Lane Kiffin's Name Prompts Reporters To Jump Gun

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The truth is, Kiffin hasn’t offered a scholarship to Evan.

According to The Tennessean, Evan and his twin brother, Elliot, who will start the eighth grade this year and not the ninth grade like the Birmingham News reported, were at a track meet when reporters approached them and brought up Tennessee.

Knowing Evan was the brother of Eric, the reporter prodded him for his school choice and Evan answered, “I’m committed to Tennessee.”

Why wouldn’t he be? His father was an All-SEC running back there, and his brother is an All-World safety there currently.

But the words “I’m committed to Tennessee,” in addition to Kiffin’s name, were all the reporter needed to sell the story.

By yesterday, Yahoo’s front page, not just the sports section, had a headline that read “Kiffin offers 13-year-old scholarship”.

It has since been retracted, with this editor’s note:

"The NCAA prohibits schools from formally offering scholarships until a prospect has registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center. UT has not offered Berry a scholarship."

You could almost see the drool running from the reporter’s mouth when he ran with this. Hopefully, someone gave him a towel.

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