Recently former University of Tennessee wide receiver James Banks asked for yet another chance at lining up in orange and white.

Not surprisingly, UT coach Phil Fulmer and athletic director Mike Hamilton shot down the idea before it ever really even got started.

The fact that Banks re-enrolled in school this spring at a small Division III school in his home state of Indiana to get his grades up and become eligible is a step in the right direction.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer passed on James Banks' attempts at getting re-instated to the football team. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

He probably needs football along with an education to get him back on the proper track. That track doesn't run through Knoxville, though.

A star quarterback at Indianapolis' Ben Davis High, he continually lived on the edge when he was still on the Vol roster.

Banks, who was arrested for underage drinking and violating a noise ordinance, had charges filed against him but later dropped in both cases.

Is it really that hard to wait till you are 21-years-old to start drinking? If a cop tells you to turn your car stereo down, you don't respond by pumping up the volume.

Goodness, James, if you wanted to hear music that loud, you could have just done some two-stepping at Cotton Eyed Joe's.

On his last leg in the fall, shortly after being suspended for the first part of the 2004 season, Banks blew his knee out in practice.

That was the beginning of the end as the extra time just sitting around led back to marijuana use, as he admitted.

I'm not sure how they rehabilitate in Indy, but typically narcotics don't regenerate knee ligaments or enhance the healing process in any way.

Fulmer dismissed Banks in December after Banks' seemingly fourth or fifth chance. No tellin' how many other instances Fulmer didn't go public with.

James Banks hauls in a pass during Media Day last year. (T-G Photo by Ben Boggess) [Click to enlarge]

With the number of UT football players who have been either arrested or cited since February 2004 up to 11, no one in Knoxville is in position to hand out sixth chances.

It's more of a "Thanks for coming out, God bless, good luck," sort of thing at this point.

Current Vols should take note of the life Banks created for himself and keep their noses in the books and facing the gridiron. Chances like these don't come around often.

I hope that Daniel Brooks, Britton Colquitt, Bret Smith and Tony McDaniel are listening.

Part of the reason history is recorded and taught is so we don't repeat past mistakes.

How many stars you had next to your name in high school and the number of college touchdowns become irrelevant once you cross the line for a big-time school like UT. Note Reggie Cobb, Nilo Silvan, Chuck Webb, Tony Robinson and Onterrio Smith, just to name a few.

Never fear though, James, there's always the National Football League. If you're as talented as some say you are or were, then you'll get your shot. All of the aforementioned, with the exception of Robinson, got their lottery tickets punched by NFL teams.

Banks does appear to be trying. He's back in school. He's at least wanting to put his past behind him and strap on gear again. Others would sit around and whine about how they blew it or were culturally biased upon.

If he can catch Hail Marys in the end zone in Gainesville, he can find a home somewhere.

Danny Parker is a Times-Gazette sports writer.