Tennessee governor releases statement in support of Donde Plowman, Vols fighting back vs. NCAA

A day after it was reported that Tennessee was under investigation by the NCAA for potential NIL violations across multiple sports, politicians in the state have responded. That includes Governor Bill Lee.

Lee posted his statement on Twitter/X, where he expressed support for Chancellor Donde Plowman, the school, and Tennessee’s student athletes.

“The University of Tennessee has been nothing but forthcoming with the NCAA, and I thank Chancellor Donde Plowman for taking a stand on behalf of all universities and student athletes,” Lee wrote.

The University of Tennessee has been nothing but forthcoming with the NCAA, and I thank Chancellor Donde Plowman for taking a stand on behalf of all universities and student athletes. pic.twitter.com/UEiI5tM2Q5

— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) January 31, 2024

“It’s time for the NCAA to establish clear rules in the interest of student athletes, rather than try to retroactively enforce ever-changing name, image and likeness guidance.”

This came shortly after Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti posted a photo of a lawsuit that Tennessee and Virginia were going to bring against the NCAA. That was filed Wednesday morning in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and has to do with NIL. In particular, the 20-page complaint is centered around the NCAA’s current rule that prevents recruits, high school or from the transfer portal, from discussing or entering Name, Image, and Likeness prior to their enrollment at a school.

In his statement, Governor Bill Lee supported Chancellor Donde Plowman, who released her own statement in regard to the NCAA investigation.

“The leaders of intercollegiate athletics owe it to student-athletes and their families to establish clear rules and to act in their best interest. Instead, two and a half years of vague and contradictory NCAA memos, emails and ‘guidance’ about name, image and likeness (NIL) has created extraordinary chaos that student-athletes and institutions are struggling to navigate,” Plowman wrote.

“In short, the NCAA is failing.”

The NCAA’s investigation into Tennessee is its third recent investigation into NIL activities in January. Earlier in the month Florida State received multiple major penalties relating to NIL violations. Then, Florida is reportedly under investigation for NIL in the recruitment of Jaden Rashada.

Report: Nico Iamaleava recruitment part of NCAA investigation

The NIL investigation by the NCAA into Tennessee athletics goes across multiple sports. That includes the football team and, reportedly, includes the recruitment of former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

According to The New York Times, an NIL collective allegedly paid for Iamaleava to come to campus on a private jet, which is a violation of the NCAA’s rules regarding how collectives are involved in the recruitment process. On top of that, Nico Iamaleava had a deal reported at the time by The Athletic to be worth up to $8 million.

Nico Iamaleava is expected to be Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2024.