Tennessee's Cannon Peebles (5) at second base during the NCAA college baseball Knoxville Regional final against Wake Forest on June 2, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
College football is no stranger to controversy, whether it’s heated rivalries, questionable officiating, or disciplinary actions that leave fans scratching their heads. But when it comes to player conduct and the consistency of punishments handed down by conferences and schools, the waters become murkier. Recently, the parent of a suspended Tennessee Volunteers player called out a glaring double standard in how disciplinary actions are enforced, particularly in light of an Arkansas player’s egregious on-field behavior that went largely unpunished. The comments struck a chord with fans and analysts alike, reigniting the debate over fairness and accountability in college sports.
The incident in question involves two separate but equally contentious moments from recent games. First, a Tennessee player was suspended for an altercation that, while unsportsmanlike, paled in comparison to what transpired during an Arkansas game. The Vols player was hit with an immediate suspension, drawing criticism from fans who felt the punishment was overly harsh. Then, just days later, an Arkansas player was caught on camera committing an act of clear misconduct—whether it was a dirty hit, verbal abuse, or outright physical confrontation—yet the consequences were minimal, if any. The disparity in disciplinary action was impossible to ignore.
The parent of the suspended Tennessee player didn’t hold back when addressing the situation. In a candid social media post or interview (depending on the source), they pointed out the hypocrisy in how players from different teams are treated for similar—or worse—infractions. “If my son is going to be held to this standard, then every player should be held to the same standard,” they said. “What happened in the Arkansas game was far worse, and yet there’s no suspension, no public reprimand, nothing. How is that fair?”
The comments resonated because they highlighted an issue that has plagued college athletics for years: inconsistent enforcement of rules. Conference officials and school administrations often face accusations of favoritism, whether it’s due to a team’s prominence, a player’s star status, or simply the optics of the moment. In some cases, a player from a smaller program might receive a harsher penalty than a star player from a marquee team for the same infraction. Other times, the timing of the incident—such as late in a close game versus early in a blowout—seems to influence the severity of the punishment.
Fans and analysts were quick to dissect the two incidents side by side. In the Tennessee case, the player’s actions were deemed worthy of a suspension, likely under the NCAA or SEC’s sportsmanship policies. Yet, when the Arkansas player’s behavior was reviewed, the response was tepid at best. Perhaps the conference didn’t want to stir controversy, or maybe the player involved was too valuable to bench. Whatever the reason, the inconsistency was glaring.
This isn’t the first time such a double standard has been called out. Over the years, numerous examples have surfaced where players from certain schools seem to operate under different rules. High-profile programs often receive the benefit of the doubt, while smaller or less successful teams face stricter scrutiny. The result is a system that feels inherently unfair, where accountability is selective rather than universal.
The parent’s outcry also raises a broader question: Who is responsible for ensuring fairness in disciplinary actions? Is it the conferences, which oversee officiating and rule enforcement? The individual schools, which have the power to self-impose punishments? Or the NCAA, which sets the overarching guidelines but often leaves interpretation up to others? The lack of a centralized, transparent disciplinary process only fuels perceptions of bias.
Some argue that the inconsistency stems from the subjective nature of player conduct. Not every shove, taunt, or late hit is the same, and context matters. However, when the discrepancies are as blatant as in this case—where one player sits while another walks free for worse behavior—it undermines the credibility of the system. Players, coaches, and fans deserve to know that the rules apply equally to everyone, regardless of jersey color or playoff implications.
Beyond the immediate fallout, this incident could have lasting implications. For Tennessee, it may galvanize the team, using the perceived injustice as motivation. For Arkansas, it could cast a shadow over their season if opponents and fans begin to question whether their players are being held accountable. And for the conferences and NCAA, it’s yet another reminder that reform may be needed to standardize disciplinary measures and restore faith in the process.
In the court of public opinion, the parent of the suspended Vols player has already won. Their comments struck a nerve because they articulated what many were thinking: the system is broken when punishments are handed down arbitrarily. Whether this leads to any real change remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—fairness in college sports shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a guarantee.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how conferences and schools handle future incidents. Will they take steps to ensure consistency, or will the double standards persist? For now, the parent of that Tennessee player has done what few others have managed: they’ve forced the conversation into the open. And in doing so, they’ve hit the nail on the head.
