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Jeremy Pruitt's lawyer threatens to expose violations, "cripple UT’s athletic programs"
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:09 pm
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:09 pm
quote:
The lawyer representing former Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt gave UT an ultimatum: Either reach a settlement with Pruitt by Oct. 29, or face a lawsuit that the lawyer claims has the potential to “cripple UT’s athletic programs for years.”
The university intends to stand its ground, with no plans to settle, promising a "vigorous defense" if Pruitt chooses to go to court. A lawsuit is a certainty if there's no settlement, said Michael Lyons, Pruitt’s Texas-based lawyer, in an interview Tuesday with the USA TODAY Network.
"On behalf of my client, I can tell you that he’s not happy that this is the only choice they’ve left him with," Lyons said, "but he’s not going to walk away without getting his day in court.”
"He’s going to file a lawsuit," Lyons added. "They’re not leaving him much choice."
UT fired Pruitt for cause Jan. 18, saying it had uncovered evidence that members of Pruitt's football staff engaged in conduct likely to result in serious NCAA rules violations and Pruitt failed to monitor their actions or promote an atmosphere of compliance. Because UT fired Pruitt for cause, he did not receive any of the $12.6 million buyout that was part of his contract.
Lyons’ letter made no attempt to defend Pruitt, but instead threatened a lawsuit that would aim to embarrass the university and unmask widespread rule-breaking behavior Lyons alleges extends above and beyond Pruitt’s football staff.
University general counsel Ryan Stinnett wrote Monday in response to Lyons that UT has no intention of settling and is prepared to defend its actions.
Lyons made several broad assertions in his letter to UT that are not supported with details in his letter, writing that his law firm unearthed “startling information” that points toward NCAA rule-breaking conduct dating back several years and across multiple sports.
Lyons alleges that university administrators ignored or covered up NCAA violations occurring before and during the Pruitt era, and he wrote that UT’s administration was involved in or encouraged impermissible recruiting tactics. Lyons wrote that his firm has learned of impermissible booster involvement in recruiting across multiple sports.
“If Coach Pruitt is forced to file a lawsuit,” Lyons wrote, “it is inevitable that this information will become public, embarrass UT and those associated with it, including its largest donors, and result in debilitating NCAA sanctions.”
A potential lawsuit, Lyons wrote, is a “no-win situation” for Tennessee.
knox news
76
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:10 pm to paperwasp
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:11 pm to paperwasp
Sounds like blackmail to me, also doesn't really refute that he provided cause for his firing. The "well they did it too" defense is never a good one. If I'm his lawyer, I'm probably not going to be releasing my blackmail attempts to the media, but I guess it's his law license on the line
This post was edited on 10/19/21 at 4:13 pm
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:11 pm to paperwasp
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:13 pm to paperwasp
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:13 pm to paperwasp
Just settle out of court, close the books and move the frick on UT. 
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:14 pm to paperwasp
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:14 pm to RT1941
Yeah, not sure why they think this will end well for them.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:14 pm to paperwasp
Jokes on you Jeremy, they’ve already been crippled for years.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:15 pm to paperwasp
I, for one, cannot wait until Fulmer is on the stand and is asked, under oath, "What did you mean when you said 'recruiting is going really good,' at a press conference announcing the firing of my client for alleged recruiting violations?"
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:15 pm to paperwasp
Sounds like someone trying to use the only leverage they can reach
Doubt this goes anywhere unless Pruitt is done working in football and just wants to burn everything down.
Doubt this goes anywhere unless Pruitt is done working in football and just wants to burn everything down.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:15 pm to paperwasp
Excellent. Phase three of the long term plan to destroy Tennessee athletics has begun. Pruitt will be the perfect Trojan horse.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to paperwasp
quote:
Jeremy Pruitt's lawyer threatens to expose violations, "cripple UT’s athletic programs"
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to paperwasp
If he does I doubt he could ever get another coaching job in any capacity. Talk about burning the bridge behind you
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to paperwasp
Career Suicide. He and Rush will have to open a hotdog stand in Hoover to earn a living.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to paperwasp
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to RollTide1987
So Dollar Store Dave Hart was a plant.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:16 pm to paperwasp
Just wait until he sees what we’ll throw at his arse.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:17 pm to AUCE05
quote:Me either. Heupel is going to be a decent HC, he's already got them playing with more confidence and he brought in a good offense. Let the new staff do their thing, regroup and move on from Pruitt's crap.
Yeah, not sure why they think this will end well for them.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:18 pm to paperwasp
I hope Pruitt burns the house down. Tennessee will write him a check.
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