Richardson, Edwards dismissed from team after arrests

Richardson, Edwards dismissed from team after arrests

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Tennessee freshman wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson and defensive back Mike Edwards have been permanently dismissed from the football team, the head coach announced Monday.

The decision by coach Lane Kiffin comes after Richardson, Edwards and another freshman defensive back, Janzen Jackson, were arrested last week and charged with attempted armed robbery on the UT Strip.

"After extensive and thorough research of the situation over the last four days and considering various disciplinary options, I've decided it's in the best interest of our program to remove Nu’Keese and Mike," coach Kiffin said in a press release.

"As I've said many times before, we hold our student-athletes to an extremely high standard on and off the field. Our student-athletes must be responsible members of society, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. We want a positive culture for our student-athletes that allows them to succeed in the classroom, on the field, and in life after college. My hope is that these two young men will learn from their terrible decision. Clearly, their actions have no place in our program."

Jackson will continue being barred from participating in team activities while coach Kiffin waits for more information.

None of the trio was allowed to travel with the team to the game at Ole Miss on Saturday. Tennessee had its worst loss of the season, 42-17.

UT students who spoke with 6 News said they believe Kiffin’s decision was the right one.

"I think it was completely fair and justified," Kathleen Maxwell said. "What they did was extremely irresponsible and although they were great players on the team, it is what happens when you disobey the law."

"It's send a good message to future players that we don't tolerate nonsense," Matthew Hayes said. "You have to be a student and you have to be a good upstanding member of society."

Bradford Taylor agrees. "I guess it's a good decision, considering what they did, but it will probably hurt the football team in the long run. But I guess that is okay."

"I think it's ridiculous that they did it in the first place. They have millions of dollars waiting for them in a couple of years," said Matt Hart. "I mean, they weren't thinking straight. They (university officials) did the right thing."

Many students say they're happy, as long as the team makes it into a bowl game.