Courtesy and Karma

It's been awhile since I have posted something scout related (or anything in general I guess), but when I heard this I felt compelled to make one. I heard a story about a certain new coach at the University of Tennessee, Lane Kiffin. From day one Kiffin has had trouble fitting in with the other coaches of the Southeastern Conference.

Kiffin's first questionable act involved University of Florida coach Urban Meyer. At a breakfast celebrating the incoming recruiting class, Kiffin opined the following: "I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get [running back Nu'Keese Richardson]". This alleged cheating was Urban Meyer calling Richardson while the recruit was on an official visit to Tennessee. After promising to turn in coach Meyer, did Kiffin seek punishment for the Florida coach? Oh wait, as it turns out it's not a violation at all, but criticizing another SEC official is a violation of the conference's code of ethics. Can anyone say the pot calling the kettle black?

Criticizing other officials is in poor taste, but it's not the end of the world. Kiffin proved however that no one is safe from his discourteous behavior. ESPN blogger Chris Low reported that the night before National Signing Day (February 5), Kiffin called receiver Alshon Jeffrey to see if he had made a decision on schools and to give one last pep talk. I have never been a part of the recruiting process, and I'm sure it is intense, but what ESPN's Chris Low credits to Kiffin is unacceptable. "According to Jeffrey and Wilson (Jeffrey's high school coach), Kiffin told Jeffrey that if he chose the Gamecocks, he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life like all the other players from that state who had gone to South Carolina." full story here

Since then Kiffin has denied saying it, and tried to assure fans that he does not intend to use negative recruiting techniques. It's really tough to believe that someone who had already signed with another school and his coach would simply make this story up though, and this is not Kiffin's first case of aggression. One can only hope that recruits will see the true colors of Kiffin and choose to attend different schools that offer more than dishonest accusations and classless threats as a means of diplomacy. I imagine that the Gators and the Gamecocks will circle the Tennessee game on the schedule for this year, and hopefully a certain freshman wide receiver might get a little payback and take a step toward a future in the NFL with a big game.

I hope that future articles regarding such treatment will take a less accepting tone as Mr. Low's, but until then public outcry will just have to be sufficient in assigning blame to Kiffin. It's quite shocking to hear such blatant rudeness from such a public figure, but hopefully it won't rub off on any of Kiffin's players