Because a media member asked, Butch Jones was forced to address it.

“Absolutely ridiculous,” Tennessee’s head coach said Monday in reference to a question about a message board rumor involving Jones punching offensive lineman Mack Crowder at practice earlier this season.

Crowder’s father was asked about the alleged incident as well and provided a strange response:

What’s there to make of this? Jones shot it down as baseless and Crowder declined comment.

The fact Jones is having to entertain questions like this during the season is proof this year’s a head-scratching one for the Vols.