UT Rental Car Situation: “No NCAA Violations Here”

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Can Tennessee fans breathe a sigh of relief regarding the rented 2010 Dodge Charger that four Vol basketball players were driving when they were arrested on Friday?

According to an attorney representing the woman who initially rented the car… yes.

According to T. Scott Jones: “There are no NCAA violations here.  The daughter was utilizing the car and she let somebody else use it.”

The attorney also said that the mother of the girl originally rented the car because her personal vehicle was experiencing mechanical problems.  Then she lent it to her daughter, who lent it to the players.  Bruce Pearl suggested that the girl is dating one of the arrested players.

Teresa Dixon of Knoxville rented the car just three days before the players were arrested.  Also, Dixon’s daughter — who has not been identified — is not a UT student.

The police report shows that Tyler Smith told officers that the players were aware of the guns in the car when they picked up the vehicle in Nashville, but the attorney says the car “was obtained in Knoxville.”

Dixon “denies any knowledge of the weapons.”  Also, “She’s not happy about (the situation).  She’s gotten caught up in a whirlwind not of her own making.”

On other fronts:

* The four arrested players will face a student discipline council today.  That group could give the players the heave-ho from the University of Tennessee.  However, I would be surprised if a final ruling comes quickly.

* Athletic director Mike Hamilton spoke to Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyams today and tried to clarify his “zero tolerance” comment from yesterday.  According to Hyams, Hamilton told him that gun issues (not necessarily drug issues — as was mentioned by the AD yesterday) will fall into the zero tolerance category.  But does that mean possessing a gun will result in penalties?  Probably not lest the NRA start picketing.  Does that mean any player charged with a crime involving a gun?  I would guess so, but again this is a vague policy.  Most importantly, it appears that “zero tolerance” simply means stiff discipline, not necessarily a dismissal.  So is “zero tolerance” really “zero tolerance” or is this just tough talk designed to pacify angry Tennessee fans?  I’ll let you decide on that one.