Case closed

NCAA forfeits two Tennessee scholarships

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee admonished football coach Phillip Fulmer and forfeited two scholarships Wednesday for rules violations involving a former player.

Fulmer was found to have violated a rule because of an improper meeting with Richard "Juicy" Locke, Eric Locke's father, on June 7, 1999. At that time, Eric Locke had left Alabama, where he played one season, but had not been released from his scholarship. Alabama compliance officials say Locke was never given a release.

A letter of admonishment, which is considered less severe than a reprimand, will go in Fulmer's file, athletic director Doug Dickey said.

Dickey said the Southeastern Conference accepted the penalties and that everything was finalized Wednesday night.

In addition to the loss of scholarships, Fulmer is banned from going on the road during the evaluation period in May.

The school will be allowed to sign 23 recruits instead of the customary 25 next February.

"Based on this information, this is a closed matter," Dickey said. "That's not to say new information couldn't come up."

In a statement released through the university, Fulmer said, "Just as I ask my players and coaches to be accountable for their actions, so am I. While I do not agree with the severity of the penalties, especially the loss of scholarships, I understand that by the letter of the rule I should have stopped the unexpected casual meeting which led to the violation."

"We've always strived to run a clean program here, and we will continue to run a clean program," Fulmer said, declining to comment further.

Locke, a former star player at Riverdale High in Murfreesboro, eventually enrolled at Tennessee, sat out one season as a transfer and played for the Vols in 2000.

Locke was dismissed from the team in March 2001 by Fulmer after admitting to stealing a teammate's ATM card and making $2,400 in cash withdrawals.

 

Related information
Stories
Tennessee ups Fulmer to highest paid coach in SEC
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.