Photo by HELEN L. MONTOYA/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Tennessee coaches Dean Lockwood and Pat Summit talk with Steele guard Meighan Simmons after practice on Tuesday Sept. 23, 2009. Simmons is considered one of the top basketball players in the country and has narrowed her college choices to five teams. Two of the coaches from the five schools -- Summitt and Van Chancellor of LSU -- visited Steele on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009.
Tennessee is reporting a secondary violation regarding a newspaper photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt and assistant coach Dean Lockwood with recruit Meighan Simmons.
Todd Dooley, UT's assistant athletic director for compliance and operations, said Wednesday that the school will submit the report to the SEC office, which will forward it to the NCAA.
"That's basically saying it's our fault and it doesn't affect the eligibility of the prospect," he said.
Dooley said that Summitt and Lockwood will be receiving a "letter of caution" which will advise them "if you encounter an event like this in the future, it's in your best interest to find a more private setting," Dooley said.
Simmons, a 5-foot-9 guard from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas, committed to Tennessee last Saturday and intends to sign a letter of intent with the Lady Vols next month.
Dooley said that he began asking questions and preparing the report after the photo first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News last month. It was taken while the UT coaches visited Simmons at her high school. The photo violates NCAA guidelines prohibiting publicizing contact with a prospect. The photo later ran in Sunday's editions of the News Sentinel.
Summitt was aware of the rule and told Dooley that she was unaware of the newspaper photographer's presence. The newspaper told Dooley that the photographer, Helen L. Montoya, had announced her presence.
"There wasn't premeditated anything,'' Summitt said. "We go in there and we were the rock stars."
Summitt said that she's accustomed to attracting attention, especially after winning her 1,000th career game last season. But she said that the scene at Steele "was unlike anything of late."
"It was a gym full of people,'' she said. "Everyone wanted a picture or an autograph."
LSU coach Van Chancellor and his assistant coaches also were visiting the school that day.
"From what I can gather, the school district notified the media that they were coming,'' Dooley said.
Dooley's advice to the coaches reiterates the content of the letter they will receive.
"Make sure you account for everyone who's there," Dooley said. "That's the only advice I can give them. They're allowed to go into the high school and they're going to go."
Said Summitt: "It's something that will keep us all on our toes."
Dooley cannot discuss a particular recruit but said such circumstances don't impact a prospect's intentions either.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 65
dwa7#337691 writes:
so what's the problem.....
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor wrong or is showing the picture another secondary violation if the first was? Witch Doctor wonder if KNS hire balloon boys father for PR?
Bones never lie
FWBVol writes:
The NCAA has many recruiting rules that make a lot of sense and protect both the propsective student-athletes and respective universities. This rule is not one of those good rules.
I'm not saying schools should be allowed to make some sort of major production out of a coach visiting a kid or a kid meeting with a coach on a recruiting visit. But let's face it, the KNS, rivals.com, Volquest and just about every media outlet between Miami, Maine and the west coast reports that Stud Backer is going to be at FSU, Texas Tech or Tennessee on any given weekend. Those same papers and Websites then give as many details about the visits as possible.
I don't see what the big deal is about Pat Summitt, Lane Kiffin, Pete Carroll or any other coach having their photo taken while they are visiting a kid or a kid is visiting their campus, and then having that photo in the paper or online.
We all know that a coach and kid are going to talk whether it's the coach visiting the kid or the kid visiting the campus.
Come on NCAA, get real.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
in this particular instance.... I can't help but think it should be the fault of the newspaper, not of the university. How was Pat to know someone from San Antonio would publish the picture. I think this rule needs to be modified... if the UNIVERSITY publishes information about contact with a prospect, it's a violation, but if a third party does so unbeknownst to the university, it shouldn't be the fault of the university. I think at that point a letter of warning should be sent to the newspaper.
CCVol writes:
Here's a suggestion...let's replace this rule with one that prohibits an opposing coach from disrupting a prospect's trip to another school by bombarding his cell phone during the visit.
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
I think the NCAA understands all that. Basically, Coach Summitt could meet with a recruit behind closed doors, and leave the curtains open in the window. Some photographer could snap a shot through the window, with a telephoto lens from 1/2 mile away and sell it to a newspaper. CPS gets slapped with a violation???
TurboFan writes:
The photographer and her newspaper knew what she was doing was a violation yet did it anyway. I bet she used a common little digital Walmart camera and snuck in the autograph line. Entrapment 101.
To those wondering why this is a big deal, where do you draw the line? The media showed up because it was Pat Summit not Van Chancellor. Allow that and the next coach comes in organizing paparazzi with smoke machines and sirens. Where do you draw the line?
DaMan...prove it.
VolWoman writes:
Your facts there are just as bad as your ability to make predictions.
Posted Oct 9 by "DaMan"
GA 48
Tenn 27
Vols go 2-4 on the way to 4-8. Next year will be the same and year 3 will be similar. Huge hiring mistake.
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
Hey, DaMoron, she doesn't even have to recruit. She can just sit back and watch the recruits fight each other to the death for the privelege of playing for her.
You are entertaining though. Everytime you try to pull your head out of your azz to say something, it makes me laugh.
we3vols#281863 writes:
You are a mindless turd. Go AWAY! Go Vols. I know I should ignore this bag of Shat.....But I believe he is one of the writers. No one could be this large of an AZZ unless they were being paid. This is my last post. ANY SHAT FOR BRAINS can post this tripe UNLESS they are a Vols Fan. Go Vols and So Long Knox News.
tubavol writes:
That Todd Dooley fellow is scrumptious.
tennezz writes:
And were supposed to care what you think?
BillsBrother writes:
I'm pretty sure that Florida is blaming this on Lane Kiffin.
Voluvr writes:
Florida just got two big commits, the two refs in last weeks game.
02champs#209256 writes:
I saw that and thought..violation. Hard to believe we don't have a better compliance director to stop these things. Geez..don't we employ about 75 ppl in men's and women's athletics to watch this stuff...????. I'll be glad to come over there and help keep track of things..and will only charge 35k.
BamaBeacher writes:
your compliance dir. will B/M your AD and already has
CTOWNICON writes:
They just got to find something! This is ridiculous!
RocketVol writes:
idiot
TurboFan writes:
You're hired. Be sure to bring your 20/20 hindsight glasses with you.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Unless it is a photographer from the UT or somebody CPS is paying, this should not be a violation. We can not control the stupidity of somebody else. DaMan has proved that.
10volunteers98 writes:
Way to go,KNS.Morons!But anyway,congrats,Meighan.You made the right choice.And,GO,VOLS!!!Beat Bama!
hopalong writes:
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
in response to DaMan:
"Hey, DaMoron, she doesn't even have to recruit. She can just sit back and watch the recruits fight each other to the death for the privelege of playing for her".
Twe3ety Driver, while I concur with your comments to DaMan, I feel that your entusiasm for the Lady Vols has tainted your thinking regarding recruting and the Lady Vols. While the Lady Vol program continues to be one of, if not the premier women's basketball programs in the nation, Coach Summitt can't just sit back "watch the recruits fight each other to the death for the privelege of playing for her". The Lady Vols, like UCONN, LSU and several others from time to time, are all looking to fill their roster with teh cream of the best out there. Coach Summitt cannott afford to just sit back and "watch" the more talented players come to her. She has to to get them. That is why she continues to set the benchmark for the rest of the competition.
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Good post! this "da-man" continues to show HER stupidity. Surfing the Vol sites shows she is worried about something... Go Vols!
phhome writes:
I think Da Idiot is just trying to see how many buttons he/she(most likely) by the actions displayed of pure jealously, that they can stir up. Seeing how many people respond only contributes to numnut and the remark left on the site. I say ask the reporter why take only Pat's picture when Van Chancellor was there as well, regardless of them telling Pat they were there, she probably knew the rules as well, so the photographer should be warned as well, as for USCUM, They dare not deliver a comment about someone "cheating". Go Lady Vols do your thing!!!
richvol writes:
Stupid rule...how can anyone prevent someone from taking a picture and giving/selling it to a news outlet? The NCAA is ridiculous alot of the time.
FLVOL79 writes:
DaMan is just lashing out because he has to sit back in his moms basement and watch their Adam Sandler waterboy like QB play. Meek, mild mannered, limp wristed Tebow saunters onto the field to unleash the waterboy fury within. He is proud of his wins, but deep down is emotionally scarred knowing his QB is gonna sing back up for Elton John.
YankeeVol writes:
You're just mad because no one wants Van's picture. Not a photogenic man....
Brillovol writes:
?
Bama fan claiming we're cheaters?!?!
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!
RollTideJoe writes:
Oh, if this was a Bama story all of you would be hollering "cheating". No problem, though, if it is your program. I'm sure you'll respond with some dribble excuse and how what Alabama does is so very different.......but, it isn't. All schools stay on the fringe of 5,000 NCAA rules and trying to keep a person on the fringe from getting a player in trouble. This case is a coach, so tell me it is okay. I'm not concerned with this, frankly. I just get tired of all the yak-yak against Alabama.
RockyTopRenegade writes:
Is it just me or did KNS just report a secondary violation of Pat and her recuitment of Simmons that involved a picture of them together by PUBLISHING ANOTHER PICTURE OF THEM TOGTHER TODAY ON THIS WEBSITE?????????? HOW STUPID IS THAT??? IS ADAMS IN CHARGE OF THIS??
RockyTopRenegade writes:
I guess we wait until tomorrow's print copy to see if it's published with them together again.
mcever writes:
UConn hasn't beat the Lady Vols in 4 years... Go Facts!
illinoisvolfan writes:
Hey DaMan, nice hearing from you again. I see your lobotomy came out all right.
mcever writes:
Lol... a picture of some teenage girl with a coach is hardly cheating. The NCAA found that 201 Alabama athletes were guilty of violating NCAA rules. Twenty-two of them were found to have done so intentionally. Four football players' pocketed cash, extra benefits amounted to between $2,714.62 and $3,947.19. Alabama's now been put on probation for the fourth time in 14 years... And you're comparing this to a picture? Shut up.
VolunteerLifer writes:
What 'recruiting murder' has Pat gotten away with? cite incidents and name names. we're waiting for your reply. Put up or shut up, pal.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Then don't come on this site and you won't have to read it. There, I just helped you solve one of your life's bigger problems.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Bingo. Right on target, CCVol. Excellent post.
reachkim00 writes:
Damn right VolunteerLifer. Biggest crock of shhisht I've ever heard.
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That must be the problem with the Bammer fans and administration. They can't tell the difference between a picture of a prospect with a coach and buying players with extra benefits! Or even buying players outright! Well, I guess I can see how that might be an easy mistake for someone to make...if they were from Alabama!
Southland writes:
to DaMan you aint daMan. UConn has beat Tennesee. No doubt about it. Does it help that UCOnn recruits get to go to the ESPN headquarters on their recruiting trips knowing they will be on TV more if they play for UConn. UConn couldnt build a program of any kind if it were not close to ESPN headquarters. Anybody every heard of them sportswise before ESPN became a force. UConn has had better talent not a better coach.
LadyHusky writes:
Ha ha. Pat Summitt, what a joke. To think she reports Gino for the same offenses she commits. UT will never come back. LOL!!!!!!! See ya UT you are no longer an issue....UCONN is and will be #1 for a long time!!!!!!!!
LadyHusky writes:
Exactly...true story. It is time for her to retire. Has been and never will be again!!! I love it!!!
LadyHusky writes:
OK, sure...how is that working out for her...face it, it's over
LadyHusky writes:
Oh please.... what is UConn vs UT record?????? Those are the facts!!!!
CTOWNICON writes:
The facts are how many championships does Uconn have and how many does Tennessee have? You're still chasing!
CTOWNICON writes:
They were totally different situations and anybody can see that. She did not bribe the girl to attend UT, nor did she give her any tours as Geno did for Maya. Geno and Calhoun what a pair of crooks! If UT was no longer and issue you would not be here so that just shows how much of an issue UT is! Pat Summitt will forever reign and there is nothing you can do about it! -------Leaves the topic singing Rocky Top!
uconnfan1 writes:
UT got busted to ha ha.We don't want to hear anything else about UCONN.
CTOWNICON writes:
Got busted doing what? And if you don't want to hear it don't come here. Or better yet, tell them to abide by the recruitment rules. It is not our fault they are violators. Geno and Calhoun!
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
Not meant to be taken literally.
The_Truth_and_nothing_but_the_Truth writes:
But, but, but UCONN does it.........Pat your nose is growing.
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