The CheckerBoard

Cheek is not nearly so much the problem as is the faculty senate - or more specifically an activist group in the senate. Around 2002-3, they did a classic "smash and grab". That led to them seizing control of the Thorton center from the athletic department and seizing control of the athletic department from the university system president and board of trustees.

When they seized all this, they took over at least $1 BILLION in assets, probably including $50 - 100 million in cash reserves. While I suspect their initial motivation was some misbegotten holy crusade against sports in school, finding their hands on all that money was a completely corrupting influence.

We now have one not-for-profit controlling another - one with a lot of money and getting more for years to come. So, the UT knoxville now decides how much it charges the AD for a host of things - to say nothing of how much the AD gives to UTK out of its profits. For instance, the AD pays UTK OUT-OF-STATE tutition for players such as Dallas Thomas. I point that out only to show the depth of what they are taking from the AD.

Think Tony Soprano being a "partner" in your restaurant. The UTK senate will never give up this much power and money without a fight - all the while acting all holier-than-thou.

And not one full report on this by any media outlet in Knoxville.

Asleep at the wheel.

Guess they will delete this post again. :-)