NCAA Accuses Tennessee of Violations

The NCAA accused the University of Tennessee football program of improper recruiting activities, lying to an investigator and running an improper summer camp. The violations, if proved, could carry stiff penalties, and university officials said they are working to answer the charges.

The NCAA notified the university of its investigation in an April 8 letter to acting university president Joseph E. Johnson. The university has until June 10 to reply.

The football team has won two consecutive Southeastern Conference championships as well as Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl games. Tennessee finished the 1989 season 11-1 and ranked fifth in the country, the 1990 season 9-2-2 and ranked No. 8.

Johnson said the university would not comment further until a written response to the accusations has been delivered to the NCAA.

The accusations fall into two broad categories. The first involves a series of alleged recruiting violations by assistant coach Jack Sells and his subsequent misrepresentation of those actions to the NCAA. The other concerns how the university runs its summer football camp.