Another Tennessee Football Player Kicked Off For Drug Use

The Tennessee Volunteers have now dismissed two players, to my knowledge, for drug usage. First James Banks, someone I knew personally, and now LaMarcus Coker. Both showed spectacular skills on the field, and both were dismissed from the team after brief stints. Both of these players were kicked off the team for their continuous usage of drugs. First, James Banks. James Banks was someone I looked up to going through junior high school, into high school, because of his love for his sports, football and track. He helped Ben Davis High School, located in the westside of Indianapolis, to two 5-A state championships and a spectacular 42-2 record over his years there. I heard he was going to the University of Tennessee and decided I was going to watch as many games as I could, hoping to see him. But after he got there, he was repeatedly causing trouble, causing him to be benched, and ultimately leading to his dismissal from the team for several incidents, which I won't go into. Banks was, according to coach Philip Fulmer, "the best pure athlete on the football team." But Banks was let go from the team in December after those several incidents. From the last I heard, Banks was possibly going to be playing football at Carson-Newman College, a liberal arts Southern Baptist college located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. I need to find out what he's doing now, as I am thinking about it, because all of my friends from high school don't seem to have any idea either.
Now, the latest player released from the team for drug use, sophomore tailback LaMarcus Coker. Coker's release from the team was for one reason, well sort of. Coker failed a total of four drug tests, meaning he had four chances to straighten himself out. But he didn't, and that's a shame, because according to ESPN he had "shown flashes of brilliance on the field during his brief Tennessee." "I'm disappointed for him," said coach Fulmer. "This is his life, and I hope he gets straightened out and succeeds in whatever he chooses to do. I can lay my head on my pillow and know that, within the rules, we have done everything we can do to help LaMarcus overcome his challenges." It really is a shame, that these athletes couldn't straighten themsleves out while they were still on the team. Coker was just now released, so he hasn't really had a chance to yet, but Banks' incidents occured back in 2003/2004, so he has straightened out and started playing again, which is the best thing he could have done. Hopefully Coker can do the same.