Smokey refuses to recognize the Nico investigation has nothing to do with NIL. It has to do with a booster committing recruiting violations.

From NCAA.com.

quote:
Boosters, referred to by the NCAA as “representatives of the institution’s athletic interests,” include anyone who has:

Provided a donation in order to obtain season tickets for any sport at the university.

Participated in or has been a member of an organization promoting the university’s athletics programs.

Made financial contributions to the athletic department or to a university booster organization.

Arranged for or provided employment for enrolled student-athletes.

Assisted or has been requested by university staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

Assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families.

Been involved otherwise in promoting university athletics.

Once an individual is identified as a “representative of the institution’s athletics interests,” the person retains that identity forever. Only institutional staff members are permitted to recruit prospective student-athletes. Generally, NCAA rules prohibit anyone else from contacting (calling, writing or in-person contact) prospects or the prospect’s relatives or guardian for recruiting purposes.

Students are still considered prospects even if they have signed a National Letter of Intent or any other financial aid agreement with a university. Boosters are not precluded from continuing established friendships with families who have prospective student-athletes. However, boosters may not encourage a prospect’s participation in university athletics or provide benefits to prospects that were not previously provided.

If a violation occurs, it may jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate competition, jeopardize a school’s membership status with the NCAA or cause a booster to lose access to all booster benefits.

Boosters can not recruit. Period. Has nothing to do with NIL. Nico did not have an NIL in place when Baddour provided him impermissible benefits. This is all about boosters throwing cash at players to get them to come to Tennessee. The same thing that has repeatedly gotten schools leveled. After the McDonald bags of cash that Tennessee is still on probation for, it will likely be ugly.