KNOXVILLE — A new recruiting problem has surfaced for the University of Tennessee football program, Athletic Director Mike Hamilton told the New York Times on Friday.
In the New York Times article Hamilton said the Southeastern Conference is looking into the activities of a recruiting intern, Steve Rubio.
This news comes as the scrutiny of the recruiting activities of its Orange Pride hostesses intensifies with a Sports Illustrated photo that shows two members of the Tennessee group at a South Carolina high school football game, posing with football players.
Rubio flew to South Florida with Coach Lane Kiffin recently and visited the high school football power St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale.
Under NCAA. rules, Rubio, a graduate of Aquinas and who volunteered at the high school, is not allowed to recruit off the Knoxville campus, the Times said. Hamilton said the NCAA's concern is whether Rubio did recruiting work and contacted players while he was at the high school.
Hamilton told the newspaper it was his understanding that Rubio did not recruit at the high school. Hamilton also said Tennessee had given the SEC all the information the conference has requested. Whether to forward the matter to the NCAA, Hamilton was quoted as saying, is “for someone else to make that determination.”
Rubio was hired by UT this summer. He had been director of player personnel at University of Central Florida.
Rubio, is a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and spent a year as a volunteer assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where he played football, before attending UCF.
While with the Golden Knights, Rubio spent three years as an equipment manager before spending the 2007 season as UCF’s graduate assistant for recruiting and operations.
He later became the school’s full-time director of player personnel.
By NCAA rules, only UT’s nine assistant coaches and head coach Lane Kiffin are allowed to visit prospects.
Other staff members can be involved in the recruiting process, such as arranging visits and contacting high school coaches, as long as they do so from campus and follow all applicable NCAA rules.
Rubio replaced Paul Gonnella, who came to UT from North Carolina early this year.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 138
crimsonviper writes:
Anybody still think it's not a witch hunt now?
Anybody?
ctownvol writes:
So Rubio graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas? I guess he's not allowed to go back and visit while in the area? The witch hunt is starting to spiral out of control.
ctownvol writes:
Hey D. I guess I do, huh? Good to see you on the "other" site....
crimsonviper writes:
Finally took time to get started.
Now I see why you are the King of FB..lol
crimsonviper writes:
Somebody's really digging now. There is another story I read this morning where a Memphis summer league coach said hostesses rubbed breasts on his players...SI i think.It will probably be the next story up.
TennesseeTrojans writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Merv writes:
It might be wise for Hamilton to ask a knowledgeable person to conduct a seminar for UT football staff on NCAA recruiting rules.
thevoice writes:
Bingo. Or hire 3 full-time attorneys. Sharp attorneys. I'll volunteer. GBO.
hogan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
al2476 writes:
I suppose that Ut is the only university that has interns that are associated with recruits. Huh!! With this going on at Ut it won't be long before other schools in the conference will be hearing from the NCAA. Especially the redt*rds from down below.
Ayres_Hall writes:
I'll say it again. UT fans are unfamilair with what it now takes to win the SEC. The head coach is no longer a punching bag and the staff is no longer content with status quo. Nick Saban pushed every NCAA recuiting rule three years ago. I remember we were crying out for his head. What do think Lane Kiffin is doing?
This is no longer your grand pappy's football program.
lomas98 writes:
I agree something needs to be done. This is getting ridiculous. I like what Kiffin is doing on the field, but I don't like hearing all of this off the field stuff. No publicity is bad publicity???? Nobody else is having these sorts of problems. It is getting to where I am afraid to come to this website in fear of what I will read next.
vol98champ writes:
Remember the good ole days when Tennessee high school football players showed up on the Alabama campus with new autos that were "given" to them by their out of work uncles? Back then the NCAA just looked the other way and let them get away with it. If recruiting is this sensitive now, let's put everybody on probation and have marbles competition. My daughter got a scholarship for swimming at a division 2 school. I know of at least 2 violations in her recruiting that were worse than this.
CoverOrange writes:
Yep. Mike Slive is donning the white gloves and running his fingers along the top of the picture frames in the halls looking for dirt.
huntined#565710 writes:
Crimsonviper,First Cong. on the secc win..now go beat Texas..That story about a Young Lady rubbing her breast on a young man just floored me..That has got to be the first time that that has ever happened.. In these days and times I can't believe a young lady would do that..it has got to be the worst thing ever done by a young lady and it has to be the first time that has taken place in the whole world..and again just go beat Texas..
UKenshin writes:
I'm waiting for the report that Eric Berry violated recruiting rules by going home for Christmas. He will be off campus and telling his brothers how much he has loved Tennessee football.
straightshooter writes:
I am getting a bad feeling about how this thing is going to wind up now. UT has been made a target by who knows how many parties. And a poster I noticed had the theory of tieing this in to the money aspect, not wanting to upset the Florida,LSU and Alabama dominance in the league. Maybe that is a bit to much to suspect at this point but the fact is it would seem they are rolling over every stone, investigating every little report trying to build a case I think so that the entire amount of evidence they get that doesn't exactly follow NCAA recruiting code can be grouped together and as a whole can justify a penality/probation of some type. The timing is very suspect. Following those recruiting rules is similar to driving by the book.
There isn't a cop whom you could follow for 5 miles while driving that in some aspect to the letter in a driver's manual doesn't exactly follow and could thus be sited a violation. It can be all up to the what, who and how much bias there is in the enforcement process.
Couchdummy writes:
Agree with WD. This is akin to giving a face-saving bone to NCAA. However, some tightening of rules may be a good thing.
cloudodust writes:
In the world of legal-sleeze, there are a ton of assumptions coupled with ifs, ands, or buts. What appears on the surface to be a supposed violation may in fact be a harmless trip for Rubio to visit Mom and Dad or Uncle Cube. Now if Mom or Dad are being recruited by Tennessee to suit up in 2010, we may have a problem...
shipperman#280095 writes:
I would guess you are the idiot. The man was stating the obvious. This is a witch hunt by Slive to get back at Kiffin. Read before you comment nut case.
gaj619 writes:
Hey man. I have read CrimsonViper and he is reasonable in his posts, including this one. I think you misread his intent because what he seems to be saying is that there is a 'witch hunt afoot there Watson'.
Bazz writes:
Thamel reported that one also
straightshooter writes:
I have to laugh about the guy noting a hostesses rubbed her breast against a recruit. I know of women at my place of work who have done that in a joking manner multiple times for years. It doesn't mean she is inviting the guy to her bedroom. How would anyone think the coaching staff can control such actions in a social situation anyway. This has really gotten out of hand and with the Tiger Woods scenario on everyone's minds, alligations of sex are probably surfacing next. And who can prove such ever happened or not.
volatil writes:
I think Urb has rubbed his breasts against Thamel.
UrbanCryer writes:
<<<<<<<<YAWN>>>>>>>>>
vol88 writes:
Dude, I think he's on our side.
TommyJack writes:
Which is worse? The SEC Gestapo or the NC2A Gestapo? Sieg Heil.
gaj619 writes:
I hope Witchy is correct. However, I know how these things develop a momentum of their own and are suddenly out of control. Once Hammy has the facts and they show no real violation, he should be very aggressive in dealing with the NCAA and the runt from Birmingham.
volsoutwest writes:
and where do you work? (just kidding) Go Vols
shopsports#273141 writes:
This reeks of Spurrier. He has always had a gift for stirring up the NCAA. He drag Phil through all the Alabama smut. The NCAA ignored Phil's complaints about Memphis until Spurrier got actively involved. Then, Spurrier let AL attack Phil for years and sat back acting innocent of any accusations. Spurrier is doing it again. It has taken him a year to get enough stirred up but this stared in S Car. He has gotten support and contribution when convenient from Urban Crier, while FL sits back and acts innocent. All Vols everywhere have GOT to fight back by turning in every time you see one of them sneeze in your town, schools, at games....and let the NCAA get an earfull constantly until they get investigated. Nothing has been mentioned that is not done everyday, by every school in normal daily life, much less recruiting. This is a total witch hunt to try and damage TN recruiting if not the program and of course Kiffing because they are SOOOOOOOOOO jealous. Humiliating Spurrier on the field is NOT enough. We have to go after him and Urbie on their own lying level.
Couchdummy writes:
Hammy appears to be a deer in the headlights for now, which may be in our best interest IMHO. We don't need his snake oil pitch if we are innocent!
Ringside writes:
crimsonviper is one of the best and most civil posters on this website, you are not.
gaj619 writes:
I acknowledge your line of reasoning may be correct. That is why I qualified my statement by saying 'once Hammy has the facts and they show no real violation' he should be aggressive. The caveat in this would be for Hammy to grow a pair. Probably not likely.
rootin4volz writes:
I smell Gator shite all over this.
crimsonviper writes:
No doubt it is Doc.
When you have these stories coming out of S.C,then Florida then Memphis it is obvious somebody is feeding this hack reporter in New York anything they possibly can to hurt UT.
When all is said and done,it will be interesting to see who is really behind it...Somebody is going to be exposed...That will be the real story in all this..IMO
BrewerTL writes:
Any links, Viper?
Couchdummy writes:
Agree. Your point is good that he should have the facts. His vocal demand for that would indeed be appropriate ---right now.
UKenshin writes:
Don't investigations into recruiting practices normally happen after signing day. The Tennessee coaching staff will probably be cleared of wrongdoing with this and the hostess phooey, but damage has already been done by the NCAA witchhunts. Undecided recruits are less likely to sign with Tennesse if they are scared of possible penalizations to the program. They also know that they will be under much more intense scrutiny at Tennessee than if they sign elsewhere. Slive needs to back off.
57TexasVol writes:
Maybe i should take down my checkerboard "T" flag when one of my son's buddies - who is being highly recruited by Monte - regulary stops by. I'd hate to commit a violation!
OMG! Did I commit a secondary when I asked him if he enjoyed his trip to Knoxville?
Holy bull-shite! I paid for the pizza. Now were really in trouble.
Ringleader writes:
The hostess story originated from a former strength coach. The Memphis story was from a coach who said the Hostess hit on him and his players. Then you have Brown's grandmother talking about whiskey breath, etc. Then you have Spurrier and other SEC head coaches. I can tell you anyone would know that there are designated Coaches who can recruit off campus, and an intern cannot. Why else would you take the intern to Ft Lauderdale, but to recruit. Kiffin has made UT the most despised place in the conference. I think Al Davis was right on point, "He will turn Tennessee upside down"
BrewerTL writes:
Nevermind. I found it. While I doubt any school in the NCAA is 100% compliant (like the IRS tax code, too big and tangled to possibly know it all), if "breast rubbing" is going to be factored in then I think just about every college kid in America should be "investigated". It's like one of my buddies I went to UT with said....
"Hmmm, that's the same thing that me go to UT. Cheap beer at the Lap and hostesses."
57TexasVol writes:
you blew any cred when you said "Al Davis was right."
BrewerTL writes:
I heard the hostess thing from SC was "turned in" by a former Fulmer assistant coach, who I believe is now at Clemson.
AFVol423 writes:
Okay, sounds like a free trip home on University money, which should upset some people. Lets get all the skeletons out of the closet so the NCAA and SEC will settle down and we can get on with the real work of putting UF and UA back in the middle of the pack where they belong.
dvols writes:
sweeeeeeeeeet! tn and hamilton just continue to play the "game", if the sec doesnt want to promote bama (which is already on double secret probation) for the nat'l championship..fine with me. Be careful SEC, Monte doesn't have a lick of allegience to you, and I am quite sure that old bird knows a few things and I promise you he carries a little salt to make it stick. And that birds not chirpin....yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
orangevolz writes:
Who gave the NCAA ammunition for this Witch hunt. CLK did it, and he continues to do it. Why in the world would you take a former Aquinas player/coach on a recruiting trip to Aquinas. It is asking for trouble, even if he did nothing. Once again, CLK never thinks about consequences. If I was Hamilton, I would have our compliance officer eat, sleep, and drink with him 24/7.
rockytopatl writes:
Here's the link. It's all Thayer. The alleged breast episode, way down in the story, involved a HS basketball player and his "veteran summer basketball" father coach. This REALLY sounds bogus to me. The most relevant part actually is his comment about it (the hostesses) being a very organized operation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/spo...
However, the intern thing is worrisome mainly because the allegation is that he was traveling with Kiffin. Kiffin has got to know the rules. How could he not???
leedsvol2007 writes:
I live in Alabama and had some direct knowledge of the Alabama program during the time they got in big trouble with the NCAA.
Let it suffice to say they got caught and it was a lot more than a couple of hostesses talking to players.
Alabama has made us the scapegoat for their problems during that time when they should have looked at themselves.
Their problems with the NCAA started when Hootie Ingram who had been on the NCAA compliance committee and worked for the NCAA failed to notify them that Antonio Langham signed a contract with an agent.
It was exacerbated when Dr. Tom Jones rightfully won a judgment against them but I believe the resulting public embarrassment to the NCAA put Alabama squarely under their microscope.
When Mike Dubose was hired they wanted to push the envelope to regain their offensive tradition and bent the rules in recruiting. Then they had a rogue booster paying bribes to coaches to get players to attend Alabama.
As a result they got nailed.
The NCAA rule books are as thick as 2 Bible's everyone violates the rules from time to time.
It's the type of violation and your cooperation in investigating the problem with the NCAA that determines how damaging the mistake becomes.
Alabama learned the hard way.
trace5254 writes:
As an Alabama fan I enjoy beating UT more than anything and seeing you loose...however, I hate to see the conference destroyed by the NCAA.
Kiffin is playing loose and fast with the rules and UT is going to pay. The comments on this site remind me of the ones at AL.Com when the NCAA started the process against Bama. It was always "they are out to get us".
Kiffin has made tons of enemies in the SEC ranks and is going to be turned in for everything. The only way UT can escape major probabtion in the future is for your (incompetent) AD to demand zero tolerance for rules violations - even minor offenses
In the meantime, I was travelling on the West Coast last week and I could have sworn I saw a few UT Hostesses walking down the streets - are you recruiting the West Coast?
tdforvols writes:
Relax folks. These attempts to disrupt the Big Orange recruiting Machine by "reporter" Pete Thamel will backfire. It only takes a few minutes of research to deduce that nothing illegal actually occurred in any of these cases. For instance in the case listed above: it is not illegal for a person to return to their high school Alma Mater for a visit or even to watch a game. Thamel is insinuating that Rubia was "recruiting" during his visit but offers no prove that this is the case. This is because there isn't any evidence to prove this and never will be. I looked up Pete Thamel and the latest records still show him living at home with his parents in Sryacuse. Sounds about right. The number there is listed as 315-426-8286 if anyone wants to call him and let them know how they feel.
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