The University of Tennessee disputed the NCAA's finding that it failed to monitor the football program while recruiting violations were committed under fired coach Jeremy Pruitt.despite Tennessee's best efforts to follow NCAA rules in monitoring the football program. That was the university's only major dispute in responding to the NCAA notice of allegations.
"Despite the University’s monitoring efforts, athletics administrators and athletics compliance staffmembers were repeatedly deceived by the football program," Tennessee said in the response to the NCAA."The University respectfully submits that it is unrealistic to expect an institution to prevent, or immediately detect, the intentional and concealed misconduct that occurred in this case.
"As part of the University’s monitoring efforts, athletics administration and athletics compliance staff maintained a physical presence in and around the football program ." In July, the NCAA delivered the notice of 18 Level 1 violations. Tennessee and the people named in the report had until late October to respond to the allegations, but the NCAA granted a 30-day extension to that deadline.