time he exited the hearing room.

Plowman, during a break, shared a hug and small talk with infractions panelist Jody Conradt, the retired women’s basketball coach and University of Texas administrator.

But how the hearing ended will matter the most to UT when penalties are announced, likely late spring or summer.

Tennessee defended itself against lone allegation

Late in the hearing, UT got to defend itself against the allegation that it failed to monitor the football program during a recruiting scandal under Pruitt’s watch.

It’s the only infraction among 18 highest-level violations in the case pinned on the university. And it was the last allegation heard by the infractions panel.

The NCAA enforcement staff charged Pruitt, his wife Casey, his assistant coaches and recruiting staff and a booster with the other 17 violations allegedly committed from 2018 to early 2021.

What penalties Tennessee could get

That means the last word of this hearing will determine penalties for UT that could have long-lasting or very temporary effects.

Since Pruitt was fired for cause in January 2021, the Vols self-imposed scholarship cuts and recruiting restrictions under coach Josh Heupel. The NCAA could cut more scholarships, add restrictions or levy a hefty fine on UT.

A postseason ban could be on the table. But that’s unlikely under the NCAA’s new approach to enforcement, which tries to avoid punishing current players for wrongdoing by past coaches and players.

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The infractions panel could release its final report in a few weeks or months. But UT’s impact on the result ends here, so it needed to leave a lasting impression.

‘Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough’

It took two long days behind closed doors to reach the finish line.

During one break Thursday, music blasted from the unrelated conference across the hall.

Just as people re-entered the hearing room, the Michael Jackson song, “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” made the floor vibrate.

Pruitt, UT administrators, NCAA staff and lawyers labored on.

One strange moment briefly paused the hearing in the final hour. Members of the Portland Timbers MLS team, who are here for their game against FC Cincinnati, accidentally barged into the hearing after getting lost in an adjoining hallway.

Hearing lasted 20 hours, but ended early

All 18 violations had to be addressed to cap the hearing ahead of schedule.

Day 1 went 10 hours, 22 minutes.

It dealt with violations that implicated Jeremy Pruitt and his wife; former assistants Derrick Ansley, Shelton Felton and Brian Niedermeyer; recruiting staff members Chantryce Boone and Bethany Gunn; former director of player personnel Drew Hughes and former student assistant Michael Magness.

A source with direct knowledge told Knox News that Ansley, Niedermeyer and Gunn participated in the hearing via Zoom call.

In February, Niedermeyer, Felton, Hughes and Magness accepted multi-year show-cause penalties, which prohibit them from coaching or recruiting in college football for a period of time.

Day 2 went 9 hours, 50 minutes.

Casey Pruitt did not attend the second day with her husband. But that’s because the violations that implicated her were covered on Wednesday.

On Day 2, Jeremy Pruitt also faced allegations of unethical conduct, which comprised seven of the 18 violations. In its report, the NCAA enforcement staff said he knowingly provided impermissible inducements to recruits, lied to investigators and influenced others to do so.

And Pruitt faced his own charge of failure to monitor because, according to the NCAA notice of allegations, he failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance in the football program.

Hearing finished with UT answering questions

Fittingly, the hearing finished with a comprehensive violation.

The 17 violations pinned to individuals were under the umbrella of UT’s failure to monitor charge. So elements of that allegation were addressed throughout the two days of the hearing.

For each violation, the infractions panel can question all parties about their actions and knowledge of wrongdoing.

Did former athletics director Phillip Fulmer fail to monitor Pruitt’s management of the football program? Did UT’s compliance staff fail in detecting rules violations? Should UT have known sooner that recruiting violations were occurring on and around its campus?

Once the infractions panel weighs the answers, they’ll decide UT’s fate.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.  

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee gets last word as Jeremy Pruitt NCAA infractions hearing ends early