Ruby Whitehorn cited for simple possession after game

[volsagain]

at the end of the day, they are going to do what is best for the program as a whole. i’m sure that’s going to take ruby and the future of the program into consideration. maybe im very gullible, but i truly think ruby is a great person, just can’t get out of her own head. hopefully this wakes her up.

Yeah I think minimum of 10 game suspension for 2nd transgression .

 

[MicCheck12]

I said the same thing. And no travel with team for away games during that stretch might be sufficient!

 

[Higbee]

it was more in depth than just that. hayes was a huge locker room problem and did not respect warlick at all. they did not get along, nor did warlick and her parents.

Not Hayes I'm talking about. This girl went on to play for a couple of other schools.., at least one was sec school. Someone will remember her name.

 

[LVol]

I feel for her and her mom. You know they have both worked hard to put her in this position to succeed, but it looks like she has some problems she needs to focus on fixing before she can move forward.

Basketball aside, the main thing is to get those problems worked out so she doesn't sabotage herself in life. And it looks like it will take some pretty stiff consequences to get her attention. So very sad.

I believe her Mom passed right before she came to TN. I think that is why she is having issues. Just an opinion of someone who lost their Mom at 22 years of age.

 

[volfan__18]

Not Hayes I'm talking about. This girl went on to play for a couple of other schools.., at least one was sec school. Someone will remember her name.

miles? Her charge was a lot different than just simple possession. She was also under Kellie and not Holly. That’s the only two i can think of.

 

[volforlife10]

Not Hayes I'm talking about. This girl went on to play for a couple of other schools.., at least one was sec school. Someone will remember her name.

i know hayes was busted for possession and released under holly. then went on to play at MTSU and MSST. i cant think of anyone else who was released from the team under holly.

 

[Mafiaboss]

Seems a player was dismissed maybe during Holly's tenure for pot. Can't remember her name

Zaay Green. Kellie dismissed her from the team.

 

[Coach Jumper]

You serious, Willis?. You think they framing Ruby?

I think they meant just the opposite...A misdemeanor is much less of a mark than a fellony

Yeah I think minimum of 10 game suspension for 2nd transgression .

You wouldn't last long coaching elite players!

"player's coaches" rarely make it to the upper echelons of the collegiate ranks when it comes to coaching, but the ones who are respected stay at their helms for years (Pat, Geno, Nulkey, etc)

Most of the players at the top level are there bc of a coach they respected,,,not one they liked.

When coaches that are "liked" dish out punishment, the athlete feels unliked and that soon turns to resentment. And if you look at our prior two coaches, my point is again proven. The players liked Holly and Kellie,,,but where are they now?

However when a coach who doesn't care if you like them dishes out punishment there is no change of like/dislike and if there is it is not the coach who switches their emotion. Coaches who demand discipline are often loved, not liked.

Pat Summitt once locked her girls out of their lockerroom..I can't remember any of those players saying "I don't like her anymore",,,quite the opposite, they respected her more.

So, Kim, do you want to be liked, or, respected?

 

[Coach Jumper]

I believe her Mom passed right before she came to TN. I think that is why she is having issues. Just an opinion of someone who lost their Mom at 22 years of age.

nope

Her mother is Mechelle Whitehorn, and her godmother is Lisa Bryant.
I met Mechelle at the game yesterday
Lisa is alive too.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

it was more in depth than just that. hayes was a huge locker room problem and did not respect warlick at all. they did not get along, nor did warlick and her parents.

And then Kellie had to dismiss zaay green for the same thing i believe

 

[lvocd]

Really don't know why you're coming at me. I understand you're upset but I'm not the enemy here but in your eyes I may be... You have a nice night. I'm going drop this conversation before I get pissed off .. I am very aware of the Lady Vols standards...

You seem always to find drama where there is none. It's okay, though. We all have something to contend with.

 

[mcannon1]

Not Hayes I'm talking about. This girl went on to play for a couple of other schools.., at least one was sec school. Someone will remember her name.

Zay Green

 

[LV renaissance]

Unfortunately, this is more serious than a regular pot charge. Ruby reportedly by the players in a recent interview was one of the emotional leaders of the team, especially helping the newcomers. She just had a stellar game and was super interactive with teammates who seem to care about her. The fact that she was weaving around the road at after 4:00 am following the game and holding pot in that situation while being on probation with coach suggests that she needs help in addition to a consequence. I feel for her, coach, the team, and rather selfishly the fans.

 

[VolBalls33]

Tough news to read after last night's game and excitement heading into the season. Won't be an easy call for Coach Caldwell.

 

[TnVolsX4]

I think they meant just the opposite...A misdemeanor is much less of a mark than a fellony

You wouldn't last long coaching elite players!

"player's coaches" rarely make it to the upper echelons of the collegiate ranks when it comes to coaching, but the ones who are respected stay at their helms for years (Pat, Geno, Nulkey, etc)

Most of the players at the top level are there bc of a coach they respected,,,not one they liked.

When coaches that are "liked" dish out punishment, the athlete feels unliked and that soon turns to resentment. And if you look at our prior two coaches, my point is again proven. The players liked Holly and Kellie,,,but where are they now?

However when a coach who doesn't care if you like them dishes out punishment there is no change of like/dislike and if there is it is not the coach who switches their emotion. Coaches who demand discipline are often loved, not liked.

Pat Summitt once locked her girls out of their lockerroom..I can't remember any of those players saying "I don't like her anymore",,,quite the opposite, they respected her more.

So, Kim, do you want to be liked, or, respected?

Time to move on. Embarrassing the brand. Use the NIL elsewhere.

 

[Mafiaboss]

And then Kellie had to dismiss zaay green for the same thing i believe

See above

 

[VolBall09]

Honestly, pretty boneheaded of Ruby. I’m not sure she comes back from this one. I feel like a charge like this in 2025 is ridiculous considering how common and legal MJ is in many places.

However, as a student athlete at a major university and one who just had legal problems you have to do better. And why drive around with your whole stash in your car? I’ve never understood people who drive around with their stuff.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I hurt for Ruby, because something insider her is so unresolved that she's being self-destructive sabotoging her future.

I hurt for the coaching staff, because you can't coach without being deeply, emotionally invested in each of your players. They'd do anything to protect their girls, but when a player is hurting herself, about the best you can do as a coach or teacher or counselor is to not become an enabler.

I hurt for her teammates, remembering in the postgame presser how eagerly and emphatically Barker and Pauldo defended Ruby and bragged on her leadership. Their loyalty, love and support weren't enough to save a friend, and that's always devastating the first time you realize that as a young person.

I've lost students who I'd counseled and encouraged, who seemed to get it together and I believed they were going to make it. It's always a gut punch followed by days of heartache. But the best outcome that comes to memory was such a boy, who got himself kicked out and sent home to the other side of the country before Christmas. But dadgum if he didn't show up for graduation that May, positive and smiling, just so he could see his friends and classmates graduate! And they loved seeing him again, too!

I don't think Ruby can finish at Tennessee playing basketball. But if she can keep the relationships while she figures out what's going on inside, that would be about as good an ending as the middle of this story will allow.
Sad, sad evening.

 

[ETNVolunteer1]

I hate this for the team but I hate it even more for Ruby. Whatever it is that she is struggling with, I truly hope that she is able to overcome it.

 

[lvocd]

I hurt for Ruby, because something insider her is so unresolved that she's being self-destructive.

I hurt for the coaching staff, because you can't coach without being deeply, emotionally invested in each of your players. They'd do anything to protect their girls, but when a player is hurting herself, about the best you can do as a coach or teacher or counselor is to not become an enabler.

I hurt for her teammates, remembering in the postgame presser how eagerly and emphatically Barker and Pauldo defended Ruby and bragged on her leadership. Their loyalty, love and support weren't enough to save a friend, and that's always devastating the first time you realize that as a young person.

I've lost students who I'd counseled and encouraged, who seemed to get it together and I believed they were going to make it. It's always a gut punch followed by days of heartache. But the best outcome that comes to memory was such a boy, who got himself kicked out and sent home to the other side of the country before Christmas. But dadgum if he didn't show up for graduation that May, positive and smiling, just so he could see his friends and classmates graduate! And they loved seeing him again, too!

I don't think Ruby can finish at Tennessee playing basketball. But if she can keep the relationships while she figures out what's going on inside, that would be about as good an ending as the middle of this story will allow.
Sad, sad evening.

Well said.

 

[VolBall09]

 

[madtownvol]

Honestly, pretty boneheaded of Ruby. I’m not sure she comes back from this one. I feel like a charge like this in 2025 is ridiculous considering how common and legal MJ is in many places.

However, as a student athlete at a major university and one who just had legal problems you have to do better. And why drive around with your whole stash in your car? I’ve never understood people who drive around with their stuff.

I agree with you. And seldom does any nothing good come from driving around at 4:30 AM.

A sad and very frustrating situation.


Such a bummer.

 

[GameTime]

Ruby, don't take your pot for a ride at 4:30 in the morning.....Damn girl.....You put your future, in so many ways, in serious jeopardy....

From such a natural high, from a game time victory, to such a sad low because of a very poor decision....

In any event, you're a fine ball player...

 

[lvocd]

I agree with you. And seldom does any nothing good come from driving around at 4:30 AM.

A sad and very frustrating situation.

Barring some almost unimaginable set of extenuating circumstances (and I truly hope there are some), I see no way for Ruby to stay on the team. She just faced a major legal issue, walked away with a best case outcome and then her coach takes her back (under a very specific set of conditions and expectations) and her teammates embrace (and praise) her.

Then what doe she do? She gets busted for weed possessions driving around at 4:30 AM after a game. That is a giant "FU, I only think about myself," to everyone who supported her.

Sometimes real, lasting consequences are the only life lessons that stick.

I hate that her LV career (most likely) ends with such a selfish and ill-advised choice. She cheated herself, her team, and all the LV fans who would have widely cheered her on this season.

Such a bummer.

I agree with most of this except that I wonder if the hour she was officially charged (4:30 a.m.) might be a bit later than when she was actually stopped. I have ZERO knowledge of the timing of everything and am literally making this guess based on what I've seen on tv and movies, so obviously I could be being totally ignorant here.

That said, regardless of whether it was 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning, or 11:59 Wednesday night that she was stopped, Ruby had NO BUSINESS being out and about in a motor vehicle with illegal substances in her possession. None.

I'm no prude, and fully believe the criminalization of marijuana use is ridiculous. But for now at least, it's still illegal in Tennessee and I cannot imagine Ruby not being aware of that. So, she really did simply blow off not only her responsibility to her own stated dedication to making the most of the second chance she was given, but she blew off all those who so lovingly supported her since the first far more serious offense.

As others have said, we can more clearly see now that there very well may be more deep-seated personal issues for Ruby to resolve before she can ever fully get past these troubled times. I, for one, will be praying for her to figure it out soon.

 

[madtownvol]

I agree with most of this except that I wonder if the hour she was officially charged (4:30 a.m.) might be a bit later than when she was actually stopped. I have ZERO knowledge of the timing of everything and am literally making this guess based on what I've seen on tv and movies, so obviously I could be being totally ignorant here.

That said, regardless of whether it was 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning, or 11:59 Wednesday night that she was stopped, Ruby had NO BUSINESS being out and about in a motor vehicle with illegal substances in her possession. None.

I'm no prude, and fully believe the criminalization of marijuana use is ridiculous. But for now at least, it's still illegal in Tennessee and I cannot imagine Ruby not being aware of that. So, she really did simply blow off not only her responsibility to her own stated dedication to making the most of the second chance she was given, but she blew off all those who so lovingly supported her since the first far more serious offense.

As others have said, we can more clearly see now that there very well may be more deep-seated personal issues for Ruby to resolve before she can ever fully get past these troubled times. I, for one, will be praying for her to figure it out soon.

The news reports state "University of Tennessee women's basketball guard Ruby Whitehorn, 20, received a citation for simple possession of 5.59 grams of marijuana during a 4:30 a.m. traffic stop on Dale Avenue in Knoxville on Thursday.."

I am with you on the decriminalization of pot but the thing is, you can probably drive around with some weed in your car at say 7:00 PM and have no problems. You are more likely to get pulled over in the wee hours.

I went back and deleted the latter part of my post because I decided it was just personal venting and not contributing anything positive to the dialogue. Suffice it to say, let us all hope that this latest miscue is the impetus for Ruby to get her act together.