If the Bryce Brown saga were a movie, it would be The Godfather Trilogy. Long and self-indulgent. But just when you thought it was over, enter Arthur Brown, Bryce’s father.
This time, the elder of the former No. 1 recruit told WNML in Knoxville that he plans to hire an attorney and sue both the University of Tennessee and head coach Derek Dooley for not releasing Bryce from scholarship.
Dooley’s reasons for denying Brown’s release are subjective, but insists they are clear-cut and not on a case-to-case basis.
“These are the three key factors,” said Dooley. “what their personal investment into the program was — did they have their heart into it and did they give it a good, fair shot. No. 2, the harm that their departure creates for the organization. No. 3, how they handle it as a professional.”
What was that third factor? Last time I checked, Brown informed Dooley of his decision to transfer via text message. *Facepalm*
Furthermore, it’ll be interesting to see what the grounds for the lawsuit are. Technically, nothing about what Dooley did was illegal. A coach doesn’t have to release a player from scholarship for them to transfer to another university. The sophomore was still allowed to enroll at Kansas State and will sit out a year per NCAA rules.
During that time Brown’s family will have to pay tuition for their son, something Arthur isn’t too pleased about.
“Bryce has done nothing wrong,” said Brown. “I don’t understand.”
“If he [Dooley] used that criteria, he should have released Bryce. I think that’s bogus. I’m disappointed in UT’s stance.”
Unmoved, Dooley has stood firm. “I have no reaction [to the comments],” the first-year coach told media after practice Tuesday.
The Bryce Brown Saga will never be over, even when it’s documented as one of the best 5 Star Recruit Busts….and I’m a KSU Fan.
I just wish he’d take his circus to another university.
I can’t see Bill Snyder putting up with this kind of drama for very long.
Not surprising…I bet if you check Arthur Brown’s background he has a history of not honoring his commitments either.
Bryce Brown will end up contributing nothing to any team.*
*If he ever finds a school worthy of his talents.
“These are the three key factors,” said Dooley. “what their personal investment into the program was — did they have their heart into it and did they give it a good, fair shot. No. 2, the harm that their departure creates for the organization. No. 3, how they handle it as a professional.”
Granted a text message is high school style, but I am pretty sure that Bryce Brown is still still an amateur.
Dooley’s quote makes no sense. I am no fan of Brown, but Dooley is just being vindictive … and clearly didn’t think ahead with respect to how he was going to explain his unwillingness to release Brown from his scholarship.
No. 1 – good, fair shot? He played one season, for the coach that recruited him during his one season with the university. Worst you can say about Brown in that regard is that he gave the same amount of “heart” as Kiffin.
No.2 – there is no harm to the university. UT recruited a bad apple, get rid of him (or, as luck may have it, allow him to leave). The harm to the university is the negative press associated with constantly having Brown’s name appear in the same sentence as “Tennessee”.
No. 3 – Brown is not a professional, he is a young, immature student.
@scfa:
Regarding No.3 – Hopefully he now becomes a young, MATURE student.
That’s the whole idea behind the decision. Too bad the example on how to conduct oneself came from a coach and not the father !!
@scfan.
N0.1 – Then he hung around, hung around, and hung around. Not committing to anything…leaving, staying, going. Then about a month after Dooley came in, they finally spoke and said he was leaving.
They can try to sue as much as they want, Dooley is within his rights to not release Brown from his scholarship. The one that, you know, he committed to by signing his commitment letter.