ForumsHEAD COACH DEREK DOOLEY STATEMENT ON JULY 9 INCIDENT
It is a privilege, not a right, to be a member of the University of Tennessee football team. The most important responsibility of that privilege is to properly represent this institution and our supporters on and off the field.
I am disappointed and in many ways embarrassed by the poor judgment displayed on many fronts by several members of our football team last night.
Although we are still gathering all the facts and some legal proceedings will follow, we have taken some initial levels of discipline resulting from my conversations with the student-athletes who were present.
Darren Myles has been permanently dismissed from our football program. Marlon Walls and Greg King have been indefinitely suspended.
I am respectful of the process that follows with the local authorities and with our institutional guidelines and leadership.
As I have referenced on many occasions, a change in culture is achieved in time through a combination of education, discipline and support. We will aggressively continue to build on the many positive changes that have occurred over the last five months to ensure our program is represented with class and dignity.
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You have got to be kidding me
what about darick rogers is he still gonna get to play? Dooley is gonna do things gonna take sum time though. hate to c them lose though
I like Coach Dooley’s initial action here, this was the end of the road for Myles and Dooley didn’t waste any time booting him. I look for Coach Dooley to make an informed decision and handle the other players punnishment in the same manner.
maybe our problem is the easy access to the bars and clubs in K-town. Maybe our local police officials need to do a lot more very heavy scrutinizing of our local establishments that want to encourage these popular athletes to build their business. Were these guys old enough to be in a place that sells alcohol? Let’s put some heavy responsibility on the locals who are trying to benefit by turning the other way instead of helping Coach Dooley keeps close tabs on his team. It may save some immature kids future and help buy their Moma’s houses someday instead of turning them into losers forever.
What is the deal with football players getting drunk? Who cares?! I realize they are supposed to be role-models to kids…. But I mean come on!! They are in college! Of course they are going to do crazy stuff! They are just like everybody else except they play a sport! Other college kids get drunk too whether it’s legal or not. They are in college!
I agree but lets see what happens with this in the long run. i Don’t think rogers actually deserves to be kicked off the team. I go to UT and this place only gets a rep for this kind of bull shit and i’m sick of it. These players might need to learn a lesson from this and hopefully Tennessee isn’t known for stupid athletic players robbing gas stations, and beating up cops. The thing is we could be good if our players weren’t so damn stupid.
its bar knoxville you only have to be 18 to get in …..and dont think that cop that got beat up was so innocent he was drunk… they arent telling that part of the story….
Well yeh the drunk thing happens that cool…. but hitting a police officer is freaking retarded…. im a huge vols fan and Rick you should care if our football program cant function at a bar and act respectible towards others especially when its a cop!!!!!! Very disappointed with the situation and hopefully nothing else occurs with our team. GO VOLS GO!!!
I do agreee, it is very irresponsible. They shouldn’t have hit anybody. But I also do agree with Brandon too, I don’t think that cop was very innocent.
The athletic departments answer should be simple. It may not be the choice they would like, but ultimately would put athletes on alert of zero tolerance for all students. First of all the school President should step in and take control of this situation. Hopefully he is directly involved with with Coach Dooley. It is a privalige to attend UT, much less be able to play sports. Acurfew should exist for all students, so lets start there. All involved should be suspended from UT. This would be all students at the bar during the assault whether athletes or not.There should be no preferential treatment. The NCAA should mandate no athlete convicted of a felony be allowed to partisipate in college athletics and anyone with a pending case be suspended until the case is decided. The Knoxville Police Department should prosecute to the fullest. Additionally the FBI should be looking into the gang attack as a hate crime. It is embarassing to be an alumni and continuing to see UT embarrassed.
Was that cop even off duty?
1. Let Coach Dooley and his staff investigate and do what they need to do to maintain the necessary control of the team. Do not judge when you do not know what all the facts are. For example the cope off duty was he intoxicated, did he show his badge, and was the players acting in self defense, did just one player do this to him. Were the players responding in self defense etc? We just don’t know but the Coach and his staff will find out what the facts are. So don’t be so quick to judge what you know nothing about.
2. I think that 18 should be the legal age to drink. If you can surve and die for your country. If you can get married, buy a home and be tried as an adult in a court of law then you are an adult period. This law is a double standard and unjust.
3. When I was 18 (1971), I was in the Army serving my country and at that time 18 was considered an adult in every way and it should be that way now.
Good job Coach, either the players want to play for Tennessee and will follow the rules or they won’t. We will not win games by allowing the players to lead, the coach must be the leader. Again, good job Coach.
I like the way Dooley is handling this! He being strict and holding them accountable for their actions! Too many kids these days are NOT held accountable and so they grow up and continue to do things the way they want! I do agree that 18 should be a legal age, that being said, it’s not currently! I am in the AF over here in beautiful Afghanistan, not! I think Dooley will make good changes for our program, it is quite noticeable that he thinks before he reacts or opens his mouth! Unlike Kiffin, he will be the foundation for which we need to continue to rebuild our program! Hold your young men accountable, teach them to foster teamwork, require them to earn respect and give it equally! Good job Coach…keep it up and I doubt I’m alone when I say, we’re behind you and lead us on as best you can through this virgin season! GO VOLS!!!
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