In a move that is most likely unprecedented, Tennessee trotted the head coach for each sport in which the university participates onto a stage on Tuesday morning to hold a joint press conference about the culture of the athletic department.

This is a response to national scrutiny that stems from a lawsuit that was filed by a group of women that raised questions about the treatment of females by Vols student-athletes.

When asked during the event, Vols football coach Butch Jones indicated that this press conference was a “spur of the moment decision” by the coaches in an attempt to clear the air, which could explain why athletics director Dave Hart and Chancellor Jimmy Cheek were not present.

Vols men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes, who has only been on campus since April, opened the question-and-answer session with a statement:

https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/702148447504359430

His statement was followed by one from Vols softball coach Karen Weekly:

The forum was then opened to media questions.

Here are some of the highlights:

https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/702154175333924864

https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/702154344066584576

https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/702151400806072321