Slowly but surely, details surrounding the brawl involving several members of the Tennessee football program this past weekend are beginning to trickle out.
The latest? According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, one facet of a police report seemingly points the finger of blame at senior defensive tackle Chase Nelson as the person who started a fight that ultimately escalated and ended with two patrons -- including an off-duty police officer -- hospitalized and two UT players charged for their respective roles.
In a statement given to the Knoxville Police Department, 20-year-old Gary Russell -- one of the two hospitalized -- claimed that Nelson started a fight with him inside Bar Knoxville.
The fight quickly turned into a brawl that spilled out into the street and resulted in the injuries to the KPD Officer Robert Capouellez, and safety Darren Myles and freshman wide receiver Da’Rick Rodgers facing charges. Myles was subsequently dismissed from the football program.
No charges have been filed for the alleged assaults on either Russell or Capouellez, but the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In another twist to this head-scratcher of a story, Nelson, the News Sentinel writes, has been serving an academic suspension since the end of the spring semester and has not taken part in any team activities.