KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee suspended 10 football players for today's season opener with New Mexico after a newspaper reported the abuse of complimentary game tickets.
The misuse of tickets was the same offense that landed Nebraska and Texas in trouble with the NCAA this week.
Tenth-ranked Tennessee was listed as a 23-point favorite to beat New Mexico before the suspensions were announced. None of the eight players suspended Friday was a starter for the Volteers.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee Athletics Director Doug Dickey suspended 10 players after The Knoxville Journal reported Friday that its own investigation found at least 18 current Volunteers football players violated NCAA ticket rules last year.
While refusing to give numbers, Dickey said several more Volunteers are guilty of ticket violations and eventually may face suspension. Dickey said about 60 players were interviewed by coaches Thursday and Friday.
The 10 suspended players include two players whose suspensions were ordered by the NCAA two months ago -- kicker Carlos Reveiz and starting linebacker Kelly Ziegler, both of whom will be sorely missed.
The biggest name suspended Friday was second-string quarterback Randy Sanders, who lost a close race to Jeff Francis for the starter's job and had been slated to receive some playing time Saturday.
The others suspended for one game only were defensive tackle Richard Cooper, receiver Wesley Pryor, receiver Troy Hale, center Todd Kirk, middle guard Fred Bennett, linebacker David Johnson and defensive back Tony Nelson.
The Journal said the apparent NCAA rules violations 'were confirmed by players' parents, pass recipients or the players themselves.'
In the past, the NCAA's penalty for misuse of complimentary game tickets has been a one-game suspension for the players involved.
But Dickey made statements Friday indicating he believes the NCAA might be lenient with the other Volunteers because of the 'large non-compliance across the country.'
The Journal's list of players who violated the tickets rules included several starters -- including defensive back Andre Creamer, offensive guard John Bruhin, middle guard Brian Hunt, defensive tackle Robby Scott, offensive tackle Daryle Smith and offensive tackle Bruce Wilkerson.
Other key players on the list were receiver Sam Graddy, running back Pete Panuska and center Todd Kirk.
In choosing not to suspend any starters Saturday, Tennessee officials apparently are banking on getting leniency from the NCAA. They are running the risk of losing some key people for their upcoming conference games against Mississippi State Sept. 13 and Auburn Sept. 27 if the NCAA orders suspensions.
Tennessee Coach Johnny Majors said the Volunteers would cope as best they can.
'We have a strong program. It's not built on straw. If anybody can do it and overcome adversity, our program can,' Majors said.
NCAA rules say players can give four complimentary tickets to each game to relatives or enrolled students only. Some Tennessee players allegedly listed ineligible people and lied that they were cousins or aunts and uncles.
