Addressing the possibility of Jeremy Pruitt suing Tennessee after NCAA decision

Tennessee and Jeremy Pruitt learned their punishments Friday after an NCAA investigation into myriad violations committed during Pruitt’s tenure as Vols head coach. The Volunteers avoided a bowl ban, but have to pay an $8 million fine and Pruitt received a six-year show-cause order as a result of “blatant disregard for rules compliance.”

During the process, Pruitt hinted at legal action and has hired lawyers. However, VolQuest publisher Brent Hubbs doesn’t know if there would be a basis to sue Tennessee in light of the punishments.

Hubbs joined Andy Staples on the On3 Youtube Channel and discussed what legal case — if any — Pruitt could have against the university. Tennessee fired him for cause and hasn’t paid him his $12.6 million buyout.

Pruitt’s lawyers have previously threatened to sue the school, but Hubbs isn’t sure how feasible that case might be.

“I think the question is from his legal people based on after two days in Cincinnati, what leg does he have to stand on in a lawsuit?” Hubbs said. “I don’t know the answer to that. I’m not saying he doesn’t or he does. That’s for his legal people. I’ll say this. When I left Cincinnati, after two days up there, day one — I won’t say Jeremy Pruitt had a pep in his step when he left to get on the elevator because he didn’t. But he looked like he had survived the day pretty good. Day two, look like a beaten pump. He looked like he had been run through the wringer.

“I just don’t know if there’s an attorney and if Jeremy Pruitt wants to spend that amount of money to try to go win some money because he’s already spent a bunch of money for his legal defense for the NCAA. I don’t know the answer to that. He’s threatened a lawsuit before with Tennessee. It never got anywhere. So I don’t know the answer. I think it would be hard for him to win a lawsuit after this ruling now.”

Staples pointed out that Pruitt’s contract pretty well spelled out what would happen if he violated NCAA rules.

“His Tennessee contract pretty clearly said if you commit major NCAA violations, we can fire you for cause,” Staples said. “And there’s 127-page report of major NCAA violations.”

More on the violations committed by Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee

The penalties stem from an original report from the NCAA, alleging and detailing 18 NCAA violations, including an allegation of $60,000 in cash or gifts given to football recruits or players by Jeremy Pruitt, his wife, numerous coaches, staff and boosters. 

All 18 of the violations are Level I violations. Level I is the most severe infraction on the scale from one through four.

The NCAA claimed that Pruitt and staff gave players cash and gifts throughout his tenure in Knoxville, which spanned from 2018 to 2021. The report also details that his wife, Casey Pruitt, paid more than $15,000 in rent and car payments for a Tennessee player and his mother. That arrangement reportedly went on for two and a half years.