The summer basketball coach who told the New York Times that he had to ask a Tennessee hostess to quit brushing her breasts against him and his son is keeping it zipped now.
The coach, Keith Easterwood, told CBSSports.com that he has no plans to speak with NCAA investigators, and that he won't return a call from Joyce Thompson, NCAA associate director of enforcement.
"She left a voicemail saying she wanted to speak with me," Easterwood told CBSSports.com by phone. "But I'm not going to talk to them."
But he talks to sportswriters at CBSSports.com and the New York Times?
In a story posted online late Friday, Easterwood told the New York Times the brushing incident happened at the UT-Western Kentucky football game.
He recalled saying, "Young lady, if you don't stop doing that, we've got a problem," according to The Times.
The Times also reported that Easterwood took a group of basketball players to UT this year and the hostesses had his players "literally reduced to blubbering idiots."
"I've been up there five times, four for football and one basketball visit," Easterwood told the newspaper. "My observation is that this is a very organized operation. These girls have obviously been groomed. There's a lot of eye contact and touching."
Meanwhile, Theresa Walsh Giarrusso of the Atlanta Journal Constitution's MOMania blog has a lively discussion going on the question of "Would you let your daughter be a ‘recruiting hostess?’
"Really, how is this any different from the hostesses at Las Vegas…with the exception of the fact that the “men” heading to college, are underage and certainly the ladies are wearing more clothes. BUT we do use attractive girls for cheerleaders…do we not and testosterone abounds on the sports fields," writes a mom of high school senior just accepted at the University of Georgia.
Another woman writes: "I was a “Georgia Girl” back in the early nineties and never saw any of this behavior occur. It was all girls with the “girl next door” look who were selected. All we did were meet the recruits and their families for lunch/brunch and then take them over to the game. The boys were always so intent on watching the game-we barely spoke! I usually spent the game chatting with the mothers, anwering questions about campus life, etc. We were certainly not “groomed”-we dressed appropriately in nice dresses or skirts. It was actually quite an honor to be a representative of the school. I also had friends whe were “Bama Belles” and the same whent for them-nice girls, etc. I just hate when people make sweeping generalizations about things in which they were not personally involved. Of course, these programs may have changed through the years and it certainly sounds like UT has some issues."
And those two are just a sample of the discussion. By the way, would you (vote in our poll)?
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Comments » 115
dvhill100 writes:
Interesting. He had no problem with running his mouth to the NYT but won't talk to the NCAA? Something is rotten in Denmark.
crimsonviper writes:
and in Memphis.
92VOL05 writes:
First
crimsonviper writes:
New Math?
VolFanInSanAntonio writes:
Anyone from Tennessee has ALWAYS known something was rotten in Memphis.
dvols writes:
no memphis bashing! gets old.
stick to the point.......Easterwood seems to have had a change of heart?
volfan_in_mississippi writes:
Sounds like he is afraid of NCAA getting involved in his business. Guess he should have thought of that before the diarrhea of the mouth with the NYT writer. I guess at the time he thought it thought it would be neat to see his name in NYT.
AsianView writes:
AAU coaches have always been represented by their share of shady characters. Does anyone remember Charlie Benson and Ray Blanton?
But, IMHO, the corruption is led by the shoe companies and aggressive University athletic programs.
Bearwuzacheater writes:
Yeah Jack great job! (sarcasm at KNS not WD) BTW you actuall spell went WENT not whent and who WHO not whe.
Voluvr writes:
I'm not sure it was the players that were reduced to blubbering idiots.
cwmoss writes:
lets handle this internal..same old thing,or let rob them first
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
You are a very funny man . . . .
VolFaninTriCities writes:
This is the dumbest investigation I have ever heard of. The idiot coach had to tell her to stop brushing her breast up against the kid. Maybe she worked for Hooters at some point and was looking for a bigger tip. From the picture of her, it looked like the poor girl could barely see her shoes. I say good for her and good for the recruit. Let it go and let's get back to football!
ctownvol writes:
Now Easterwood has decided not to talk? Shocking.
TommyJack writes:
Ban shoes.
ThurmondEppy writes:
Outstanding reporting again KNS. Truly insightful journalism. Top notch.
crimsonviper writes:
What is shocking M is why they printed this to start with....His story sounded like some fantasy gone bad...New York Times..The bastion of truth LOL!
crimsonviper writes:
I wondered how long it would take you to pitch this theory DC...Casting a wide net today aren't we?
cumberlandVOL writes:
...a new dramatic twist in the boobygate scandal!
lildhoss76ut#638162 writes:
If the tit doesnt fit you must aquit!
murrayvol writes:
I used to tell those stories too.
crimsonviper writes:
Where were they wrong? Maybe they were wrong taking the word of a shoe peddling coach from MEMPHIS with no credibility whatsoever.
Then they print the story trying to destroy these girls and UT....Do you see anything wrong with that DC?
rockytopatl writes:
A couple of us posted before on this guy's history. His "allegations" on the Arkansas basketball program in 2005 proved bogus and the Hogs were cleared. Sounds like he's still pretty much in the fiction business if he won't talk to the NCAA.
rockytopatl writes:
Reality check. The Times sells a million papers a day, 1.4 million on Sunday. Guys, don't make up "facts" when you don't have a clue.
That said, this story was overblown and poorly reported from the beginning. And no, the Times will never admit it.
Hickmc writes:
Yeah bad thing about this site not having a spell check. I bet you meant "Actually" instead of "Actuall". Don't throw rocks it "ain't " nice.
Hickmc writes:
Personally I will reserve comment until after National Signing Day when the ink has dried.
Ringside writes:
Wonder why he did not report this to university officials if he felt it was not appropriate.
What a numbnut.
TommyJack writes:
zz, is this what your parents get after paying your way thru J school?
Hounddog writes:
Hey Santonio...drop dead. Nothing that is "rotten" in Memphis is worth mentioning here. My home town has as meany Vol fans as anywhere else. I am certain the alum/booster money provided by Shelby County is not turned down becasue it is "rotten". Stick to sports and topic at hand. As a 61 year resident of Memphis I feel I know what I am talking about. Please, this pisses me off. BTW I am in San Antonio (Crown Plaza-Riverwalk) all the time. One rude clerk, or a news report about something going on in town doesn't give me a bad impression of the whole town. I am certain there are some non rotten things in Memphis. If you don't beleive me catch Rum Boogie Friday nights after midnight.
LETS PLAY FOOTBALL, Hounddog
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Just wondering, do you spend this much time on an L.S.U. site badgering them about paying recruits?
41_14gbo writes:
Easterwood has had his 15 minutes of fame. Now he gets another 15 to validate his "story" and doesn't want it. Hmmmm. Perchance he wasn't telling the truth, or enhancing it for fame. Disparaging the Vols in Memphis seems to be a favorite pass time.
UrbanCryer writes:
thats the problem. he didnt tell the truth from the start. i live just outside memphis. the guy is a memphis lacky and a pub hound.
rootin4volz writes:
Dear Santa,
This year, I'd like you to bring me:
1. An Orange Pride Hostess with ample boob-age that she can rub all over me.
2. Financial ruin for the NY Times.
3. A harsh sense of humility for the overly self-important bozos at the NCAA.
4. A bowl win and a number one recruiting class for Lane Kiffin and my beloved VOLS!!!
Volunatic writes:
I'm still skeptical that the hostesses would give him and his son so much attention. Who is his son? The last name certainly doesn't ring a bell.
When I was touring UT as a national merit scholar, no hostesses rubbed their breasts against me, but I think one tourguide did accidentally brush her shoulder against my shirt pocket protector once.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
The only photo I have seen was at the one game in S.C. Noone is denying they were there. Why they were there and whether or not U.T. sanctioned it is speculation right now.
Those are facts. Another fact is that in the grand scheme of all things recruiting, a couple of hostesses attending a high school football game when they probably shouldn't have is not terribly important.
cmoore7 writes:
Good article, Jack. This kind of journalism is long gone.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
It's evidence they were there.
To rephrase my point in simpler terms.
So what?
smoky50 writes:
From a Memphian, Memphis=armpit or bunghole of Tennessee. Take your pick.
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
As I've often read: "Bones never lie."
Volunatic writes:
I think the two hostesses were trying to get a head start on having NFL-bound boyfriends.
halloffamebowler writes:
Just think,you can't spell actually.
orangetothebone writes:
Southern belles with nice racks? What male in their right mind would complain about incidental contact? Heck put me in a room full of them any day/everyday/all day
Orangeblood13 writes:
He recalled saying, "Young lady, if you don't stop doing that, we've got a problem," according to The Times.
Sounds like his problem was the problem lol. Send him some Viagra and invite em back
Don't sound like he's a stand up guy....
Volunatic writes:
The '06 class wasn't great, either.
Also, the highly-rated '05 and '07 classes don't look nearly as good in retrospect.
http://smokeys-trail.com/recruits.html
Orangeblood13 writes:
hah
Classic Mr Lail
ETNTigerFan writes:
I don't think many UT fans would WANT Mr. Easterwood to talk. He's spent a lot of time with great high school players and has probably seen the best and worst of college recruiting. It's well know that BP has been trying really hard to recruit the Memphis area players. And remember, before someone flames me, the Tigers have not recruited the Memphis area hard until recently.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Couldn't blame them for that. That's better than gas pumping bound beaus.
FEARinSEC writes:
He/she would have to first feel threatened by LSU...
CoachAl writes:
NYT is fishing for all kinds of junk to sell papers. They are on a Tiger Woods witchunt now. Just stirring things up like any cheap tabloid. Hostess flap and Tiger flap involving ped's both make NYT look desperate!
Volunatic writes:
Well done, sir.
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