UT Has Spent $665K Investigating Recruiting Violations

The University of Tennessee has spent more than $665,000 on an internal investigation into the football program’s recruiting violations.

WBIR, an NBC affiliate in Knoxville, obtained records showing that the university has spent $665,000-plus on Bond, Schoeneck & King — a law firm specializing in athletics compliance reviews — since Nov. 19.

The internal investigation stems from alleged recruiting violations during the tenure of former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired for cause in January along with assistant coaches Brian Niedermeyer and Shelton Felton and seven support staff members.

WBIR, which acquired billing records through May, reported that from December through April, the law firm made trips to Atlanta, Nashville and Indianapolis in order to investigate Tennessee’s alleged infractions.

Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman said the firings came after staff in the football program tried to conceal offenses from leadership.

WBIR found that the monthly billing equaled $12,876 for November, $93,765 for December, $189,171 for January, $92,268 for February, $109,096 for March, $91,344 for April and $77,211 for May.

Josh Heupel has taken over the head coaching role from Pruitt, while Danny White replaced former athletic director Phillip Fulmer.

ESPN reported in January that compliance department officials had interviewed current players, recruits, assistant coaches, student volunteers and other athletics department officials involved in football recruiting.

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