Major Wingate tossed off team

Major Wingate tossed off team

September 6, 2006

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Senior center Major Wingate is dismissed from the Vols basketball team for a violation of team rules, officials announced Wednesday.

"I am disappointed and discouraged in some of the decisions that Major has made," head coach Bruce Pearl said in a press release.

"While he has made some progress in certain areas over the last several months, I am unable to allow him to return to our team this season. However, we will continue to support him academically as he progresses towards earning his degree."

"This is one of the most difficult decisions that I've had to deal with, but it is the right thing to do."

Coach Pearl suspended the 6'10", 250 pound center in May but didn't give details about the decision. 

Wingate, who was a team captain, started 29 of Tennessee's 30 games in 2005-06, ranking third on the team with 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He also won the Lowell Blanchard Award as the most improved Vol in his freshman season.

Wingate is from Florence, South Carolina. He played his high school basketball there and in Suwanee, Georgia after transferring.