Tennessee under NCAA investigation

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

The NCAA is probing Tennessee's football recruiting practices, according to several prep prospects, their family members and high school administrators.

Much of the investigation, first reported by The New York Times, is centered on the use of recruiting "hostesses" who have helped the program convince prep prospects to choose Tennessee by befriending prep prospects and attending their high school games.

Because the hostesses -- a part of the university's Orange Pride student ambassador group -- are considered an extension of the university, it could be considered a violation of NCAA rules if they helped recruit prospective athletes off campus.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the university confirmed that the NCAA was investigating and said the adminstration and athletics departments are cooperating fully.

"We are concerned about the alleged activities of some members of the Orange Pride," the university said. "Both university and NCAA guidelines are a part of the Orange Pride's orientation and training. If those guidelines were violated, we will take appropriate action. Because of federal student privacy regulations, we can't comment further."

...

According to the Times, hostesses attended a football game at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C., one of the nation's best high school programs, where at least three potential Tennessee recruits were playing.

Marcus Lattimore, a running back who had made an unofficial visit to Tennessee but was not interested in attending the school, said the hostesses brought signs, including one that read, "Come to Tennessee," according to the report.

Two of Lattimore's high school teammates, Brandon Willis and Corey Miller, have orally committed to Tennessee. Lattimore said the hostesses were "real pretty, real nice and just real cool" and thinks they had "a lot" of influence in his teammates making oral commitments, according to the report.

"I haven't seen no other schools do that," Lattimore said, according to the report. "It's crazy."

Gary Willis, Brandon Willis' father, said the NCAA had interviewed his son about the hostesses' visit to the game, according to the Times. Gary Willis said the girls met his son at Tennessee's football camp last summer and told him they would be attending one of his games. He also said the trip was not arranged by Tennessee coaches or staff.

NCAA officials have visited with four prospects and are scheduled to visit two others this week, according to the report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4727155

Facebook pages of some of the alleged hostesses(no, I didn't look them, someone else did on another forum).

Courtney Hitchcock: Link

Genna Cox: Link

Ashley Sizemore: Link

Amanda Grinnell: Link

Lacey Pearl Earps: Link

Todd Bertuzzi · 12-09-2009, 05:56 PM

I would orally commit if the hostesses showed up at my game too ;)

bearsfan_51 · 12-09-2009, 06:07 PM

I really hope the NCAA crushes them on this.

JT Jag · 12-09-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I really hope the NCAA crushes them on this.

They won't. They'll get hit with another secondary violation, but secondary violations might as well not be violations at all.

How long until the SEC issues a new bylaw which changes the rules so that X secondary violations within a certain period of time count as one probatable major violation? A point system if you will.

They'll call it Kiffin's Law, or perhaps the Fulmer Amendment.

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I really hope the NCAA crushes them on this.

For what might I ask?

The Unseen · 12-09-2009, 06:25 PM

bitches aint nothin but hoes and tricks

JT Jag · 12-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

For what might I ask?

Failure to monitor.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

For what might I ask?

Using or allowing 'hostesses' to attract recruits...

Simply put, even if Kiffin and his staff didn't sanction this, I don't see how they wouldn't have known about it.

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

Using or allowing 'hostesses' to attract recruits...

Simply put, even if Kiffin and his staff didn't sanction this, I don't see how they wouldn't have known about it.

Hmmmm, you think that UT is the only school to have hostesses?

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

Hmmmm, you think that UT is the only school to have hostesses?

That has absolutely nothing to do with whether they should be reprimanded or not.

But here's a recruit's take on it;

Quote:

"I haven't seen no other schools do that," Lattimore said, according to the report.

And considering he's a five star and not some 'hidden gem' player, I'm pretty sure he's been recruited by a number of schools...

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Jag

Failure to monitor.

By all means, if Kiffin or the football program paid these girls to go to the recruits game and hold up the sign, then sanctions are deserved, but there's no proof of that. In fact the word is it was a hostess that lived in the area and was home from school.

Based on the timing of the allegations this was obviously brought up by someone with an ax to grind and I'll be surprised if anything more than another secondary violation comes out of this, tops.

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

That has absolutely nothing to do with whether they should be reprimanded or not.

But here's a recruit's take on it;

And considering he's a five star and not some 'hidden gem' player, I'm pretty sure he's been recruited by a number of schools...

A girl held up a sign that said "Come to Tennessee". Sounds deserving of serious sanctions to me.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

A girl held up a sign that said "Come to Tennessee". Sounds deserving of serious sanctions to me.

Where did the article say that's all they did? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be saying they're nice and cool because he saw them in the stands with a sign. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have said his teammates were heavily swayed because they saw her in the stands with a sign. This isn't exactly rocket science...

Biased reading ftl.

soybean · 12-09-2009, 06:44 PM

courtney hitchcock makes me want to go to UT.

Sniper · 12-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soybean

courtney hitchcock makes me want to go to UT.

So hot. The other ones were pretty meh.

TitanHope · 12-09-2009, 06:47 PM

First, that writer should've definitely said "verbal" instead of "oral."

Second, hostesses are what they are. They're hot girls who show the players around campus. Obviously, they're the main reasons why Willis and Miller committed. I mean, you definitely base one of the biggest decisions of your life on how hot and flirty your tour guide is.

Thirdly, I guess this is about a single hostess going to a Byrnes game and waving signs, despite two of the three players already being committed to Tennessee. Maybe she was working the future talent with her sign waving? According to Willis's dad, the girls being there wasn't arranged by the Tennessee coaches or staff.

And lasty...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Jag

They won't. They'll get hit with another secondary violation, but secondary violations might as well not be violations at all.

How long until the SEC issues a new bylaw which changes the rules so that X secondary violations within a certain period of time count as one probatable major violation? A point system if you will.

They'll call it Kiffin's Law, or perhaps the Fulmer Amendment.

Alabama fans are not allowed to criticize or make fun of another school breaking rules. It's just tooooo funny. Are ya'll still one slip up from the death penalty, or has that whole athletes selling textbooks and pocketing the money shindig blown over yet?

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

Where did the article say that's all they did? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be saying they're nice and cool because he saw them in the stands with a sign. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have said his teammates were heavily swayed because they saw her in the stands with a sign. This isn't exactly rocket science...

Biased reading ftl.

Seriously, the only thing that's been mentioned about possible violations is that the girls were paid to go to a high school game and hold up a sign. While I don't think that's a good thing, I hardly think that's worth "bringing the house down" on Tennessee.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:49 PM

I love how Tennessee fans want to paint it as nothing more than a girl showing up to the game with a sign. Yeah, I'm sure that's all it was...

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

I love how Tennessee fans want to paint it as nothing more than a girl showing up to the game with a sign. Yeah, I'm sure that's all it was...

Then tell us what it is Cigaro. I'd love to know what conclusions you've come to with absolutely zero proof of anything.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanHope

First, that writer should've definitely said "verbal" instead of "oral."

Second, hostesses are what they are. They're hot girls who show the players around campus. Obviously, they're the main reasons why Willis and Miller committed. I mean, you definitely base one of the biggest decisions of your life on how hot and flirty your tour guide is.

See Colorado. Don't act as if it doesn't happen and/or work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanHope

Thirdly, I guess this is about a single hostess going to a Byrnes game and waving signs, despite two of the three players already being committed to Tennessee. Maybe she was working the future talent with her sign waving? According to Willis's dad, the girls being there wasn't arranged by the Tennessee coaches or staff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

Seriously, the only thing that's been mentioned about possible violations is that the girls were paid to go to a high school game and hold up a sign. While I don't think that's a good thing, I hardly think that's worth "bringing the house down" on Tennessee.

The signs have nothing to do with the violations. No one's investigating sign waving. I'm sure every school has fans like that. They're being investigated because of rumors that it was more than sign waving.

TitanHope · 12-09-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

I love how Tennessee fans want to paint it as nothing more than a girl showing up to the game with a sign. Yeah, I'm sure that's all it was...

We wouldn't have to if other fans didn't look at minor violations and demand that the university be crushed. We have to counteract it. ;)

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

Then tell us what it is Cigaro. I'd love to know what conclusions you've come to with absolutely zero proof of anything.

The only 'conclusions' I've come to is that it wasn't simply sign waving, and that's based on common sense. I'm not saying they are or aren't something like prostitutes, nor that it was sanctioned by the coaching staff, but based on the comments of the players, I'm sure it's something more than some random girl showing up with a sign. Pretty certain they got to know each other.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanHope

We wouldn't have to if other fans didn't look at minor violations and demand that the university be crushed. We have to counteract it. ;)

lol, use of hostesses to sway recruits is a lot more than a minor violation, and that's exactly what you're under investigation for.

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigaro

The only 'conclusions' I've come to is that it wasn't simply sign waving, and that's based on common sense. I'm not saying they are or aren't something like prostitutes, nor that it was sanctioned by the coaching staff, but based on the comments of the players, I'm sure it's something more than some random girl showing up with a sign. Pretty certain they got to know each other.

Cool. So as long as we agree that you're drawing conclusions on an issue before there are any facts. But I guess it's silly for Tennessee fans to defend their team against such conclusions.

Cigaro · 12-09-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

Cool. So as long as we agree that you're drawing conclusions on an issue before there are any facts. But I guess it's silly for Tennessee fans to defend their team against such conclusions.

Yes, we can agree that I've come to a conclusion that it's highly unlikely it was just a random girl with a sign, because a player in question has been quoted as having stated that his friends knew her well enough for her to have a big impact on their decision, and that he personally found her to be nice and cool.

I'm so irrational, forgive me.