Changing Lane Violation: Kiffin Era Ends with Infraction?

I am not one to normally take heart in another’s misfortune, but when news broke of Lane Kiffin, et al. breaking for USC, I admit I laughed. 

The vitriol from Tennessee fans this year was tough to stomach.  While most other football fans scratched their heads with Kiffin’s hiring and the resulting melodrama, Vol fans brandished the armor of their new general—a lot of swagger and A LOT of talk.  Now, unfortunately, those same fans have fallen on their respective swords for him.

It did not take Lane and coach Ed Orgeron long to test the limits of the recruiting guidelines upon taking the reins at Tennessee.  There are plenty of pieces written about the duo's knack for and disregard of secondary violations.  It is only apropos, however, if accounts turn out to be true of Coach O’s contacting some of Tennessee’s early commits to sway them from attending Wednesday classes, that they would commit another violation on the way out the door.

According to the NCAA, January 11-14 is a dead period.  (Link provided to verify)

http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/AMA/recruiting_calendars/DI/Text/Football.pdf

(9) January 11-14, 2010, [except for (a) below]:                                                         Dead Period

(a)      Contact Period

Institutional staff members may have contact with a prospective

student-athlete who has been admitted for midyear

enrollment, provided the prospect has signed a National Letter

of Intent or other offer of admission and/or financial aid to

attend the institution and is required to be on campus to attend

institutional orientation sessions for all students.

Considering coach Orgeron was (allegedly) calling early enrollees of Tennessee on behalf of USC, someone with more acumen than I possess in these matters will certainly conduct a follow up.  I’m no expert, but that rule sure seemed to be violated Tuesday night in Knoxville.

And the Lane Gang is supposed to make the NCAA feel better about the recruiting problems at USC?  Lest you forget, Ole Miss lost three scholarships this year due to APR problems under the Coach O tenure.  There seems to be a pattern.

Renowned recruiter Orgeron has gone all-in in a two-man game with the rulebook.  He’s the one bluffing, but does the NCAA call the bet or fold?  The NCAA has guts and teeth or they do not.  Either way, we will find out next month when the decision on USC is expected, as well as subsequent reviews of the last fourteen months in Knoxville.

Vols fans, I feel for you.  Many of you displayed the same class this year you always have and did not deserve for this to happen to your university or your team.  Unfortunately, there were plenty of those who did not, and the backlash that is running them over right now is trapping you in the undertow. 

Maybe the silver lining in this is the pause some will take before running their mouths at full throttle.

Break ups are hard, especially when you find out your ex was the sleaze everyone said.  The next Tennessee coach has a wonderful opportunity to join Knoxville’s football Pantheon by first stabilizing the program and then winning.  Humpty Dumpty just fell, and finding the right coach to put the pieces back together overrides the ranking of any single recruiting class.   

Best of luck to Tennessee.