Lane Kiffin has not spoken with the NCAA.
The first-year Tennessee coach hasn't been contacted by the New York Times either.
But Kiffin clearly isn't running away from an investigation by one and doesn't seem all that shaken by a report from the other. If anything he only seemed annoyed Thursday to have to answer questions about his recruiting practices again in his first public comments since an NCAA review of the Vols came to light this week.
"I know that we've done a phenomenal job in recruiting," Kiffin said. "I know that it's very competitive around the country with the kids that we go after and within this conference. I think that anytime you're operating at the level we're operating at in recruiting, people are going to come after us.
"People are going to question what we're doing, and as head coach it's my job to make sure that we're doing everything by the rules - and we are. We're excited about the direction we're going, and people will always try to take shots at us, they'll always try to bring us down, but it won't matter."
Nothing that has developed so far this week appears to have impacted Kiffin's confidence any at least, and he never wavered in defending his program during a new conference that was supposed to focus on UT's Chick-fil-A Bowl bid to play Virginia Tech on New Year's Eve (TV: ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Instead it was a chance for Kiffin to address issues regarding a hostess program, a trip to a game in South Carolina involving recruits and possible problems with the use of social networking by the Vols. And it was also an opportunity for Kiffin to directly compare this latest saga to questions raised by a similar story by the Times involving concerns about running back Bryce Brown's eligibility, and the message wasn't hard to decipher.
"What you've seen of me is I like to get all the information in, research what's going on, not jump to conclusions, and this is something that's had a lot of national run, been in a lot of media," Kiffin said. "I think what I compare it to in this situation is I go back to the Bryce Brown situation right before the season. That got a lot of national media attention, a lot of SportsCenter attention that the Tennessee staff maybe had some involvement in illegal recruiting of Bryce Brown, that Bryce Brown did some things illegal.
"There was an investigation into that and it ended up with no wrongdoing. I look for this to be the exact same situation, a lot of stuff being said and in the end when the research is done and conclusions aren't being made, the same result will happen."
UT has no timetable for when it might have a definitive outcome, though at this point it's still unclear exactly what sort of punishment it could face from the NCAA. Athletic director Mike Hamilton has acknowledged an investigation, but technically the Vols have not received an official letter of inquiry which would detail what the NCAA would be looking at specifically.
Hamilton refused to comment any further, and Kiffin didn't address questions about either the accusations or who might have made them. But he didn't really hold back about the publicity they're getting.
"In the end, it's just like Bryce Brown's situation," Kiffin said. "Just remember all that attention that went into that right before we started the season, what a distraction that was and all the things about, 'Did the Tennessee staff cheat in recruiting in getting him? Did Bryce Brown do something illegal? Did Butler do something illegal?
"This paper writing that article early and all the things that ran from that, I'm very sure the same thing is going to happen. In the end there will be no wrongdoing by anybody here."
Details are still coming in and the review is ongoing. But Kiffin made quite clear where he stands.
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Comments » 275
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
So bring 'em on. You can't stop the LANE TRAIN!!! :)
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
In all seriousness though, this has gotten to be way out of hand, and the NCAA loves to pick times when it's a huge distractions (i.e. Bryce Brown's recruitment...)
NCAA= bunch of beaurocratic egotistical tea totalers.
USNVOL writes:
This is what I like about this coach,he never backs down!
Give them hell Coach Kiffin.
feathersax writes:
I'm reminded of OU linebacker Brian Bosworth's shoes years back that read: NCAA= National Communist Athletic Association.
NorthwestVol writes:
Gotta like a coach with a spine. No need to 'watch the film'. Give 'em heII coach!
And this coming from a Fulmer fan....
AlphaMan writes:
Kiffin's confidence is awsome!
I only hope the NCAA doesn't display the same kind bias against us that we've often seen shown by SEC referees.
vol_chaz writes:
I'm not sure he realized we'd be on the sports ticker this much.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
I smell a fulmer or that florida , whats his name coach , or the pilot bandido .
USNVOL writes:
Great user name,I like that.
I too will be a Bearcat fan on 1/1/10.
Go Bearcats, beat the lizzards,I hope they beat florida 100-0
I would pull for anyone or anything when they play the lizzards.
Hell, I would even pull for the devil if the lizzards played them.
Go Bearcats
rockytopatl writes:
Kiffin may be the Houdini of coaches. If he escapes again, he may qualify for a POW pension.
CrankE writes:
In other news, the NCAA is still not interested in talking with Reggie Bush regarding the hookup that he was given during his time at USC.
Also, Alabama is complaining that vacating wins is too great a punishment for the school which has had as more probations in the last 15 years than national championships claimed in the last 400 years.
roloyo writes:
Is it me, or did he just tell the NCAA to kiss his AZZ? Get off the tracks boys, here comes the Lane Train.
GBO
Brillovol writes:
That wouldn't suprise me. Especially given the proximity. It had to either be a college or high scool coach/administator who tipped the NYT. Keep in mind the same author interviewed Spurrier and Meyer recently. Fishy...
NorthwestVol writes:
To clone a recent series of TV commercials.....
"After all, he's a Doctor"
You taking new patients WD? I've got this blood pressure thing going on when ever I think of Gators or Bammers. I think I need a new perscription...
Brillovol writes:
We need a catchy nickname for the man. Teflon doesn't rhyme with Lane but it might just have to work!
516milesfromUT writes:
Posted by ATLANTAROLL
December 10, 2009, 6:48AM
I truly believe most croots parents will see through this punks facade of ego.Sure,he'll get a handfull of talent.You want to read some funny stuff just go to Knoxnews.com and find the Volxtra page.These people,or some anyway think he on the way to total domination.But not all mind you are on board.After the "stick em up"fiasco one football player who played on their title team said he was putting his ring up because he was sick of this retard.Folks,it could'nt happen to a nicer bunch.Tennessee toddie,all a**,no body.
ABOVE, thought you all would like to see how popular we all are here. i took this off the Birmingham news article about us. even when trolls and such are not here wishing they were vol fans, they talk about us everywhere.
WELCOME TO THE KIFFIN UNIVERSE
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
as long as nothing comes of this, it will be a major publicity coup for the Vols again. Lots of press that will help with national exposure. Just hope everything stays on the up-and-up!!
VolinCalif writes:
Your post impels that Kiffin has wrong something wrong and gotten away with it. Most of BS, such as the gas pumping, is just that BS. If one cares to really check you will find the kid later retracted that comment. AS for EM calling and harassing a kid while he was interviewing at another school. Well that may not be against the NCAA rules but it sure as H... is low class manners. A kid is trying to make one of the most important decisions of his life and a Pr.. is trying to distract him. Lane was just to nice to call EM what he really was, so he called him a cheat. As for SS, that is a joke. Lane has none very little wrong except in Slive's view. In which Lane is commenting with the majority of the SEC coaches. So as for the six secondary's stick'em
RJ_Vol writes:
I hate it for the university...but I don't think this going away anytime soon.
moedad writes:
talk about priority, i see they are finally comming out with the lsu coach that paid!!!!!!! a player to come play for the tigers!!!!!!
but hey, he never played he got hurt,so whats the big deal right? smalllll article but some college girls go to high school football game and hold up signs it makes big news, plasterd on every web page, pictures of them,and national news, big investigation by ncaa. boy you did not hear much about big lsu in prime time??????? can anybody say witch hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WytheVol writes:
Kiflon?
moedad writes:
same people reported on ron zook, and we know what happend about that?
coachbenchpressfakebakes writes:
Im gonna take a different stance on this.
First off I have no doubt CLK is the guy to get this program back to competing for SEC Titles.
CLK and the rest of the staff have done a fabulous job getting the process started.
At the same time we must ask ourselves why there is a clear bullseye on us? The answer in my opinion is CLK has put it there.
When you take every chance to rub people the wrong way, they will take every chance to get you back.
Admittedly Im conflicted because CLK's talking has put the T back on peoples mind but at the same time put a target on the program.
This is my first negative comment about the new regime. I dont expect to have much negative to say about them in the future.
CLK and the rest of the coaches Im behind you all the way.
Just keep it between the lines. We don't want to end up like the criminal tide.
DennisVols writes:
In the end Kiffin has done a couple of things wrong. One he made UT competitive again, Two he beat every team in the SEC eastern division with the exception of the Gator which could only come away with a 10 point win on their home turf. Third He got UT capable of taking the #1 team in the nation all the way to the wire and had the Vols had a placekicker that was any good at that time would have beat Bama on their home turf.
Throw in a beat down of GA, a 2nd place finish in their division (preseason prediction of no better than 4th), solid win against USC and another recruiting class that possibly could elevate UT quicker than most would have expected you can bet there are a lot of people taking notice.
You can also bet that UF, Bama, GA and others in the conference liked last year’s version of UT football better than they did this year.
Not college team out there doesn’t make a mistake along the way and truth be told the NCAA is a lot like the IRS. They have more laws than they can possibly enforce or that are actually needed. It has grown to become a big monster that uses its powers whenever they want to shake up a program by applying a rule that really shouldn’t be a rule in the first place.
Some hostess holding up a sign at a H.S. football game encouraging a player to commit to a certain college is against the rules? Give me a break. Who thought up this one and just how does it affect the game of football competition wise? LSU was taking recruits to strip clubs, Auburn riding around in Limo’s and this is what we are being investigated for as if it is going to change the outcome of a game. There are teams that are undefeated that will never get the opportunity to play in the NC game because they do not play in a certain conference and the NCAA believes this is fair. How does the NCAA not allowing teams like TCU, BSU the opportunity to play in the BCS championship not adversely affect their ability to recruit top players? If the issue here is did UT have an unfair advantage because something a student did or didn’t do then the NCAA needs to investigate its self and how they give big name schools an unfair advantage when choosing a champion.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
516milesfromUT writes:
are you all seing the planetary movement? seems they all flipped thier axis an are now revolving around the hill!
''I'M Loving it''
WytheVol writes:
Good post
VolinCalif writes:
I'm sure glad I finished reading you post. I'm so sick of trolls I pass as soon as i ID them.
VolinCalif writes:
It didn't hurt Steve very much. But I do agree.
Hounddog writes:
What DennisVol said!
Let's play football. Hounddog
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Teflane
volsoutlaw writes:
I think Coach Kiffin is a great guy, and I totally believe in his X and O's. I'm loyal as they come, I just don't like the fact a host would travel anywhere. The only part of this story that bothers me, after hearing there has been no formal letter, no formal requests or visits (NCAA), tell me things are probably, most likely, overblown. My only problem or suggestion would be keep host on campus, and tell them to be overly cautious about the school passion when off campus.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I agree with you on that..DennisVol's post has got to be the best that I have ever seen on here!!! GOOD JOB!!
go_vols_go writes:
FEAR LANE KIFFIN... FEAR TENNESSEE...THIS WILL BE OUR CONFERENCE AGAIN IN A YEAR OR TWO. FEAR THE KIFFIN. GO BIG ORANGE
roloyo writes:
Good post! But he kinda reminds me of a Bobby Knight in a football helmet. You've gotta luv his attitude though. GBO
cloudodust writes:
Don't expect an apology from the anti-Vol crowd. They're probably already scheming the 'next incident'...
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
Lane "Babyface" Kiffin leader of the Vol Mafia.
volbald writes:
Again, fans all over the country comment on their favorite team first and then comment on Tennessee. Right before the Holiday Bowl season starts, UT is again on the front pages of every sports section in the country. From what's been published so far it looks like two UT female students were asked by two recruits who had already committed to UT to attend their high school game. The girls went dressed as ladies, without school colors, and without any UT signs. They talked to the two players briefly right after the game and left - so says one of the boy's father. The two players went to eat a late supper with their teammates. Currently it doesn't look like much of a violation. If the NCAA is going to monitor FaceBook messages for every female college student and every male highschool football player in the country - lots of luck! Maybe the university presidents need to cut the NCAA's budget if the staff is spending that much time on FaceBook.
BarrenPlainsVol writes:
I don't like the idea of the NCAA or the SEC being able to tell students what to do and where they can go in their free time. The only reason this is an issue is because our coach says what he feels about any given situation. Which is a BIRTH RIGHT for Americans. I say the haters crossed a line this time, pull the gloves off, Kiffin, and let'em have it.
shopsports#273141 writes:
No joke...It all reaks of Spurrier and Meyer. As vol fans we need to unite to catch and report every time they sneeze on somebody. This is total BULL S... We can spread rumors too.
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
Teflane Kifflon?
RoadTrip writes:
I truly love it when a guy that has the support of the best fans in America, goes toe to toe with the good ole boy system and wins. The funniest part is the NYT, NCAA and Slive have no idea they are being used and abused! How fitting.
Keep the national exposure coming!!! GBO!
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
LOL Good one, Doc.
volsn3 writes:
SICK'EM KIFF....I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD TO BE A VOL FAN....AXE.......GO BIG ORANGE
windy writes:
Hey guys, don't pay any attention to hollowheadvol, he is a troll that joined yesterday
spacehistorian writes:
How many fans are old enough to remember Moxie Cola & the origins of the term "That man has Moxie!" At one time Moxie Cola outsold Coca-Cola & ruled the Cola world. "Moxie" became defined as having the following characteristics, "courage, daring, energy & vision." Given how the rival schools & national media have gone after CLK, he has shown a lot of MOXIE in dealing with these distractions & pernicious attacks.
Did Witchy ever drink Moxie up in JC at the ETSU? I said make mine a Dr. Enuf!!!
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Smells of Spurrier....or morning teeth fungus. They're both about the same.
windy writes:
I heard Tebow signed his first big endorsement today. With Kleenex. funny
windy writes:
Post you need to get on a winning team UT, because yours is sinking. Go vols, I love UT and Kiffin.
BarrenPlainsVol writes:
You and Al Davis deserve each other P_I_W.
BarrenPlainsVol writes:
I guess for Vol fans it's like waiting on Christmas morning, just can't wait for all of the excitement around our program. But for all the trolls, just another sleepless, worry filled night.
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