Can everyone go ahead and relax a little bit? Earlier this month, Senate Bill 536 passed in Tennessee, which will provide in-state universities a major advantage when it comes to NIL and recruiting. Essentially, this new law will allow Tennessee Vols players to earn whatever they want, with some people thinking it's a direct shot at the NCAA.
Since then, it has been reported that the power conferences are working on a new contract that would force schools to play ball and obey the new enforcement rules that are on the way. Schools who don't put the pen to paper could risk getting kicked out of their respective conference.
In this case, it would mean Tennessee would be getting the boot from the SEC, which is something countless people are calling for online. So, despite things being a bit unknown, Greg Sankey should make an example of the Vols to send a statement? Give us a break.
Tennessee getting kicked out of the SEC is something that will never happen
Sure, people can be up in arms and paint Tennessee to be total contrarians, but do you really think athletic director Danny White and his team are just going to sit back and let the SEC make an example out of them? No chance.
Also, what basis does the SEC have right now to send Tennessee packing and force them to go the independent route? There's nothing to hold on to here. Oh and by the way, Tennessee isn't the only state in the USA where similar laws have been put in place.
Part of his new contract for the power conferences states that schools like Tennessee wouldn't be able to sue the NCAA, or their own conference for that matter, if issues arrive over NIL and player deals. Keep in mind the Vols have had a home in the SEC since 1932. Does the conference want to blow things up and look for replacements? Sure, let's get more Stanford and Cal to the ACC-type moves coming.
College sports as we know it is changing and Tennessee being in the spotlight is nothing new. The Nico Iamaleava saga before he even made his way to campus, and then transferring, is still something countless folks talk about.
Keep in mind that everyone is still waiting for the NCAA House Settlement decision to come too. If that gets approved, the Vols, according to Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel, will agree to those rules/laws and drama will go the wayside. More news on that settlement should come soon. With that said, so many haters blasting UT and demanding Sankey take action immediately is just a lazy and tired take.