April 15, 2005

Two Tennessee freshmen arrested

Tennessee players Jerod Mayo and Robert Ayers were charged with aggravated assault this week after a fight between football players and fraternity members last month. The two were released on their own recognizance. Linebacker Daniel Brooks was named in a police report as a suspect but was not charged.

Police responded early on the morning of March 5 to the University Center and found four fights outside and one fight inside. Holes were punched in the walls of a ballroom and a picture frame had been smashed.

Ayers has been suspended from the team. Head coach Phil Fulmer wouldn't suspend Mayo. He believes the charges against Mayo are a case of mistaken identity. Brooks was suspended two weeks ago for bad behavior in the past, but it was just announced this week. Brooks was accused of punching a student in the face at a party in December. He will miss the UAB and Florida games but will play in the spring game.

Mayo's statement:

I did not hit anybody, and I have no reason for being charged in this incident. My name and reputation are very important to me, and I would not do anything to embarrass myself, UT or my teammates. I look forward to getting to the bottom of this.

Ayers and Mayo both redshirted in 2004. 11 Tennessee players have been arrested since February 2004.

Fulmer's statements:

"We've got some very immature young men on this football team, and certainly, if not immature, socially unadjusted at this time. I'm extremely embarrassed and disappointed in the actions of a number of our players over the last several months," coach Phillip Fulmer said after Tuesday's practice. "I apologize to the university community, (University president John) Peterson, (athletic director) Mike Hamilton and all the fans that follow our program. We have a large majority of our guys doing the right thing and a few that have embarrassed us in a very big way."

[...]

"I've got to find out exactly what's going on," Fulmer said. "From what I know about it, Jerod Mayo will be out there participating unless something changes. Robert Ayers will not until we get through this."

[...]

Fulmer was visibly angry and said his tolerance for misbehavior was very low.

"I'm not happy right now," he said.

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