Photo by PERRY BAKER
Then South Carolina assistant David Reaves, right, watches as coach Steve Spurrier shouts during a game in 2005.
Audio
ORLANDO, Fla. — Don’t envy David Reaves.
Sure he’s a young, rising college football coach at one of the nation’s most prominent schools. But he’s also smack dab in the middle of a recruiting controversy after leaving South Carolina for Tennessee last month to join the staff of new UT coach Lane Kiffin, who is his brother-in-law.
South Carolina fans were infuriated by his decision to leave his hometown and coach Steve Spurrier, who gave Reaves’ career a jumpstart.
Reaves has been accused of freely calling Gamecocks’ commitments and trying to undermine Spurrier with claims that the Ol’ Ball Coach was just old and wouldn’t be coaching much longer.
Reaves denied those charges publicly on sports talk radio in Columbia.
Guilty or not, Reaves has a job to do at UT. Kiffin didn’t hire him to be passive, whether or not they’re related. Nor did he hire him to pacify South Carolina fans.
So Reaves did call some South Carolina prospects, especially those who had previously shown interest in UT, such as offensive lineman Quinton Washington. Reaves also tried to convince tailback Jarvis Giles that the new UT sell was better than the old South Carolina sell.
For Reaves, there are landmines afoot.
One such bomb went off when Reaves reportedly told prospects they’d have a better chance of winning a championship at UT than South Carolina even though the Vols have lost to South Carolina two of the past four seasons.
That certainly ruffled some Gamecock feathers.
“At South Carolina, they look good but we can offer you a little more here,” Giles said, recalling Reaves’ UT pitch. “That (a better chance to win championships at UT) was part of it, but I don’t want to say that. I don’t want to burn a bridge for him. He’s got ties to South Carolina.”
There’s also been bickering back and forth between Spurrier and Kiffin last month on the subject of recruiting. UT also hired South Carolina strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith.
Gamecock fans are no longer worried about Giles; the 6-foot, 180-pounder from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla. He chose South Carolina over UT last month.
Reaves could catch more heat for re-recruiting a prospect like Washington, an in-state player who many thought was on the fast track to South Carolina.
Shortly after taking the job at UT, Reaves was in Washington’s living room extolling the virtues of playing for the Vols. Reaves had an impact. The 6-3, 315-pound Washington will take an official visit to Knoxville on Jan. 24.
One of the most impressive athletes at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Washington will take an official visit to South Carolina on Jan. 17. He’s already taken an official visit to Michigan. Clemson also might get an official.
No announcement is pending.
“I really couldn’t tell you,” the standout from St. Stephen High School in Timberland, S.C., said. “I might make it the day after my final visit. I might make it on Signing Day. I might make it a few days after. I really don’t know.”
Washington said distance from home won’t be a factor in his decision. As for playing in cold weather, he said, “I’ll get used to it.”
As for Giles, UT can’t help but hold out hope that he might change his mind again. Giles was once committed to UT before Phillip Fulmer stepped down in November.
Time is running out. Giles will enroll next week at South Carolina as a mid-termer.
“No chance,” Giles said of changing his mind. “When I was committed to Tennessee, it was all Tennessee. Now it’s South Carolina, so it’s all South Carolina.”
Shortly thereafter, Giles was asked about the stout competition in practice this week in Orlando.
“When you touch that ball, you’ve got to go,” Giles said, “you can’t second-guess yourself.”
Neither can David Reaves.
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Comments » 110
DAWGSSUCK writes:
That would be awesome if we got Washington.
SignalMtnVol writes:
Wow. Giles is full of "phooey". Everything out of his mouth is a contradiction.
“At South Carolina, they look good but we can offer you a little more here,” Giles said, recalling Reaves’ UT pitch. “That (a better chance to win championships at UT) was part of it, but I don’t want to say that. I don’t want to burn a bridge for him. He’s got ties to South Carolina.”
Then why did you say it?
“No chance,” Giles said of changing his mind. “When I was committed to Tennessee, it was all Tennessee. Now it’s South Carolina, so it’s all South Carolina."
If it was ALL Tennessee, how was it you ended up at SC?
WTF is wrong with this kid?
andy112382#209793 writes:
“No chance,” Giles said of changing his mind. “When I was committed to Tennessee, it was all Tennessee. Now it’s South Carolina, so it’s all South Carolina.”
Umm, so from that there IS at least a remote chance, because his reasoning that there was no chance was saying that he is completely committed to the school his chooses unless he changes his mind.....Giles never struck me as the sharpest tool in the shed, he did, after all, say he was going to pick whichever team came to his mind first the morning he said he would announce, so I take it from that he set a deadline without really being sure where to go, not the best way to go about the biggest decisions in life.
rabidvol1998 writes:
teenager, that's all.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Once again, we have an article rehashing Giles. If Giles wants to go to South Carolina (laughing my heiny off) then let him. Spurrier will start rumours and take pokes and make jokes about Tennessee because he knows he's on his way out (e.g. Today's bowl game). Spurrier is nothing but and has always been one big cry baby. South Carolina has been and will always be next to last in the SEC. WHO gives a flip about how sensative SC's feelings are over recruiting. Go get em KIFFIN and keep slapping Spurrier around. It's pretty awesome.
doh writes:
Poor ol ballcoach. Hated seeing his team lose their game today. I cannot believe we lost to this team.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Kiffin and Reaves are not scared of Spurrier, unlike our previous coach.
yeavols#228407 writes:
True..we have a better recruited running back in Oku. Another reason why it's hard to understand why Giles keeps popping up. Anything for a story I guess.
Flyfisherman writes:
Hey Everybody...just watch the Old Ball Coach against Iowa and see where you might have the best chance of winning a National Championship....here's a hint: IT AIN'T SOUTH CAROLINA!!!
Flyfisherman writes:
Actually, rabidvolfan, it was Ron Zook who faxed the playbook from Kinkos...another class act! I remember well when this was going on in Knoxville...Florida was so thankful, they eventually made him a head coach!
yeavols#228407 writes:
LOL I went to that game..I had a sign that read: Just the FAX Please TN 35 FL 14
What was that final score..i better look that one up
shipperman#280095 writes:
Reaves told Giles the truth. He will NEVER win a championship at SC. Much better possibilities of that in Knoxville. No Giles is worth a phooey. Check out my name
vols1314 writes:
Fulmer is on ESPN with May and Holtz.
cgbtn writes:
VolsRyourmaster, I agree. A story about Oku would be great. And, what about Stokes? Is he still alive? The KNS wants to talk about the recruits that aren't coming. I would like to hear something about the ones who are.
volsrm writes:
Vols need one more addition on the defensive staff, a linebacker coach. His name is Al Wilson!
mdvol writes:
I missed it 1314. What did he say?
rabidvol1998 writes:
When asked if Paterno should be able to stay as long as he wants, Fulmer said all coaches who've been at a school for over 15 years should get to decide when they leave.
kaplan#211944 writes:
No need to call him. Dave Hooker is reporting from Orlando and the players interviewed are there to play in an all-star game this week. David Oku was not invited.
bluetick writes:
Ain't that the truth. There are a lot of shady things that go on in the college football world. We only hear about the ones that get caught, that's all.
yeavols#228407 writes:
That sounds about right...however, Ole Phil better be careful, JoePa has a better record in every category.
yeavols#228407 writes:
I would imagine a lot of players weren't invited..there is only so many on a team.
bluetick writes:
I've always wanted big Al back in Vol Country but I think we won't get anybody unless they are tied to California.
JBruce writes:
Seriously, are there ethics to recruiting??
If there are, I wasn't aware.
JohnnyVol writes:
Too often, we forget that these are teenagers. They are making serious life and future decisions while being called, texted, and visited with the hard sell pressure. For most of the people on this site, the hardest decision they were making at that point in their lives was whether to go to community college or a state school. Or...maybe they were trying to decide whether to work at McDonald's or Burger King. Either way, they did not have the restaurant or school officials pressuring them from all sides to make the decision.
Chill out on these kids.
They are just brain damaged teenagers like we all were.
rabidvol1998 writes:
JoPa owned Fulmer in bowl games, 3-0. Fulmer beat JoPa when he was a player twice (I think Phil was in those games) when we beat PSU and Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell.
The both have lifetime win percentages of 75%.
agarn writes:
Full of phooey or full of himself..there's really no difference.
bluetick writes:
Screw crybaby Steve. Who cares how we get the recruits to come to UT. We just want to win. In the old days it wasn't a question if they could read or write it was 'can they play ball'? Sic em' boys! I hope I get to see Eric Berry lay Giles on his @ss (if he gets to play as a freshman that is).
Brent Musberger should take his ancient @ss off of tv. His time is over. I'm tired of listening to those old school dorks. Did anybody hear him at the @ 13:00 mark of the first quarter of USC and Penn St? The score is 0-0 and he said something like 'they thought this would be a low scoring game'...What??? What a dill weed! The game had just started. All the talk about USC being so great. Bring your cocky @sses to the SEC for a season.
JBruce writes:
Stokes has reportedly decommitted.
Alot of the sites have him listed as a soft commit, but he was quoted in a scout article that he no longer considers himself committed.
gohawks1 writes:
“No chance,” Giles said of changing his mind. “When I was committed to Tennessee, it was all Tennessee. Now it’s South Carolina, so it’s all South Carolina.”
------------------------------------------------
South Carolina's only conference championship in 116 years - 1969 ACC champions.
An all-time winning percentage under .500 (ranked 90th all-time in D-1A football history).
South Carolina has never finished in the Top 10 of a major recognized poll...NEVER.
The first year of Gamecock football was in 1892. They won their first bowl game 103 years later.
South Carolina's overall all-time winning percentage of ranks 11th out of the 12 current SEC schools.
Carolina has yet to win six conference games in a season.
-----------------------------------------------
This is South Carolina football, Jarvis. Have fun losing. A lot.
chrisw2967 writes:
what will be funny , Giles is going to south carolina and probably wont even see the field,if that happens you know he picked the right school.cause if he cant see the field there then he would never see it here at ut
JohnnyVol writes:
The ethic is...GET THE PLAYER NO MATTER WHAT. Stay within the rules, unless you can do violate them without getting caught. Otherwise, GET THE PLAYER NO MATTER WHAT.
This has now been an ethics lesson on college football recruiting in the USA.
cjraney writes:
Hope we get Washington. As for the drama, who cares.
When Spurrier does hang it up at SC, one of his highlights there will be "Beat Tennessee 2 out of 4 years."
jturne44 writes:
No chance,” Giles said of changing his mind. “When I was committed to Tennessee, it was all Tennessee. Now it’s South Carolina, so it’s all South Carolina.”
hahahahahaaha well we all know that you obviously weren't all Tennessee
oh and I hope you saw your team get killed today jarvis...they looked umm how do you say it? GOD AWFUL...
chrisw2967 writes:
here is something you might like and want to know if you dont already.
Monte Kiffins; Live Press Conference Friday
Dec. 31, 2008
LIVE Press Conference - 1/2 - 11:00 a.m.
bluetick writes:
LOL. No and yes. Just seems he'd be a good coach but how do we know. He was a great motivator and player but doesn't mean he'd be a good coach.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Apparently south carolina doesn't have the adversarial local media and police and can offer inducements that the VOLS are prevented from giving because of the local bird dogs.
orangebloodgmc writes:
quote: "reportedly told prospects they’d have a better chance of winning a championship at UT than South Carolina even though the Vols have lost to South Carolina two of the past four seasons."
... And SC has lost to the Vols two of the past four seasons and two of the last three. In fact, Spurrier has no idea what it would be like to beat a Kiffin-coached Vols team because he has never done it, but SC does start 2009 with an 0-1 record. Get used to it, Giles.
Hudro writes:
I recall that it was Jack Sells who was on our staff and Zook was on the receiving end. He was on the FLA staff. Was the DC and later Steve demoted him. Don't know whatever happened to Sells.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Becuase he didn't intercept Mike Shula's pass with a shoulder totally taped up and sing the Tennessee victory song in the lockerroom while crying like a baby.
NoogaVol55 writes:
Anybody know what exactly Reaves will be doing at UT? With EO heading up recruiting, and I am guessing that Kiffin and Chaney will handle the offense and QBs...where does that leave Reaves?
bone03162002 writes:
HAS ANYONE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT FLORIDA WR COACH GONZOLAS
ncvol17 writes:
these kids change thier minds up to the date of signing. it is smart of SC to get the kid enrolled so he cannot back out as easily as so many do.
Hate to see an SEC team lose for the conference standing but neat to see Spurrier humiliated on the field. Bet the golf course is looking better and better to him each season.
Life lesson: the worm ALWAYS turns. Now Spurrier gets to finish his career being humiliated more often than not like he did to others so often. Keep coaching = keep being humiliated.
DingoVol writes:
Jack Sells is a Medical Sales Recruiter last I heard.
southernson writes:
Isnt Ryan Karl married to Fulmers daughter?
carters_dad writes:
its piece not karl
JBruce writes:
Scheduled Official Visits:
1/16
Greg King LB
Aubrey Phillips OT
1/23
Alshon Jeffrey WR
1/30
Marcus Hall OT
Derrick Webb LB
Patrick Patterson WR
James Green WR
1/31
Marlon Brown WR
Tim Simon LB
Is there anyone not on this list that is taking an official visit?
bluetick writes:
I know you're not comparing Ryan Karl to Al Wilson. Are you??
indianacurly writes:
he coached his last 2 years here ... and for about 6 yrs with denver. made defensive calls, provided leadership, enforced discipline, mentored rookies, organized defensive mid-week dinners to foster unity, etc. you think the guy knows how to play lb? do you think he understands defensive schemes? we could do alot worse. if only he had played at tampa ...
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
in response to rabidvolfan:
As long as he doesn't recruit players that wasn't on UT's radar, there is nothing unethical about what he's been doing. No more unethical than Spurrier getting faxes from Jack Sells about UT's playbook in the early 90's.
Actually, rabidvolfan, it was Ron Zook who faxed the playbook from Kinkos...another class act! I remember well when this was going on in Knoxville...Florida was so thankful, they eventually made him a head coach!
It was Zook who received the Fax at Florida. I beliewve that is what really hurt us for many years.
Hopefully we will get a new playbook this year with the new coaches. (sure didn't see much new last year from the clawfense... looked like the same old stuff)
cobbwebb writes:
i like al wilson , actually he is my all time fav vol, however i would like to see coach kiffin give dale jones a long hard look at the lb coaching position! i think he would be a great fit , plus he knows the program!
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