Don't Blame Lane Kiffin Or Steve Sarkisian for Recruiting Violations

Everyone is focusing on Lane Kiffin right now for the violation after violation he has committed at Tennessee. I don’t think Kiffin is to blame though.

Kiffin’s most recent violation was talking about a recruit, by name, and his skills before he has signed with the team. Prior to this Kiffin and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron were admonished by Tennessee for violations which were described as simulating game day experiences while recruits were on campus.

Now jump back a couple weeks and all the way to the Northwest corner of the country to another campus and another new coach, Steve Sarkisian and the University of Washington.

At the end of January, the University of Washington reported violations which were described as simulating game day situations while recruits were on campus.

More recently, University of Washington self reported violations by Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Nick Holt. The coaches met with a couple of recruits, their coach, and a junior teammate, all in the presence of a reporter. The presence of a junior off campus and media were both violations.

Like I said I don’t blame Kiffin for the things he has done and I don’t really blame Sarkisian either.

Anyone want to guess who I am pointing a finger at?

The constant between Kiffin, Sarkisian, Orgeron, and Holt is that all were coaches at the University of Southern California.

When a person teaches something and the student goes on to teach someone else they are likely to teach it the same way.

I have a feeling these coaches are recruiting much the way they had been taught to recruit previously. New schools but old habits.

I find it more than a coincidence that both simulations of game day experiences were described as using smoke while recruits came on to the field.

Maybe instead of blaming these coaches we should look at where they are learning these things.