University of Tennessee Athletics
Statement From Tennessee Athletics Director Mike Hamilton
Feb. 27, 2004
The University of Tennessee has made public a statement from athletic director Mike Hamilton prior to the airing of an ESPN program scheduled to air this weekend.
ESPN has been working on a feature story for its ?Outside the Lines? series, which will air Sunday, Feb. 29 at 9:30 a.m. (EST), dealing with the lawsuit currently underway against the University of Alabama and the NCAA.
Since the University of Tennessee is not involved in the ongoing lawsuit, the university declined an on-camera interview for the show. However, Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton did make the following comments regarding the situation, which were forwarded to ESPN for its show.
COMMENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MIKE HAMILTON (Feb. 16, 2004)
"ESPN's 'Outside the Lines' has asked us to comment on two lawsuits involving the NCAA and two former coaches at the University of Alabama which are ongoing in Montgomery, Ala., and Memphis, Tenn. Since the University of Tennessee is not involved in either of these lawsuits, we believe it would be inappropriate for us to make a comment."
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VIDEO
"In response to Mr. Gallion's allegations against the University of Tennessee, we received Mr. Gallion's letter in October 2003 and we instigated an investigation process at that point. The investigation is going smoothly and we are very hopeful we will bring it to some sort of conclusion in the very near future."
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"Our institution has followed SEC bylaw 19.12.1 which says, when a member institution becomes aware of a violation by another member institution, then you should report that violation through your athletic director."
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"As a member institution of the NCAA, we are responsible for following the rules as an institution and responsible to our fans to make sure we follow those rules, but also that other institutions play within the rules. We're obligated to do that."
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