NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee has suspended assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Willie Martinez for the 25th-ranked Volunteers' season opener Saturday against Bowling Green for impermissible contact with a recruit.
Officials announced the suspension about 70 minutes before kickoff Saturday.
Martinez will not help the coaching staff or be at Nissan Stadium, site of Tennessee's season opener and resume coaching Sunday morning. The NCAA Level III secondary violation is for contact that happened during the spring evaluation period in 2014. Martinez "cooperated fully" with the investigation but will face some recruiting restrictions.
Tennessee says in a statement that coaches are aware of the new point of emphasis for recruiting and agreed with the NCAA classifying the contact as a secondary violation.
Fans were found all around Music City tailgating before the big game that was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
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