Fulmer to be deposed in Smith suit

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 24 (UPI) -- University of Tennessee football coach Philip Fulmer has been subpoenaed in a case involving allegations of improper recruiting by another school.

Fulmer was served with a subpoena Thursday to give a deposition Sept. 25 in a libel and defamation suit brought by Robert Wendell Smith, a car salesman accused of paying former Tennessee player Kenny Smith $10,000 to sign with the University of Alabama six years ago, against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Nashville Tennessean reported Thursday.

Smith's attorney, Brandon Blankenship, confirmed the subpoena was issued to Fulmer.

"We did issue it and it was served this morning," he said. "We felt it was a big part of Smith's case against the NCAA."

Kenny Smith played for Tennessee after he was declared academically ineligible by Alabama.

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