The 13-year-old recruit who got away

File this one under the “only Lane Kiffin” category. Yes, the former Tennessee coach really offered a scholarship to a 13-year-old who, in turn, committed to USC.

Read this if you don’t believe it.

Now watch this highlight film to see the future of quarterbacking, and remember the name David Sills.

Report: NCAA investigating Tennessee recruiting

From the Assoicated Press this morning:

NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA is investigating Tennessee’s football recruiting practices, including the use of hostesses to attract top players, The New York Times reported on its Web site Wednesday.

The NCAA has met with four prospects and is expected to talk to two more this week, The Times reported.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton told the newspaper an investigation was ongoing, but did not provide any details. Hamilton did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press on Wednesday morning. A spokeswoman at the University of Tennessee also did not immediately return a message, and neither did the NCAA.

Marcus Lattimore, a high school running back, told The Times several hostesses came to a game in South Carolina and brought signs including one that read, “Come to Tennessee.”

The hostesses are considered representatives of the university and are not allowed to recruit players off campus. The visits could be considered violations of NCAA rules.

Lane Kiffin on ESPN’s Gameday

Wow. That’s bold. Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin is the special guest on ESPN’s popular Gameday television show. The boos are coming from those in crimson and in blue.

I wonder if the SEC knew that was coming? I can’t wait to see his final pick for today’s game.

Stay tuned for that.

UPDATE: Kiffin went with the Tide, and Corso threw on his Big Al mascot head.

Hightower tore everything in knee

The mystery of Dont’a Hightower’s exact injury was solved Wednesday evening. Coach Nick Saban never specified the exact diagnosis that Hightower told reporters yesterday included tearing is ACL, MCL and meniscus.

The injury was suffered in the first half of the Arkansas game when a cut block hit him square on the left knee.

Read more about the injury and the aftermath Friday.

On a side note, Lane Kiffin made quite an impression on rapper Lil Wayne. Read this to see how and why.

Kiffin complains, then scolded

You may have seen this story about Lane Kiffin’s complaints about officiating in the Alabama game.

Well, as expected, the Southeastern Conference did not like the criticism. So they punished him. Here is the release distributed by the league:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 26, 2009) – Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive has issued a public reprimand to University of Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin for his public comments concerning officiating Sunday.

“Coach Kiffin has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” Slive said. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from all public criticism of officials.”

“This is the second reprimand for Coach Kiffin in this calendar year. Coach Kiffin is on notice that for any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties including suspension.”

Tide to Vols: Don’t wear orange in our house

File this under the funny but pointless category.

Tennessee was ready to renew the tradition of wearing orange in Saturday’s game in Bryant-Denny Stadium and the SEC gave the go-ahead.

But Alabama said no.

Vol coach Lane Kiffin told reporters in Knoxville that Alabama turned down the request to sport orange on the road and did not give a reason why.

When asked if he’d be willing to concede a 15-yard penalty and leave the white jerseys at home, Kiffin said no.

“We’re not good enough to do that,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is kick off 15 yards back.”

Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore issued a statement Monday evening addressing the issue.

“Mike (Hamilton) and I had a good conversation this morning and I told him that it is our desire to maintain the custom of the visiting team wearing their visiting jerseys,” Moore said. “We’ll continue to wear our white jerseys when we visit Knoxville next year.”

MEDIA DAY 3: Lane Kiffin steps to the mic, what will he say?

New Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin is easily the most anticipated speaker of the week. Here’s what he said:

• He started with a few jokes about the Tebow deal and brought his ballot to prove he was not the one who left the Gator off the first-team.
• SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is seated at the back of the room (keeping an eye of Kiffin?)
• There are not a lot of great high school players in Tennessee, so he has to recruit out-of-state players to his program.
• Do I love every single thing I’ve done? No. … But I had to do it.”
• He’s about “creating interest.”
• “We had to create national attention immediately.”
• Because of not being familiar with conference, staff members helped him fill out his SEC ballot.
• Number of violations “not crazy” and none gave an advantage in recruiting. He assured the violations would be cut down in future.
• Head coaches “suffer” because they can’t go out recruiting in the spring.
• “You have to spend money to make money,” he said about paying assistant coaches.
• He should have known Tebow was not signing with him while an assistant at USC because he had a Florida Gator mail box.
• “I don’t know how he isn’t” a top-5 draft pick (on Tebow).
• At SEC spring meetings, Kiffin said Urban Meyer “was very nice to me.”
• A recruit’s mother recently said another coach called Tennessee “a renegade program.” He didn’t say which coach said that.
  
• Kiffin disagrees.
• After today, Kiffin said he’s not interested in talking about his comments from the off-season. Now, he said, it’s time to talk about football.

(Photo by the Associated Press)