Kiffin's Antics Expose Huge Loopholes In NCAA Rules
posted by Scott Hood, Saturday, March 14, 2009
The recent revelation that Kiffin told USC signee Alshon Jeffery the night before National Signing Day that if he signed with the Gamecocks he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life should have caused a firestorm, and it did.
But it wasn’t the first time Kiffin has acted like spoiled teenager. Earlier, he had made the unfounded accusation that Florida head coach Urban Meyer cheated in the recruitment of a player by contacting him during his official visit to Knoxville. NCAA rules allow that contact and Kiffin later “apologized.”
I’m not here today to determine the truth about what Kiffin said or didn’t say. Jeffery and his coach have, to their credit, taken the high road and brushed it off as something a desperate football coach would utter knowing he’s about to lose a hard-fought recruiting battle for an elite prospect.
In my opinion, Kiffin has either been telling the Tennessee fan base what they wanted to hear (Meyer is a villain) or attempting through unconventional means bordering on intimidation to convince a top football prospect to sign with the Vols (the Jeffery incident).
But I am here to make the case that both unfortunate episodes have exposed gaping loopholes in NCAA rules that must be closed immediately.
Once you get beyond the “pumping gas” comment itself, a disturbing fact emerges - the conversation between Kiffin and Jeffery took place in the wee hours of the morning (some accounts said 2 a.m.). To be fair, Pete Carroll spoke with Jeffery around the same time.
Here’s my question: why are coaches allowed under current NCAA rules to call prospects at 2 a.m.? That is lunacy. I’m told by recruiting experts that there used to be a rule on the books prohibiting coaches from calling prospects after midnight on Signing Day but that it was rescinded.
Why? Let me guess. The weak-kneed NCAA caved in to the demands of over-caffeinated coaches with nothing better to do than harass high school boys in the middle of the night on the eve of one of the biggest days of their lives.
Whatever the reason, I say shame on the NCAA for changing the rule. It’s yet another example (the supply is seemingly endless) of how the NCAA is a toothless tiger that cares little about the welfare of the athletes, actual or prospective.
Money talks, integrity walks.
In fact, the rule allowing coaches unlimited contact with prospects during the last couple of days prior to Signing Day is so outrageous that the American Football Coaches Association should call for a voluntary ban on any phone contact with recruits at the stroke of midnight the night before Signing Day.
Hey, if the NCAA won’t even pretend to care about prospective athletes, then the coaches need to take a stand. Now.
The NCAA acted swiftly a couple of years ago when they felt the urge to address some issues related to college baseball. They passed emergency legislation - albeit unnecessary - related to roster limits, scholarships and transfers, so it’s actually possible for the organization to move faster than a snail’s pace.
The same thing must happen here with regards to contact between coaches and players in the days before Signing Day.
While not as intrusive, the rule allowing coaches to contact prospects while they’re making an official visit to another school is wrong as well.
Players should be given the opportunity to make a visit to one school without having to concern themselves with constant interruptions created by a coach from another school.
If I was a major college prospect, the last thing I would want to do while on an official visit is engage in a conversation with a coach from another school.
Of course, the best argument against such a rule is coaches don’t necessarily know when prospects they’re recruiting are on official visits to other schools.
So, that’s why I believe it’s time for the NCAA to create a database of prospects informing coaches when they’re making official visits.
In my opinion, if we can find a way to reward bank presidents and Wall Street CEO’s for their incompetence - or pay NCAA President Myles Brand a million dollar salary - then we can actually create something that helps NCAA athletes.
But this is the NCAA, after all, so don’t hold your breathe.
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By this point, it’s been established by clear and convincing evidence that Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin - the very definition of the phrase “wet behind the ears” - is a highly paid buffoon.
The recent revelation that Kiffin told USC signee Alshon Jeffery the night before National Signing Day that if he signed with the Gamecocks he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life should have caused a firestorm, and it did.
But it wasn’t the first time Kiffin has acted like spoiled teenager. Earlier, he had made the unfounded accusation that Florida head coach Urban Meyer cheated in the recruitment of a player by contacting him during his official visit to Knoxville. NCAA rules allow that contact and Kiffin later “apologized.”
I’m not here today to determine the truth about what Kiffin said or didn’t say. Jeffery and his coach have, to their credit, taken the high road and brushed it off as something a desperate football coach would utter knowing he’s about to lose a hard-fought recruiting battle for an elite prospect.
In my opinion, Kiffin has either been telling the Tennessee fan base what they wanted to hear (Meyer is a villain) or attempting through unconventional means bordering on intimidation to convince a top football prospect to sign with the Vols (the Jeffery incident).
But I am here to make the case that both unfortunate episodes have exposed gaping loopholes in NCAA rules that must be closed immediately.
Once you get beyond the “pumping gas” comment itself, a disturbing fact emerges - the conversation between Kiffin and Jeffery took place in the wee hours of the morning (some accounts said 2 a.m.). To be fair, Pete Carroll spoke with Jeffery around the same time.
Here’s my question: why are coaches allowed under current NCAA rules to call prospects at 2 a.m.? That is lunacy. I’m told by recruiting experts that there used to be a rule on the books prohibiting coaches from calling prospects after midnight on Signing Day but that it was rescinded.
Why? Let me guess. The weak-kneed NCAA caved in to the demands of over-caffeinated coaches with nothing better to do than harass high school boys in the middle of the night on the eve of one of the biggest days of their lives.
Whatever the reason, I say shame on the NCAA for changing the rule. It’s yet another example (the supply is seemingly endless) of how the NCAA is a toothless tiger that cares little about the welfare of the athletes, actual or prospective.
Money talks, integrity walks.
In fact, the rule allowing coaches unlimited contact with prospects during the last couple of days prior to Signing Day is so outrageous that the American Football Coaches Association should call for a voluntary ban on any phone contact with recruits at the stroke of midnight the night before Signing Day.
Hey, if the NCAA won’t even pretend to care about prospective athletes, then the coaches need to take a stand. Now.
The NCAA acted swiftly a couple of years ago when they felt the urge to address some issues related to college baseball. They passed emergency legislation - albeit unnecessary - related to roster limits, scholarships and transfers, so it’s actually possible for the organization to move faster than a snail’s pace.
The same thing must happen here with regards to contact between coaches and players in the days before Signing Day.
While not as intrusive, the rule allowing coaches to contact prospects while they’re making an official visit to another school is wrong as well.
Players should be given the opportunity to make a visit to one school without having to concern themselves with constant interruptions created by a coach from another school.
If I was a major college prospect, the last thing I would want to do while on an official visit is engage in a conversation with a coach from another school.
Of course, the best argument against such a rule is coaches don’t necessarily know when prospects they’re recruiting are on official visits to other schools.
So, that’s why I believe it’s time for the NCAA to create a database of prospects informing coaches when they’re making official visits.
In my opinion, if we can find a way to reward bank presidents and Wall Street CEO’s for their incompetence - or pay NCAA President Myles Brand a million dollar salary - then we can actually create something that helps NCAA athletes.
But this is the NCAA, after all, so don’t hold your breathe.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.