Gifted senior football quarterback Kenneth Altona (Tony) Robinson and senior running back Kenneth Ray “B. B.” Cooper were arrested in January 1986 for the sale and delivery of cocaine. Robinson had sustained a season-ending injury in the Alabama game and was three quarters from graduation. Both athletes had been notified that they were academically ineligible to enroll for winter quarter, and both had had their scholarships revoked before their January 8 arrest. Robinson appealed on January 14 and was readmitted (and the scholarship reinstated) by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Phil Scheurer. Additional charges were subsequently filed, based on the two-month investigation leading up to the January 8 arrest. Cooper elected not to appeal but received the grant-in-aid funds for winter quarter.
In November 1986 Robinson and Cooper pleaded “no contest” to charges. Cooper received an eight-year sentence, with all but 150 days to be served on probation. Robinson received a six-year sentence, with all but 90 days to be served on probation. Cooper was indefinitely suspended from UT; Robinson received a one-quarter suspension. A third athlete, offensive tackle Bruce Wilkerson, was implicated as a user of cocaine but not charged by the district attorney. UT disciplined Wilkerson by requiring him to undergo counseling and perform 50 hours of community service at Lakeshore Mental Health Institute.
In May 1987 Knox County Criminal Court Judge Ray Lee Jenkins released Robinson to pursue a professional football career, but he would have to serve the remainder of the sentence. He would also have to surrender immediately if he failed to make a professional team and would have to return to complete his sentence at the end of the season if he did make a team.