TENNESSEE FOOTBALL: WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S USUALLY FIRE!!!

As the old adage goes "Where there's smoke there's usually fire" obviously considering what Tiger Woods has been going through the last 2 weeks this statement can't be more true. Despite an impending NCAA investigation regarding possible recruiting violations Lane Kiffen hold firm.

"Let me say this. Myself and our staff take the rules and the bylaws of the SEC and the NCAA extremely seriously," Kiffin said. "We work extremely hard to follow those. In this situation right here, I don't see ... I don't know of any wrongdoing with any members of our staff or the kids that are being questioned."

Lane Kiffin is not oblivious to both SEC and NCAA reprimands throughout the year. We are all aware of the false accusations made by Kiffin towards Meyer earlier in the year as well as other infractions. Up to this point Kiffen's antics have been a somewhat joke but, now reality and seriousness has reared it's ugly face.

On Thursday, NCAA investigators were in Suwanee, Ga., talking to North Gwinnett High players Juwuan James and Austin Shepherd. James is committed to Tennessee and Shepherd to Alabama. These inquiries have aroused due to hostesses being personally involved in recruiting players in order to attend UT. Reports suggest that hostesses had traveled more than 200 miles in order to attend home football games.

North Gwinnett athletic director Mark Karen told the Knoxville News-Sentinel following the NCAA's four-hour visit, "It wasn't about our kids. It was clear it was about Tennessee. The NCAA investigation seems to be in its infancy but, you can be assured that several more players and high school programs will be contacted.

At the moment. Lane Kiffin seems to be both confident and assured that the NCAA investigation will come up empty.

"This is something that's had a lot of national run and a lot of media," Kiffin said. "What I compare it to is I go back to the Bryce Brown situation right before the season. That got a lot of national media attention and a lot of 'SportsCenter' attention that the Tennessee staff had some involvement in some illegal recruiting of Bryce Brown and that Bryce Brown did something illegal."said Kiffin

"There was an investigation into that and there was no wrongdoing. I look for this to be the same exact situation. In the end, when the research is done and conclusions are made, the same result will happen."

For many Vol Fans as well as Kiffin supporters this fire hopefully will be extinguished pretty fast. This program can not afford going into probation or lost of scholarships considering what it has been going through in the recent past. First, 2 arrests and subsequent players being kicked off the team. In addition, NCAA eyes on a new program which may cause both recruits and boosters to look elsewhere for help.