CK Sooner
8/18/2009, 07:16 PM
Brown Dealing With Distractions
Freshman running back Bryce Brown rode quietly on a bike Tuesday afternoon on the Tennessee practice field, and he continues to be slowed by a hip injury. But according to head coach Lane Kiffin, the injury is not the only thing on Brown's mind.
An early morning MRI showed no significant injury to Brown's left hip, but Brown's status for the Western Kentucky season-opening game is unknown because of a continued investigation into his amateur status, according to Kiffin, who divulged the information following Tuesday's workout.
"He had a great scrimmage and he continues to get news that the NCAA continues to investigate him and his whole history going back to when he was young and I know that bothers him," Kiffin said. "It's pretty unfortunate. I think it is a gigantic distraction and I think it's unfortunate. ...
"It has nothing to do with his recruitment -- not just by us but by anyone. This is something that from my information says goes back to when he was a sophomore in high school. It's very unfortunate for him because he is a great kid. He had a 3.6 in high school and graduated early and I think he has a 3.7 here so far. It's very upsetting to him."
Kiffin acknowledged that he is concerned about Brown's status for start of the season. A source told VolQuest.com that the continuing investigation has the NCAA in Knoxville today.
At the heart of the matter is Brown's relationship with his advisor, Brian Butler. Until the matter is resolved, Brown's amateur status remains a question mark making him ineligible for competition at this point.
While there are obvious concerns over the matter not being resolved, Tennessee is optimistic that it will be done before the season opener on Sept. 5. If the matter is not resolved before the Vols kick off the season, Brown almost certainly would not appear in that contest - or any other game - pending the outcome of the investigation.
This is the same investigation that started back in late February when Butler's advising company Potential Players came into question after garnering national attention during Brown's recruitment by Tennessee and other schools.
Freshman running back Bryce Brown rode quietly on a bike Tuesday afternoon on the Tennessee practice field, and he continues to be slowed by a hip injury. But according to head coach Lane Kiffin, the injury is not the only thing on Brown's mind.
An early morning MRI showed no significant injury to Brown's left hip, but Brown's status for the Western Kentucky season-opening game is unknown because of a continued investigation into his amateur status, according to Kiffin, who divulged the information following Tuesday's workout.
"He had a great scrimmage and he continues to get news that the NCAA continues to investigate him and his whole history going back to when he was young and I know that bothers him," Kiffin said. "It's pretty unfortunate. I think it is a gigantic distraction and I think it's unfortunate. ...
"It has nothing to do with his recruitment -- not just by us but by anyone. This is something that from my information says goes back to when he was a sophomore in high school. It's very unfortunate for him because he is a great kid. He had a 3.6 in high school and graduated early and I think he has a 3.7 here so far. It's very upsetting to him."
Kiffin acknowledged that he is concerned about Brown's status for start of the season. A source told VolQuest.com that the continuing investigation has the NCAA in Knoxville today.
At the heart of the matter is Brown's relationship with his advisor, Brian Butler. Until the matter is resolved, Brown's amateur status remains a question mark making him ineligible for competition at this point.
While there are obvious concerns over the matter not being resolved, Tennessee is optimistic that it will be done before the season opener on Sept. 5. If the matter is not resolved before the Vols kick off the season, Brown almost certainly would not appear in that contest - or any other game - pending the outcome of the investigation.
This is the same investigation that started back in late February when Butler's advising company Potential Players came into question after garnering national attention during Brown's recruitment by Tennessee and other schools.