Ex-Tennessee Players Took Payments, Reports Say

Several former Tennessee football and basketball players say they regularly received cash or other gratuities from Volunteer supporters while in school, newspapers reported today.

Fifteen of 20 former Tennessee athletes surveyed said they either received such gifts themselves or knew of Vol players who did, The Knoxville Journal says in a copyright story.

Tennessee Athletics Director Doug Dickey said the school plans to investigate “allegations that we have heard about.”

NCAA rules limit students on athletic scholarships to receiving tuition and fees, room and board, required books and four passes to games, which cannot be sold.

Former Vol tight end Mike Cofer, who played from 1978-81, said he profited from the sale of his complimentary tickets, The Tennessean in Nashville reported in a copyright story.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported in a copyright story Tuesday that a retired Knoxville motel owner says he provided free rooms for Vol football players and their families for more than 20 years.

“I have given $100,000 worth of rooms to UT players, the families of UT players and UT coaches,” Trent Richey told the News-Sentinel.