Butch Jones denies knowingly playing a lineman who had a concussion

Tennessee athletic director John Currie has commented on a report that Tennessee knowingly played right tackle Brett Kendrick despite a concussion. From a statement released Wednesday:

The health and safety of our student-athletes is our number one responsibility. Our sports medicine staff and team medical personnel have full autonomy and unquestioned authority during all team activities, including the ability to remove a player from competition and ‘return to play’ decisions. At all football games, the Southeastern Conference has a trained independent medical observer present who also has full authority to stop play and remove a student-athlete from competition for assessment and/or treatment.

We have a constant and consistently communicated expectation that all coaches, staff and student-athletes remain attentive to ensure that any potential injuries are appropriately addressed—with full intentions that student-athlete safety is never compromised.

From a Tuesday night report by The Read Optional:

Communications received by The Read Optional show that Tennessee’s staff knowingly played a player with a concussion. Brett Kendrick, the team’s starting right tackle, played at least two quarters of Saturday’s loss against Kentucky with a concussion, per a source with knowledge of the situation.

“He is resting in a dark room. He doesn’t remember anything about the second half of the game”. A text received by The Read Optional reads. “They left him in until the last 22 seconds and only pulled him out because he finally threw up on the sideline.”

Here’s what Tennessee head coach Butch Jones had to say when asked about it on Wednesday, via AL.com:

“I can tell you this -- we would never, ever knowingly put a student-athlete in harm’s way,” Jones said. “Our medical staff has full authority on removing players from competition, but also in the return-to-play decisions. I have absolutely no say in these decisions. On top of that, the SEC has done a great job of placing an independent medical observer in the press box at all games.”

From a Wednesday report by SEC Country:

SEC Country learned Wednesday that Kendrick’s mother, Beth Kendrick, talked to Vols’ athletic director John Currie about her son playing injured following Tennessee’s 29-26 loss at Kentucky on Saturday night.

Currie met with Tennessee coach Butch Jones on Sunday after UT officials had discussed Jones’ immediate future, and the Vols’ head coach denied having any knowledge that Kendrick was playing in a concussed state.

Jones’ buyout, if fired for wins and losses, is about $7 million. If fired for something off the field, also known as “for cause,” he could receive no money from Tennessee.

Earlier last month, my colleague Steven Godfrey reported that Tennessee was likely to wait until later in the season to fire him for his performance.

If a change is coming in Knoxville, no one seems to think it makes sense to appoint an interim seven days before UT and its 10-year losing streak take on the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

Which coach on Tennessee’s staff would you consider likely to be competitive against Alabama? Defensive line coach Brady Hoke? Offensive coordinator Larry Scott? Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, who might not even want to be a head coach?

Sources indicated that if a move occurs, it would likelier be at the end of the regular season.

However, the trip to Kentucky right after Alabama now looms as a must-win. Essentially, Butch would have to win out after losing to Bama in order to have a chance.

We will update this story with more information.