Recruiting ethics have been a popular sports topic the last couple of days. So I will try to address them while maintaining a straight face.
Pause here for laughing binge.
OK, I will try harder. And if successful, I will move on to ethics in politics. If I get through that, I will be ready to discuss ethics on Wall Street.
The most recent recruiting brouhaha centers around new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin's recruitment of Damien Thigpen, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound athlete from Manassas, Va., who committed to play at UT last spring when Phillip Fulmer was the coach.
Thigpen made his official visit to UT last weekend. And Kiffin basically told him it probably would be best for all concerned if Thigpen never came back.
That message seemed at odds with the one sent by UT athletic director Mike Hamilton, who said UT would honor all scholarships to committed prospects by the previous staff. But Kiffin apparently didn't rescind the offer. Instead, he simply told Thigpen that he didn't fit into UT's plans.
Kiffin wasn't breaking new ground there. He was following a trend.
Last December, Kiffin made it clear that UT quarterback commitments Tajh Boyd and Bryce Petty were poor fits for his offensive system. They at least had more than a month to look elsewhere. Thigpen got the word a couple of weeks before signing day.
Imagine how Thigpen felt. And his mother, who accompanied him on his UT visit, probably felt worse.
But if this is the worst thing that happens to Thigpen in college football, he should feel fortunate. In fact, Kiffin might have done him a big favor.
Sure, the timing was brutal. But it still would be better to look elsewhere now than it would be to transfer in pursuit of playing time two years into your college career. Thigpen has visits scheduled to UCLA and Notre Dame, so it's not as though college football has abandoned him.
Remember quarterback Branndon Stewart? He committed to UT with the understanding that UT wouldn't sign another quarterback in its 1994 class. Later, UT got a commitment from a tall, skinny New Orleans kid named Peyton Manning, who also played quarterback. Yet the Vols still convinced Stewart to sign with them.
How fair was that to Stewart, who - surprise, surprise - lost out in the competition to Manning and transferred to Texas A&M?
But it works both ways. Recruits play games with schools, coaches and fans. They commit to one school, then visit others. They commit, de-commit, and recommit. Then, they turn signing date into a regular fashion show as they fake donning one cap before putting on another.
Kiffin isn't playing games. He's being harsh and honest (And yes, I do feel a little uncomfortable writing "honest" in a recruiting column).
You might not agree with all of Kiffin's recruiting decisions. But at least, he has proved he doesn't mind making tough decisions.
UT's talent isn't what it used to be. The Vols are coming off a 5-7 season.
And they badly need a tough-minded leader, who will make his decisions based on what's best for the program.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 70
SCarolinaVols writes:
Nice article
BillsBrother writes:
It appears as though John agrees with a lot of GVX posters on this subject.
InertGas writes:
Yeah, but he still should have told Thigpen a month ago.
hotrodvol writes:
Kiffin done what was best for all parties involved IMO. It's probably the same thing that happened to Shackelford, from what I heard he would out grow LB and would have to move to the line. But where do you move a little guy?
We are not going to have a spread offense with small receivers running around.
TommyJack writes:
Adams has a way of making a compliment sound dirty.
Alumni_06 writes:
CLK is "righting" the ship
senracjr writes:
I believe Kiffin is honest with the recruits. Others in the conferance aren't and we all know who I'm talking about.IMO theres more to the story than what appears. I came by my money honestly and I respect others that do.
VAvolfanRON writes:
Now....is there any truth to the Brandon Stewart situation?...or KNS blowing smoke
VAvolfanRON writes:
BTW...whoever these guys are in white at TBA playing basketball......let's keep them!!!
I'm kidding, heck if i can out there and do any better....but, they look darn good tonight
senracjr writes:
If I remember right...That he signed after he found out about Peyton.
senracjr writes:
Is that he signed after he found out, "sigh".
senracjr writes:
Big Orange wins!!! Go Vols!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
yea, senracjr....i wasnt completely sure about that statement....
Great game vols......dang.....wish i could've been there
TxFatBoy writes:
You are absolutely right. I'm quite sure Coach Kiffin did NOT tell him it would be better if he "never came back" to UT. Just Adams once again being sinsational!
VAvolfanRON writes:
and he wasnt concerned about TEE??...lol
VAvolfanRON writes:
TxFatBoy....TJ.....
really, who cares what they think....the have a site....they post articles...and we can comment.....let's be thankful instead of whinning......heck....if the were good, they'd be elsewhere....or we'd have to pay for there salaries.......let's dont bite the hand that feeds you....
or do you guys just like to complain??.....just asking
VAvolfanRON writes:
wow....that last post....ok..i blame DCFlorida for this.....MG64 does have less calories.......so I can drink twice as much....lmao
heck if im going to proof read!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
it's gonna get ugly....Mr. Beam just came over to say hi!!!......lol
volpreacher writes:
One thing I know, it sure didn't hurt our chances tonight with recruits after our VOLS used UF for bait. Last time I looked those Gators were running with their tails tucked between their legs. Go Big Orange. Commit Marlon!!!!
RockyToptoNeyland writes:
How does a guy who runs a 4.3 not fit a system. Even if he doesn't fit your system you can still use him for other positions. Don't just throw away God given talent. Kiffin must be lookin for power running backs. The kid only weighed 170.
VAvolfanRON writes:
volpreacher....
i think UT looked better than uf looked bad....you?
blitzshoot writes:
Time will tell...
VAvolfanRON writes:
well, with about 5 minutes to go....i could have sworn i saw Chavis on the sidelines coaching!!!! lol
VAvolfanRON writes:
RockyTop..
i agree......its tough to understand....let's put our faith in Kiffin and Co...
i hope he knows what he's doing
adamsck#591720 writes:
Will someone please slap Captain Obvious and take away his keyboard? What the heck was the point of this little puff piece? Please retire, or quit, or transfer or whatever Captain Obvious. Don't go away mad, just go away.
Pullingguard writes:
totally agree.. Sorta like telling employee day before Christmas that you dont need them anymore...well maybe not that bad..but bad..
TommyJack writes:
Who's complaining? Just making a statement. I could give a rat's azz what Adams says.
daschmit#297884 writes:
Yes, it must be tough for Adams right now. He doesn't have anything substantive, in terms of on-the-field performance, for which to criticize Kiffin. That must be a strangely distasteful sensation to him.
Voluvr writes:
Tough for Thigpen, but they are not pulling the scholorship. I think any coach would tell a kid early as possible, but coach has had to hire a staff and recruit. Evaluating what he has and perhaps what Fulmer was going to bring in was secondary.
He can still look for another spot or he can come to school work hard and maybe surprise someone on the field. Kiffen would rather try to free up the scholorship for another spot that they need more obviously.
Also, there also may be other reasons, character or whatever. So, If guys like Boyd, Petty, and Thigpen aren't a good fit, better to find out now than after you're sitting on the bench your senior year.
Voluvr writes:
Yep, I like John Adams angle on things.
CoverOrange writes:
Just a guess, but I think CLK is playing a chess match and is looking ahead 4 or 5 moves, i.e., taking a small select class this year in order to have targeted big classes the next two.
Gotta remember, JA doesn't write for us, he writes for those Sunday morning readers whose sum knowledge of Tennessee football is the Sunday morning Phil Fulmer Show.
DekanGator writes:
Vol Fans.... Tell me Urban is not ahead of the Field
Check it out
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20...
Couchdummy writes:
With all the talk about pulling scholarship offers and its ethical aspects, etc. Does it occur to anyone else that this probably has happened quite often in the past, and we are just more informed today than ever before? I understand this happening a little more where a recruit was offered by a coach that was fired, but upon review does not meet the standards of the new coach.
bobbytodd writes:
I'm sure he will be happy to give you a full refund if you don't like it.
jsm67vol writes:
If the kid really wants to be a vol then his schollarship will be honored. If he thinks he is good enough then let him come on and prove that he can compete for playing time. Kiffin was honest with him and thats all that can be asked of him. This guy doesn't have to sign with anybody by signing day. He still has time to look around.
all_vols writes:
Gator Fan...Who gives a big pile! Tell me...if we were worried about flar-duh recruiting we would fish around on your websites...got better things to do.
orangevolz writes:
Geez....everyone complains about Adams no matter what he writes. Good article, Mr. Adams.
BillsBrother writes:
Of course he signed after he found out about Peyton. That is exactly what Adams said.
The fact of the matter is that Ole Phil told a couple of white lies that year. He didn't think that Peyton would sign with TN and told Stewart that he would only be taking one QB. CPF by his own admission also told the Manning family that TN would not be playing Ole Miss during the time that Peyton would be at TN even though he knew the Rebs were on the schedule.
Manning committed and Stewart stayed true to his commitment. Both signed scholarships papers with the same class.
daschmit#297884 writes:
It is a long and, in many of our collective opinions, less than illustrious tradition that he has established for himself. By virtue of this pattern of conduct, he has painted himself into a corner from which we are not inclined to allow him to extricate himself.
MidTennVol writes:
Totally disagree with this line of thinking, Adams. It absolutely stinks that Kiffin waited this long to tell Thigpen this news. It's not right.
I trust the USC system that Kiffin and Orgeron have imported for evaluating high school football talent. (They had better by golly know what they're doing to turn their backs on a four-star recruit who runs a 4.4 and holds a 3.0 GPA.) But they've had time to evaluate all of Fulmer's commitments. They could have told Thigpen before Christmas. Seems the only decent thing to do.
To me, it's crystal clear what Kiffin is doing: he wants to free up scholarships for other players he wants more.
Fine. But to tell a kid "no, thanks" while the family is basically already loading the moving van for the move to Knoxville is wrong. Why didn't you tell him weeks ago? Why did you make him waste an official visit to UT?
If I was Thigpen's mother/family, I would be hopping mad. High school football coaches, take note. This is the way your star football players might be treated by the new sheriff and his million-dollar dream team of deputies.
Secondly, I don't fault Brandon Stewart for staying with UT. I admire him for it. He welcomed the competition rather than run away from it. He wanted to win. He felt he could beat out all comers. Good for him for trying. I believe that competition helped him later and helped Manning.
"Don't tell me I can't do something, Mr. Kiffin." I would think Boyd and Thigpen and Petty could have taken their news as a challenge. "Oh, yeah? You don't think I can fit in here? You think I'm not good enough? You don't think I'm smart enough to adapt to your system? Well, let me show you."
For many of us, there is no better way to motivate us than to tell us we can't do something, that we're not good enough, etc. History is full of absolute superstar professional athletes who were told that when they were kids and used it to prove the bums wrong.
I hope Thigpen gets a full ride at an SEC school and he turns in all-SEC performances against us.
Just to prove a point.
MidTennVol writes:
Bill Cowher, I've just read, seems to agree with me on my second point:
"But [Cowher] doesn't think millionaire salaries spoil the game, or make players harder to discipline. "Yeah, you say they make this, this and this, but they're still playing a kid's game, they're still driven by the crowd, they still want to be recognized as the best at what they do," he says.
"They're prideful men. You don't get to that level unless you've been pretty good at what you've done. In hard times the greatest motivation you want to hear is: Tell me I can't do something, I'll show you that I can."
Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells, who also took breaks after their Super Bowl wins, came back to coaching but never managed to win another championship. I ask if he worries he might lose his edge on this sabbatical? "The one thing I've always been driven by is when someone tells me I can't do something."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12333...
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
from a good for nothing beat writer, should be on the new york times!
murrayvol writes:
Lather, rinse, repeat.
scvols writes:
Recruiting is like throwing darts in the dark, you don't know how well you did until you turn the lights on. These three kids that we told, "no thanks" to, may have been the difference between winning a SEC Championship to being 3rd in the east. Bring them in and see what they can do, then decide if they fit.
bloodrunsorange writes:
True!
txvolsfan writes:
He was never going to play RB in college, he was always recruited as an athlete. He probably was going to be moved to a very deep secondary or to WR where we are going to be deep soon. He still has the opportunity to come to UT and prove Coach wrong. CLK just let him know it would be tough but if you are willing you still have a scholarship waiting at the door!!!
Slystone writes:
As Dickie V said last night Kiffin is getting love right now because he doesn't have any "L's", once the season starts this fall the honeymoon will be over and the expectation bar raised above the millions invested.
99gator writes:
he could have been "harsh and honest" with the kid before he made his visit.
i will say that i do not know what contact there was with kiffin and thigpen before the visit or since kiffin has been hired. so, that is the slack i will cut kiffin.
but, if i showed up with my mother to visit the school i committed to and wanted to play at and a week before signing day, the coach tells me to take a hike......i would have raised holy hell.
he could have taken a visit somewhere else. he could have begun making a decision as to the next school he would like to attend.
don't mind the decision by kiffin, but the timing stinks. what he did with boyd is fine, what he did with thigpen not fine.
another thing, while we are all being "honest" here. kiffin isn't cutting thigpen loose for the kid's benefit. he's doing it for his own benefit and for the benefit of the univ of tenn football program.
so, let's not pretend kiffin is being a good guy for cutting a kid loose who doesn't fit into his plan. he doesn't think the kid is good enough and doesn't want to waste a scholarship. period. if it was the kid's size, he would not have been after nu'keese richardson. and if the kid isn't good enough to waste a scholarship, kiffin should have known that more than a week before signing day.
cleVOLand writes:
Nice tabloid journalism: "Kiffin basically told him it probably would be best for all concerned if Thigpen never came back." Is that really what happened, John? DO you honestly have any idea? The answer is no, you don't because the new regime doesn't give a phooey about you or the KNS.
txvolsfan writes:
99 looks like Trent will be a Gayton.
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