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UT Recruiting Controversy

Submitted by Jim Wogan on December 12, 2009 - 1:04pm

A Tennessee football fan I know had very few words after seeing the picture of two Orange Pride hostesses with UT football recruits. But the reaction was startling in its simplicity.

"That's pretty (incriminating)," the fan said.  Courtesy: Andy Staples, SI.com

It wasn't mean-spirited and it wasn't a joke. It was an immediate, honest reaction to what si.com published on Friday.

By now, the backstory is well know.

The New York Times has reported an NCAA review of Tennessee football recruiting practices. They've alleged hostesses have visted high school recruits Tennessee is chasing.

The story now has a bit of visual proof.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the corner office at Stokely Athletic Center. Mike Hamilton can't be happy. He's not waiting for the NCAA. He's asking plenty of questions, mostly of his head coach.

On Thursday, Lane Kiffin said he was not aware of any wrongdoing by his coaching staff or the kids being questioned in this matter.

The NCAA is all about institutional control. If Kiffin is right, this will fade away quickly. But if there's proof that shows the visits were orchestrated, encouraged, or known about and ignored by the coaching staff, then there will be NCAA hell to pay.

As those of the Nixon generation remember, it's not the crime-- it's the cover-up. 

(Photo Courtesy: Andy Staples, SI.com)

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Recruiting

Submitted by Gene Pelleaux (not verified) on December 12, 2009 - 2:24pm.

If abiding by the rules means the only two teams that Tennessee can
beat are Kentucky & Vanderbilt, then we should accept a 2-10 record
and move on. If the coaching staff of 2009 can take the level of talent
they inherited and win seven games, how can they be dumb enough
to disregard the rules on recruiting? I don't believe they are guilty, but
if they are I guess the school should begin another search. Based on
'09 results, it seems we could win seven every year without violating
the rules.