John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons.
Tennessee takes a hit
Big news out of Knoxville yesterday as Gen. Bruce Pearl laid down the law to a couple of wayward Vols, booting starting point guard Ramar Smith and reserve forward Duke Crew from the team.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that sources say violations of the substance abuse policy and academics led to the suspensions.
"We just felt like -- both the University of Tennessee and these student-athletes -- we'd be better served to move on," said Pearl.
It's the second time in three years that Pearl has dismissed at least one prominent player from his team. Just before the start of the 2006-07 season, Pearl gave Major Wingate his walking papers after the Vol center reportedly violated the substance abuse policy.
What do the most recent dismissals mean? Crews served a 30-day suspension last September, then missed some time because of a heart ailment, but provided the Vols with another body up front to go along with starter Wayne Chism. Ramar Smith had a sluggish sophomore year in which he averaged just 7.4 points per game. He often struggled at the point, and had lost his starting job by the start of the NCAA Tournament.
For now there are two less players for a Tennessee team that uses depth to wear down opponents. But Pearl is working on replacements. Reports are out there that he is now in on Bobby Maze, a 6-3 point guard and possible UK target who signed with Oklahoma, but played last year at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
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