NCAA Preparing to Charge Tennessee, Lane Kiffin For Recruiting Violations
By Ty Duffy
Orange Pride was a “student admissions group” that served as ambassadors for the university. “Hostesses” travelled to the high-school games of prominent recruits and contacted them. Presumably, the NCAA has evidence Reaves issued specific “written and oral instruction”and requested updates. Reaves had denied involvement.
The NCAA probably will accuse both Kiffin and Tennessee of “failure to monitor,” with Reaves targeted for his specific involvement. Potential punitive measures are unclear though, as the Reggie Bush scandal showed, the NCAA does not appreciate it when its investigators are misled.
Extenuating circumstances help neither Tennessee nor Kiffin. The Volunteers’ basketball program faces its own serious recruiting violations under Bruce Pearl. Kiffin just exploited a loophole, timing USC’s NCAA appeal so that he could reel in a boffo recruiting class. The best thing for USC may have been to lay low and ride out its punishment. That wasn’t the best thing for Lane Kiffin.
One also wonders if and when Tennesseee Men’s Athletic Director Mike Hamilton will receive scrutiny. His self-discribed “visionary leadership” has his two major programs staring at serious sanctions.
NCAA to Smack Tennessee, Lane Kiffin [Clay Travis]
[Photo via Getty]