University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman didn’t cool off overnight in her frustration with the NCAA’s investigation into alleged rules violations involving name, image and likeness benefits for UT athletes.

On Wednesday, Plowman vowed to not back down from the NCAA.

“If someone charges you or your family or your children with something that you didn’t do and you think it’s unfair, you’re going to speak up,” Plowman told The Daily Beacon, the UT student newspaper.

“There was sort of no question in my mind about what to do. And I made that clear in the letter (to NCAA President Charlie Baker). When you’re leading a university and someone attacks you and makes an allegation that isn’t true, I will always respond. And the most significant thing about that is I will always stand up for our student-athletes.”

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Plowman was hosting her regular cabinet meet-and-greet event in the student union, which she does to start each semester. She briefly spoke to The Daily Beacon to double down on her stance against the NCAA probe.

Plowman again denied any wrongdoing by UT. And she said she wasn’t concerned that UT could be charged the NCAA with lack of institutional control, the most serious allegation a university can face.

“I’m so proud of this athletic department and this university. I have no concerns (about a lack of institutional control charge),” Plowman said. “What I have concerns about is the whole scene of college athletics, the landscape. Got to get that improved. That’s my concern.”

UT confirmed the existence of the investigation, but it has not received a notice of allegations. A source with direct knowledge of the investigation told Knox News on Tuesday that it involved athletes in multiple sports, including football.

UT could face multiple level 1 and level 2 violations, the source said.

On Tuesday, Plowman released a scathing letter that she sent Baker in regards to the NCAA investigation.

She called the NCAA a bully, chaotic, failing, flawed, intellectually dishonest and replete with defects.Plowman also vented her frustration that Baker declined to meet face to face with her or UT athletics director Danny White.

“I was disappointed,” Plowman said. “He’s busy. You know I get that. But I was disappointed.”

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Donde Plowman not backing down in Tennessee battle with NCAA over NIL