One of the few holdovers from Lane Kiffin’s one-year stint at Tennessee, Steve Rubio, is no longer a member of Derek Dooley’s staff, UT spokesman Jimmy Stanton confirmed Tuesday.
Rubio, who was infamously linked to the recent NCAA investigation into UT’s football program, held the position of director of player personnel for the past two seasons.
Stanton would not specify whether Rubio left on his own volition or had been fired.
The NCAA was originally prompted to investigate UT’s football program after a violation involving Kiffin and Rubio, then a recruiting intern, popped up on the SEC’s radar.
On an Oct. 12, 2009, evaluation visit to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Rubio accompanied Kiffin and entered the school. Rubio, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum who was not certified to recruit off campus at the time, did not enter any of the other high schools on the trip.
After his interview with NCAA enforcement officials on March 10, 2010, Rubio submitted a written statement indicating that UT senior associate athletic director David Blackburn told him and Kiffin that Rubio was not permitted to enter any of the schools. Blackburn confirmed the discussion during his interview with NCAA investigators, and said the conversation occurred via telephone on the eve of the trip.
Kiffin, in an interview with UT and the NCAA enforcement staff, said he considered it a “rare circumstance” for Rubio to “see his old buddies ... his old coaches and teachers.” Both Kiffin and Rubio said Rubio did not make contact with any recruits.
Aside from a slew of self-imposed penalties, UT’s football program did not receive further punishment from the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions for its alleged violations under Kiffin.
Rubio, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native, came to UT after six years at Central Florida. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in sports administration and served his final year as the Knights’ director of player personnel.
Andrew Gribble may be reached at 865-342-6327. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Andrew_Gribble and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/gribble
Rocky Top League opening night
Old school: Archived photos of UT…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 135
FearlessFreep writes:
The fewer connections to LK that remain, the better.
gnm53108 writes:
Just another loose end that was finally tied up.
civilianvol_formerly_marinevol writes:
Sounds like a pretty serious violation, an intern walking inside his old high school to see some of his old coaches and teachers. Surprised we didn't get the death penalty for that. You would think the NCAA would want to make an example out of him to ensure that no one ever considers behaving in such a disgusting manner again. This makes the Penn State asst. coach look like a choir boy. UT will never live down the shame caused by this perverted conduct.
Volunteer-Varmint writes:
Made a mountain out of a mole hill. Glad he's gone. I agree with Fearless, the less ties to that surfer DUDE, the better.
BleednUrnge81 writes:
Respond with a hell yeah if you hope we get southern cal in a bowl game soon. we have a home and home with them in 2021-22 i believe its not later than that, but maybe sooner. GO VOLS!!!!!
tovolny writes:
The VOL-ca-no erupts again. Rubio was part of the diversity. It takes all kinds. Hi-oh-orange pants-awaaaayyyyyy. Who was that man in the orange pants? Don't you know? That was the LONE DOOLEY. The LONE DOOLEY rides again! Hi-ohhhh!......Probably a good move...is it RUBIO or RODEO...Hi-oh orange pants-awaaaaayyyyy!
crappieking writes:
I wish Dooley was no longer part of Dooley's staff.
Fluffydog writes:
I would be happy if we just got into a bowl game at all.
scvols writes:
LOL!!! I see you had your fill of caffeine this morning.
atnvol#283282 writes:
Cannot help but wonder if there is a connection between the poorer academic performance of the football team last semester and Rubio's dismissal?
Ayres_Hall writes:
King of phooey. Fits.
wigmeister writes:
Now that is funny!
arkyvol writes:
the fewer connections to mike hamilton, the even better.
FEARinSEC writes:
This
FEARinSEC writes:
This as well
FEARinSEC writes:
Missed MedPass down at Shady Acres, I see.
LJS1984 writes:
IF DAVE HART was making the football hire we wouldn't have ever ended up with Dooley. No coach in his right mind wanted to work for Mike Hamilton. They all saw the writing on the wall, and understood that Hamilton was in way over his head. They also knew that Hamilton would likely get himself fired, which should have happened back in 2008. He should have been shown the curb along with Fulmer.
VolinCalif writes:
mee ooh my
givehim6 writes:
I thought he was already gone years age when Kiffen left, glad he is gone.
easleychuck writes:
Is this news? Or just an opportunity to revisit the good 'ole days?
AllforTenn writes:
What do you know about coaching? Or about anything but fishing?
jimr07 writes:
If a bull frog had wings he wouldn't bump his rear end..
atributetoLombardiwasbanned writes:
My ex-wife:"Nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag Nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag....."
Me to her:"Nag,nag,nag."
You::"Nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag Nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag....."
Me to you:"Nag,nag,nag."
voloffaith writes:
"Three blind mice..see how they run...." Hope you have a Great day Sir Jeffy as you continue to set Guiness Book of World Records level with 'most continuous days of unhappiness displayed via keyboard on a sport's blogosphere.'
Again have a great day as best as ewe can under present circumstances....
Man alive if you ever got the JESUS real deal for changed life in your heart the happiness of forgiveness would overwhelm ya.....so again have a Great day as best as your being will tolerate!
voloffaith writes:
Do you know what nag is backwards? Gan! That's right.....with all the nags we've got a lot of horses....
johnlg00 writes:
The expression you were looking for is "row to hoe", not "road to hold". We will see how Dooley does this year with mostly his own recruits on board before any decision is made about his future. Nothing any of us can say in the meantime is going to make a particle of difference. Even if he is gone after next season, his successor will come into a FAR better situation with regard with talent and numbers than that which Dooley inherited.
atributetoLombardiwasbanned writes:
And what, pray tell, do we end up with when we have a lot of horses?
thevoice writes:
Horse excretion.
atributetoLombardiwasbanned writes:
Correctamundo!
And Philbillies shoveling it.
IdahoVol writes:
Gotta love how some of you guys are already trying to figure out how to credit anyone other than Dooley if we have a good year this year. I only say if since we won't know the outcome until December.
SIMSVOL writes:
i wish you were no longer a VOLS fan. Oh yeah, you're not a fan, just a lowly troll. Get lost.
lemme_axya_this writes:
How about making us a list of the eight teams who will beat us next year.
GONAVY (Inactive) writes:
That was funny :)
thevoice writes:
Based on last year, I don't have any reason to believe UT will win more than 1 SEC contest (they were 1-7). Based on consistently placing No. 7 to No. 11 in conference recruiting, I don't have any reason to believe things will get better. Based on the multitude of coach defections during the off-season, I have reason to believe it's like a new coach coming in. Based on Dooley's coaching history, I don't see a winning season. Based on Dooley's location along the coaching curve, I don't see player development being a significant advantage over other SEC schools, who are likely to get better in 2012.
Does anyone really think 2 healthy players (Bray and Rogers) would have changed things that much? Our running game was a big ZERO, our kicking game was a big ZERO, and Bray still hasn't provided decent "Bray-like" stats against an SEC contender.
Throw in a loss to a non-SEC game, and you have 8 losses.
Intelligent replies only...
CroKev writes:
If I could make a bet with Beans, Handicapper, Rtl, Walt, etc. that I promise to never come on this site again if we don't win at least 8 games next year and they promise to do the same if we do, I'd do it. Unfortunately, those guys would just change their names.
Can you imagine how many points we're going to put on the board next year with Bray throwing to Hunter, Rogers, and Patterson? I'm not even mentioning Bowles, Croom, Rivera, Clear, etc. Our OL was terrible in the run but great in pass protection. I don't think our running game is going to be great next year but I do think they will be average, which is going to open up the passing lanes even more. Defense is not going to be great but they will be pretty good so I'm expecting 8-10 wins with a much easier schedule and fewer injuries to key personnel. Any of you trolls care to promise not to change your names and take me up on the bet? I didn't think so...
born2ride writes:
One more YEAR ZERO and Dooley will be gone.
lemme_axya_this writes:
I'm not entirely sold on Bray either, but to look at next years schedule and predict 8 losses destroys your credibility. Dave Clawson could avoid 8 losses with this schedule.
kyvol98 writes:
Seriously man, YOU are trying to be the language police? Read your post.
thevoice writes:
If you lose to KY and scrape by Vandy at home, I'd say all bets are off.
Clausen's wins in 2008: UAB, N IL, Miss State, Vandy, UK. Not exactly stellar. For all practical purposes, we have a brand new coaching staff. Sure, we have an easier schedule in 2012, but I don't see over two SEC wins. Gotta remember, we can't just assume UT will get better and others will stay dormant:
Sept. 15: FLORIDA
Sept. 29: at Georgia
Oct. 13: at Mississippi State
Oct. 20: ALABAMA
Oct. 27: at South Carolina
Nov. 10: MISSOURI
Nov. 17: at Vanderbilt
Nov. 24: KENTUCKY
gvegasvol writes:
Now that's funny!
illinoisvolfan writes:
I noticed that too. That might be the funniest thing Jeffy ever done on this site. Of course, that's a very short list.
Let's see...Dirty Rice, Reesey Cup, FudgePacker, and all his other "clever" names and suddenly, he can't remember who he is. The guy's liable to wind up in a home some day, then he'll get a bit confused, and ask the nurse for some Doolaid to take with his Troll-Aid.
What a guy, our Jeffy...
GerryOP writes:
You can stop hoping, you're wrong...
GerryOP writes:
Geeze, how pitiful. Why do you waste good electrons and your time posting this junk? Or, are you really Bryce Brown and still bitter because coach Dooley told you to pack your junk and hit the road? Or are you Janzen Jackson and you can't figure out why coach Dooley threw you out after giving you ONLY 371 2nd chances to clean up your act?
orangeman1 writes:
You do know Bryce Brown wasnt told to hit the road. Dooley let him quit the team and still attend practice while Brown made up his mind whether he wanted to rejoin the team or transfer. To my recolection, it was Brown who was calling the shots.
lemme_axya_this writes:
Was Les Miles' national championship indicative of coaching, or perhaps it was the players that Nick Saban left him. Maybe it was the genius of Barry Switzer that got the Dallas Cowgirls another Super Bowl win, or maybe it was the players Jimmie Johnson left him
SevenT writes:
Another Doolaid employee bites the dust. This guys is completely toxic. Tennessee better cut their losses NOW and find another Coach for the 2012 Season.
Colliervol writes:
You are as clueless as they come and and that is saying something with the number of dim bulbs that come on this site. None of us know if Dooley is the answer because he has been hamstrung with little talent and no depth. With Bray and Hunter healthy and a crop of talent coming in, he now at least has some tools to work with and we can start to judge. Might make it and might not but you nor anybody else has the ability to judge him with what he has had to work with. The KY game did do one thing for sure. It shortened his cushion by one year and he has to produce 8 wins this year or he probably won't be around.
If you won't allow a guy to get his own players into the program and at least have a couple of years to turn around a program that had tremendous problems, then you know nothing about building programs and very little about football. And if you want us to change again so quickly and spend another 3 years rebuilding, you obviously don't have the best interests of the program at heart. Therefore, your opinion is irrelevant. Be gone fake fan. You are not needed in the Voluteer camp. Go find somebody else to tear down.
sunglaspro#374094 writes:
Those of us who support Dooley do not have lowered expectations, we have measured expectations.
It has been pointed out several times on this site, the program did not slip overnight and those who are realistic cannot expect it to return in one season.
I felt good after Dooley's first season that we were going in the right direction, but after last season, I doubt anyone felt good about the place the program was in.
History is filled with examples of organizations that took a step backwards before becoming successful.
You may be dead-on about Dooley or dead wrong,but since he is getting another year anyway,I prefer to give him more time before I pass judgement.
Don't really see where people see an easy 9-10 wins based on this schedule.It is not as tough as the one we just played but a lot of people seem to be picking nc state and mizzou as automatic wins.Based on the fact they don't have UT's history ? neither does LSU, so they should have been automatic too.
I don't believe there is a predetermend amount of wins he has to have to be back for 2013,but instead an obvious scense we are on the right track
Chappy writes:
Holy carp! Why was this guy on still on staff anyway?!! I just figured he was long gone when Kiffen left.
flatrock writes:
Even Kiffin wouldn't stay around and coach the gutted roster your "Godsend" left UT-K...
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.