Hostess-Gate

Yesterday morning the NCAA launched a full-out investigation into Tennessee Football recruiting and it's supposed "corrupt practices." At the center of the controversy is the Orange Pride: a group of students, mostly women, that give tours to recruits and show off the university while potential student-athletes are on campus. The incident in question: members of the Orange Pride were spotted at a high school game at Byrnes in South Carolina, allegedly holding a sign that said, "Come to Tennessee." Two highly-touted commitments play for Byrnes in Brandon Willis and Corey Miller. One that UT has recruited in the past is also the running back, Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore is a top-5 running back with a big time fumbling problem. Seemingly, UT lost interest after Byrnes' nationally televised matchup against St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida, the #1 high school team, and Lattimore's numerous fumbles. Now, there's no rule that says colleges can't use attractive to females to lure prospects into coming to school. Nearly every big time college program does it. What gets me is that it's national news when Tennessee does it and that the NCAA has the audacity to interview our commitments with no parents present. Who does the NCAA think they are? The Gestapo? The SS? KGB? Ridiculous. Since when are people not allowed to be friends and go to a game? The hostess in question is rumored to be from South Carolina and visiting over break. The NCAA has a target on Kiffin and the Vols, has from day one of his tenure. Same goes for Mike Slive, commissioner of the SEC. Slive can't stand the thought of someone bringing down his lover Meyer at Florida, but that's an entirely different rant.

There are whispers of the identity of the possible culprit, ranging from the ACC to the SEC. One message board (yes, not entirely credible) claims the complaint was reported to the ACC, then to the SEC, then to the NCAA. If true, look at either Florida State or Clemson. Miller was a one-time FSU commitment. Former Tennessee coach Eddie Gran just jumped ship to the Seminoles. Clemson is feasible because it's a South Carolina school that lost out on the two biggest prospects of the state aside from Kelcy Quarles.

Should the complaint have originated in the SEC, look at the Gamecocks' Steve Spurrier to be the snitch. USC leads for Lattimore's services, who just so happens to be the key contributor to the NY Times' story. Spurrier has had a vendetta against Tennessee since the Johnson City product was spurned by the Big Orange in the 60s or 70s. His hatred is well documented. As is ours for him: I admit I was one of several fans leading a chorus of "Pump Our Gas" above the USC tunnel as Spurrier and Co. left the field this past Halloween.

It wouldn't surprise me if every coach in the SEC joined in USC's accusations. No one likes Lane Kiffin. As they shouldn't. He's ruffled feathers from day one. But he's not being paid to make friends. This isn't the good ol' boy network of the 90s. It's big time College Football. It's a business. Lane is looking to win championships and make money, not buddies. One thing the opposition forgot about, though, is that Lane Kiffin is one brass, crafty SOB. Should the source ever be leaked, does anyone really think Kiffin isn't the type of person to hire an assistant just to dig up the corruption at other schools?

As we learned in middle school, snitches get stitches. We've seen the snitch. Expect the stitch.