Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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UT facing potential summer shutdown BY ELIZABETH A. DAVIS associated press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Some University of Tennessee coaches not already on vacation were told to stay home, and planned recruiting trips were in limbo Tuesday, the sec ond day of a partial shutdown of state government. The start of a second session of summer school that some football players need to meet NCAA eligi bility requirements also was pushed r~ back from Friday until next Monday Athletic department officials were concerned about the university hav ing to shut down completely and call off the second session if the state Legislature does not pass a budget. A normally busy athletic ticket office also was closed. “We have a very, very skeleton crew that is working,” associate ath letic director Gary Wyant said. Under an emergency bill passed late Sunday, only state employees considered essential were allowed to work during the shutdown. Less than half of the 5,800 faculty and staff at the Knoxville campus reported to work. Only about 10 per cent of the athletic staff were in their offices Tuesday. In preparation for a possible shut down, each university department submitted a list of suggested essen tial employees. Assistant football coaches Randy Sanders and Larry Slade, assistant basketball coach Kerry Keating, and training and conditioning staff were on campus Tuesday because many of their players are in town for volun tary workouts and summer school. Head football coach Phillip Fulmer and athletic director Doug Dickey were on vacation, and head basketball coach Buzz Peterson was out of town. Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt was allowed to work because of an on going basketball camp. “Phillip Fulmer is very essential to the football program. He just hap pens to be on vacation this week,” Wyant said. “So we have coaches as signed to be in the office. They are the essential people.” Even though the athletic depart ments have their own budgets and do not receive state funding, they must abide by the same rules that govern other university employees and services. Coaches of other sports such as baseball, tennis and swimming were on furlough when they would oth erwise be recruiting. Evaluation periods for basketball recruiting begin July 8, but Tennessee coaches won’t be able to travel if the shutdown continues, Wyant said. Athletic department officials have discussed the possibility of the sec ond summer school session being can celed, but were waiting to see what happens in the state Legislature. If it does occur, the school would have to petition the NCAA for restoration of eligibility’even though it wouldn’t be the students’ fault they couldn’t attend class, Wyant said. Nearly all the football players stay in Knoxville for voluntary workouts in the summer, and some take summer school so they can graduate early or fulfill NCAA cred it hour requirements. -1 ftrnmmm ^^Directions^usUcros^h^ervai^^rida^^fta^econ^gh^^^^ H vnii ara nnriar th# ana nf 91 it w anainst ttw law tn h<tv aim hn I if havanwws All ARC rannlatinns anfnrrart Breakfast & Lunch 7:3oam - 2:30pm Corporate Catering Available 1202 Sumter St. Bank of America Courtyard Corner of Sumter & Gervais 799*3697 | GRAND OPENING EARLY JULY 707 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29205 Phone (803) 806-8882 We pride ourselves with a diverse selection of sterling earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pins and accessories. Tenny Weights has one of the largest selections of sterling silver earrings to be found anywhere!