Kiffin has UT in spotlight

It was interesting to note the same day the nation’s newspaper, USA Today, ran a story on Tennessee’s controversial new coach Lane Kiffin, the school had to issue a statement to cover yet another mistake Kiffin’s staff made in abiding by NCAA recruiting rules.

Everybody remembers Kiffin’s public accusation that Urban Meyer had committed a violation by contacting a prospect while the student-athlete was on his official visit to Knoxville. Of course, that isn’t against the rules, and SEC commissioner Mike Slive ordered Kiffin to apologize and further familiarize himself with the NCAA’s bylaws.

Days later, Kiffin commented on getting a commitment from the nation’s top prospect, running back Bryce Brown. That, in fact, is a violation. Coaches can’t discuss prospects until they’ve actually signed. Thus, another apology.

Then this week, what UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said was a “newly hired” assistant coach posted a statement on Kiffin’s Facebook and Twitter accounts saying, “I was so excited to hear that J.C. Copeland committed to play for the Vols today!“

Uh, violation again.

“You cannot post that type of stuff, obviously,” Hamilton said. “It was an honest, inadvertent mistake.“

Kffin told the national newspaper that his snipes at fellow SEC coaches were calculated and that he had to do something to get national attention back on the program. Don’t know if this is what he had in mind, but regardless, mission accomplished.

Many Alabama fans are sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting word from the NCAA on the probe into athletes selling textbooks for a profit. As you will recall, All-SEC center Antoine Caldwell was one of several athletes that were allegedly getting free books via their scholarships, then passing them on to other students at a reduced rate while pocketing the proceeds.

At first, most people thought this would be a minor infraction, especially in light of Nick Saban suspending Caldwell and mates for four games during the 2007 season. However, the fact the NCAA has been so slow in rendering a decision has some concerned. That’s especially true since the governing body of collegiate sports asked Tide officials for specifics on the football team’s television contracts for the next two seasons. Why would they ask that if they weren’t considering a television ban?

We all know by now not to try and predict what the NCAA will do, but this much is certain: A television ban can hurt a program far more than a reduction in scholarships. Today’s kids want to be on the tube. And while Saban has the program on solid footing from a recruiting standpoint, things can change in a flash. The NCAA normally posts its sanctions against a school on its Web site.

Phil Paramore’s column appears Tuesday and Friday in The Dothan Eagle. He can be heard weekday mornings from 7-9 on AM 560 WOOF or at www.woofradio.com. He can be reached at the same website.