KNOXVILLE - Former Tennessee football player Daniel Brooks, who was dismissed from the team this week after a scuffle with two basketball players, told police he was punched in the nose and kicked.
Brooks had "a chipped tooth, busted lip, busted nose" and sore ribs from the altercation on Monday on campus with forwards Jemere Hendrix and Andre Patterson, according to a university police report obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday.
Hendrix was dismissed from the basketball team, and Patterson was indefinitely suspended.
Brooks, a junior who was never a starter, was suspended for the Volunteers' first three games this season after several incidents including driving with a suspended license. He was accused more than once of hitting fellow students but not charged.
Police have not filed any charges in Monday's fight. Investigators talked to Hendrix and Patterson, and both gave statements that mostly corroborated Brooks' story.
Brooks told police he was confronted by Patterson on his way to class, and they argued. Hendrix arrived and also argued with Brooks and hit him in the nose.
"Hendrix stated that he felt that Brooks was going to hit him and he wanted to get the first punch because Brooks was bigger than he was," the police report said.
After Hendrix hit Brooks, they scuffled and Brooks fell down. The two basketball players then hit and kicked Brooks.
Brooks said Patterson was holding a bottle and he believed he was hit at least once with it.
Assistant basketball coach Ken Johnson saw the scuffle and pulled Patterson away, the report said.
Football coach Phillip Fulmer said earlier this week Brooks did not instigate the fight, but he dismissed Brooks after giving him several chances to redeem himself.
Athletic director Mike Hamilton was part of the discussion with the coaches and players after the incident. He said it was "the final straw" for Hendrix and Brooks.
