The transfer of Tennessee receiver DeAnthony Arnett has become a touchy topic over the last week or so with the news that coach Derek Dooley would conditionally release Arnett from his scholarship only to MAC schools.
Because, you know, it’s totally fine for coaches to switch jobs at their convenience, but an athlete can have restrictions put on his desire to move on -- and for a family issue, no less.
“Coach [Derek] Dooley, myself or anybody doesn’t know what the future holds for my father,” Arnett said in the email to ESPN’s Joe Schad. “I feel that I represented the University of Tennessee the best way I can on and off the field and I feel I have earned the right to be released unconditional to all schools in Michigan.”
Needless to say, and despite any and all explanations Dooley and Tennessee conjured, the reaction to Arnett’s school limitation wasn’t met with a positive response. In a press conference today, Dooley reversed form and said that Arnett has been granted a release that would allow him to play at either Michigan or Michigan State.
Tennessee’s initial policy said the school would not release an athlete “to schools we either play or recruit against.”
Additionally, Dooley said that receiver Da’Rick Rogers was on the team and “was good”. There was uncertainty surrounding Rogers’ future with the Vols last month when rumors circulated that the sophomore was dismissed from the team.
In a statement, however, Dooley shot down all rumors involving Rogers’ future, saying the receiver was still a part of the football team.