Well, apparently it made sense to USC…

Like me, ESPN’s Pat Forde is a bit shocked, and isn’t quite sure how this is going to work out for any of the parties involved.

I suppose that is what I get for spending the evening falling asleep on the couch watching Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe…

I feel like I should say something on the departure of Lane Kiffin, but at this point it almost seems premature.  Obviously, this is going to have a hugely negative impact on not only short-term but perhaps the long-term health of the Tennessee football program.  Beyond that, however, I am really not sure what to think yet and the last thing I want to do is to rush to judgment.  Contemplative and plodding—that’s always been my mantra.

Basilio »”>Tony Basilio, however, already has his thoughts up for all to read, with which I don’t necessarily disagree.  The students on campus have also spoken—via the Rock (**NSFW: Language).  Of course, I can hardly blame them.  Tony Barnhart, on the other hand, is just sad—for Tennessee and for the game of college football.

In the meantime, (and in an attempt to be positive) I suppose I would be remiss if I did not take a brief moment to welcome and send best wishes to the 22nd Head Football Coach at Tennessee, Interim Head Coach Kippy Brown.  I’m not sure this is what he signed on for, but I do wish him all the best and look forward to hearing from him in the coming weeks.

Coach Brown, we’re all behind you and the team…

In the meantime, I have a feeling that Smiling Mike Hamilton is doing anything but smiling right now, and I expect that we will be hearing from him, and that right soon.

More to come…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   UT Sports.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

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Sure, he’s making fun of the Vols, but when LSUFreek speaks, people listen…

via:  LSUFreek  The Sporting Blog •  HT:  VolNation

I guess if Vols DB Nyshier Oliver didn’t want to get lampooned, then he shouldn’t have tried stealing shirts.

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Well, the first step has been taken…

Mike Edwards and Nu’Keese Richardson have been dismissed from the Volunteers football team.

HT / via: Rocky Top Talk

I hate it for those young men, but I applaud Coach Kiffin for doing the right thing.  You cannot embarrass the program, its fans, or the university that way and expect to continue on like nothing happened.

Sad, but necessary…

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Some of Slive's Henchmen at Work

Well, it looks like there are a few teeth to Mike Slive’s new edict that coaches refrain from criticizing the SEC’s finest.  What’s more, and somewhat to my surprise, it appears that the new policy even applies to Urban Meyer.  The basis for these conclusions?  Mike Slive’s decision to fine Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer $30,000 for criticizing the officiating during the Gators’ game against the Georgia Bulldogs, which was announced via an official release earlier today.

I am sure that Jeremy Foley will be lodging a strongly worded protest shortly, demanding that Lane Kiffin apologize for not being fined before Meyer…

So this raises a question: can you get fined for criticizing the fine you got tacked with for criticizing the officials?  I wonder if we will find out?  That could be highly entertaining.

At any rate, I guess we now know that Mike Slive actually meant what he said when he declared himself the High Inquisitor of the SEC.  Of course, no one expects the Spanish Inquisition…

Video: The Spanish Inquisition

Although I am glad to see that Slive brought Meyer to task, I still find it a bit troublesome that Slive would rather focus on penalizing coaches for criticizing bad officiating rather than spending his time finding and/or training better officials.  I find it odd that Slive and, presumably SEC head of football officiating Rogers Redding, feel a few off-handed comments from a coach about how the officiating in a given game was lousy—especially when the media and commentators absolutely love any opportunity they have to make such criticisms—are a threat to the sanctity of the SEC.

Me thinks he doth protest too much…

It seems to me by making an issue of the whole thing it just makes it that much more visible and gives the media and bloggers like yours truly one more thing to talk about.  Likely as not, no one would be even thinking about Meyer’s comments any longer were it not for Slive’s new policy of coaching Newspeak.  But then again, no ever accused Slive of being all that thoughtful…

…except when it comes to revenue.

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:     Family Travel Files ||  Statement on Fair Use

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It’s been a bumpy couple of weeks for the Tennessee Volunteers and their fans, on that there is little room for debate.

First, the Vols lost to Florida in a “moral victory” which amounts to losing gallantly.  The Vols then went on to beat a scrappy Ohio Bobcats team in less than runaway style, but as I said at the time: “a win is a win.”  Then, this past weekend, the men in orange were bested by the Auburn Tigers and Gus Malzahn’s semi-deranged (but highly effective) form of offense.  Finally, Lane Kiffin gave Brandon Warren his walking papers as a result of what Kiffin described as “conduct detrimental to our team.”

For my part, I have had little to offer on these issues due to my ridiculously overloaded schedule.  Trust me when I say that it was not for lack of desire or lack of observations that I have been so quiet.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) I now have a little time to pontificate, so here we go…

Auburn and “Johnnie Cochran” Offense

Gus Malzahn is either a genius or a madman depending on whether you are a fan of the Tigers or are their opponent.  His offensive sets are as entropy-filled and outlandish as they are effective.  One of the keys to its function is to make an opposing defense deal with the constant distraction of the seemingly endless arsenal of quasi-trick plays that it includes.  This bevy of distractions vying for the attention of opposing defenses, reminds me of pretty much every argument ever made to a jury by Johnnie Cochran—focusing on the distraction rather than the fact.

Still, there is a lot of fact to Malzahn’s ability to mask his plays and to run unconventional sets regularly and successfully.  I personally cannot remember seeing a game which featured as many reverses and double-reverses as the Tennessee — Auburn contest.  I know that I have never seen a true pooch punt (seemingly taken right out of General Neyland’s own playbook from the 1930s) in person.  To Malzahn’s credit, he has taken a lackluster unit that barely produced anything other than narcolepsy in 2008 and transformed them into a machine which scores tons of points and gives defenses fits.

Going Down Swinging

All of that said, I was fairly happy with the way that the Full Monte’s defense schemes matched-up against Malzahn’s maniacal offense.  Sure, the defensive line could have performed a bit better and perhaps the secondary could have been a little more on top of things, but on the whole, the Tennessee defense played more than well enough to secure the win.  Furthermore, with the loss of Nick Reveiz the week before, there was bound to be a little bit of flux in the game as Savion Frazier assumed the task of setting the defensive backfield.  The effort was there.  Take, for instance, the tackle totals for Rico McCoy (16 tackles) and Eric Berry (14 tackles), and Savion Frazier (10 tackles) if you don’t believe me.

These things aside, the real problem for the Vols’ defense against Auburn was not anything related to the Vols’ defense.  On the contrary, it was the offense that led to the defense’s downfall.

The first half of the game Tennessee put on a clinic on how not to play quarterback and receiver.  With the exception of Montario Hardesty’s inspired running (into the teeth of a waiting defense), it was atrocious.  At the end of the first half, Auburn held a massive time of possession advantage of 19:31 to Tennessee’s 10:29.  As a result, the Vols’ defense spent most of the first half on the field chasing Auburn’s offense hither and yon.  By the end of the first half, the Tennessee offense’s ineptitude had completely tired out the typically rock-solid defense.

Everyone Wants the Headset

That brings us to the question that everyone keeps asking: why does the Blackjack General refuse to bench Crompton and give junior Nick Stephens a try?

During my liveblogging twitteriffic series of posts during the game, I asked this question, albeit indirectly.  I have since thought better of it.  The fact of the matter is that Jonathan Crompton is the quarterback that multiple offensive coaching staffs have determined is the best player to put on the field.  Thus, who am I to second-guess their decision.  While I won’t re-publish it here (due to the fact I am trying to stay positive with regard to the quarterback play) I must say that this post at VolNation did really drive home for me the reality that Tennessee is facing this season.  I trust our coaching staff and remain impressed with the progress they have made in this re-building campaign.  They know what they are doing, and more importantly, who they have in the stable.  Tennessee has strengths and weaknesses.  Strong players and not so strong players.   Either way, (with the exception of the highly talented freshmen) they are what this staff inherited and what they have to work with.

Like it or not, the players we have are the players we have and there is nothing that can be done about it at this point in time…

In the second half, however, Crompton actually performed quite well and seemed to find a rhythm.  What exactly it was that was causing a problem in the first half is anyone’s guess, but the difference in these two halves was like night and day.  In Crompton’s defense, the receivers were as bad—if not worse—than the quarterback play.  In particular, Quintin Hancock, Gerald Jones, and Denarius Moore all had drops while Brandon Warren failed to fall on a fumble which led to a change in possession.

Which brings us to the Brandon Warren situation…

Crime and Punishment, Tennessee Style

Brandon Warren

I will be the first to go on the record as saying that I am pleased (more like “thrilled” or “elated”) that we have a coach who is willing to discipline his players in a manner which respects not only the ends of the football program (i.e. “winning”) but also serves to honor the game, the University of Tennessee, its alumni, and the principles of respect that come with any hierarchy.

As I have said in the past, I have a very simple (some might say naive) perspective on how players should be disciplined:

… my thoughts are that there should only be three rules of increasing severity — built on the concept that a team lives and dies as a group — for any team, which should be enforced without exception:

Rule 1:  Never do anything that will embarrass yourself. — In this case I would lump things like not going to class, bad discipline in practices, being late to practices, and potentially recklessness in a game (such as unwarranted personal fouls), etc.  The penalty for infractions would be that the player is publicly reprimanded in very plain and unfiltered terms before his teammates, and the entire team runs or does some other unpleasant drill as a result of the infraction by one of its members.

Rule 2:  Never do anything that will embarrass your team. — This would include general bad behavior that falls under Rule 1, if it is repeated.  In other words, repeat offenses of a Rule 1 violation calls into question the cohesiveness of the team, and thus reflects on the team.  This would also include any “minor” entanglements with the local constabulary such as: drunk and disorderly, speeding, underage consumption, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, etc. — essentially anything which doesn’t involve fundamental dishonesty and/or risk to the physical well-being of others.  The penalty for infractions would be a mandatory one-game suspension, being reprimanded openly in front of teammates, all members of the player’s squad losing privileges, the entire team doing twice as many laps or drills as for a Rule 1 violation, and the team captains being required to do an even greater penance — along with the offender.  The offender would also be required to make some sort of public apology or public sign of remorse along with some goodwill public service (i.e. visiting the children’s ward at the hospital, raking leaves for the infirm, etc.).

Rule 3:  Never do anything that will embarrass your university, its staff, students, and alumni. — This would be the most serious violation.  This would include any real criminal behavior such as a felony.  The immediate response would be an investigation by the coaching staff.  If it appeared that the offender was not guilty of the charges, then the player would be suspended for the remainder of the season until cleared by law enforcement officials or the Courts, with the assumption that the player will be dismissed if not cleared.  During that time, the offender would essentially serve as the lowest-level trainer and would be given the worst jobs associated with a football team.  If the staff determined that the player was likely guilty, then the player would be immediately dismissed from the team, and a public statement issued explaining why.  Regardless of the guilt or innocence of the offender, the entire team would have a major privilege suspended for at least half of the season.  The members of the offender’s squad and the team captains would be treated as if each of them had violated Rule 1 by not taking adequate steps to prevent the offense or hold their teammate accountable.  Again, the whole team would also be required to perform additional drills.

The goal of this system would be to instill mutual responsibility among team members and to emphasize that when one falls short, all fall short.  I am responsible for my brother and my brother is responsible for me. No coaching staff can ever police or monitor players at all times — no matter how vigilant.  When properly channeled, peer pressure can be a beautiful thing, and is the sort of thing which goes with a player everywhere he goes.  This system is also meant to emphasize that, when you are in a position of honor (being a member of the team) then sometimes guilt by association is all that is required to warrant a penalty — it simply comes with the territory.

Lawvol on Rules: 2008 Big Orange Roundtable: Week 6 (Question 2)

Thus, I have no problem with the man in charge making the call that it’s time to, as Doc Holliday put it, “redefine the nature of our association” as a program with one of the players.

Associations Redefined

I honestly hate it for Brandon Warren, he is obviously a talented player and one which could have fit into the Vols plan for the future nicely, but instead he chose a different course—one which is divergent from the path that this coaching staff has set.  It is a shame, considering that Warren—who was a 2006 Sporting News Freshman All-American while at Florida State, and had tallied a total of 17 catches for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns at Tennessee—was getting quality playing time under the Kiffin regime.  So much potential…

That said, when I heard that he had been involved in some sort of altercation with wide receivers coach Frank Wilson during the game, I was hoping that Kiffin took some action.  I was honestly pleased at Kiffin’s decision—resolute, uncompromising, firm, direct.  In an environment that seems to want to welcome Michael Vick back into the NFL with open arms and defend LeGarrette Blount in the wake of his punching of Boise State’s Byron Hout, I was—I must confess—actually a little shocked to see that there are still standards in the world of big-time athletics.

The sort of behavior that Warren exhibited has no place in the game, and I applaud Kiffin for taking action.

Players who are focused only on themselves, ignoring those around them and the order that must exist within the game, should not be tolerated.  That sort of behavior is a cancer for a team and a staff.  It erodes team morale—demonstrating that some players are more important that the team as a whole.  It breeds disrespect.  It degrades the quality of the unit.  It flies in the face of what makes college football great.  No player is bigger than the team.

What’s more, Kiffin’s actions not only serve as a strong warning to other misbehavior, but it also reinforces the position of his coaching staff.  Showing everyone that the man at the top will support those who are on his side, even if it is uncomfortable, even if it is not pleasant, even if it is not easy.

Though I wish Brandon Warren all the best in his future endeavours, and thank him for his contribution to Tennessee, I applaud Coach Kiffin for taking a stand.

The Silver Lining

After this litany of negativity, there is some good news to be had.

First, the Vols, though far from their end goal, continue to make progress toward returning to prominence.  The running game has been impressive on the back of Montario Hardesty, Bryce Brown, Marsalis Teague, and David Oku.  The attitude from this group has been exceptional and their performance has improved every single week.

Furthermore, who knows, maybe Oku or Teague may now find themselves filling the shoes that Warren left empty—earning more playing time as a result.

Another key to the Vols running success has been the yeoman’s work of fullback Kevin Cooper, who has helped pave the way for the running backs out of the backfield with the help of the Vols re-tooled (and infinitely more productive) offensive line.

A few other things to smile about: there were no interceptions against Auburn and no sacks.  At least the Vols know how to pass protect.

There are many more positives that I could point to, but the end conclusion is that Tennessee is a work in progress—and will continue to be so for the remainder of the season.  The Vols are not going to win a championship, but they are going to overcome, and improve.  The coaching staff has a plan and the dedication to see it through to completion.  The pieces are all there, they simply need time to fall into place.

Rebuilding is no fun, but sometimes it is necessary.  The bright side is that it will only get better into the future.  For now, the orange-clad faithful need to simply support this team, its players, and the coaches.  They are making strides.  More importantly, this team needs the support of the fanbase.

Before every game, the players tap the lucky sign reading “I will give my all for Tennessee today!”  We ask a lot of these players, all they ask for is that we support them for trying.

I for one intend to give this team my “all” as a fan, come what may…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:      UT Sports.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

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Meanwhile, out in the hinterland, the Boise State Broncos managed to beat the Oregon Ducks 19-8 in a battle of fisticuffs on the Smurf Turf. Even more exciting than the game was Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount’s right hook to the jaw of Boise State defensive end Byron Hout after the game was over. CBS Sports is now reporting that Blount has been suspended for the remainder of the season by the University of Oregon.

Tisk, Tisk…

Here’s a little look at the fun that was had by Blount and Hout at the game.

Video: Smurf Punchin’

Oh yeah, and Utah beat Utah State 35-17 (if any of you cared).

Thus, we have but one day before the Vols get it going against the Western Kentucky Weird-Grimace-Looking-Walking-Amoeba-or-is-it-an-Eggplant-Guys (Hilltoppers) at Neyland Stadium.  After all these months of waiting, we finally get a chance to see Lane Kiffin’s Vols in action.  Let’s just hope no one punches anyone afterwards.

Ahh, college football, I’ve missed you…

– So it goes…

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Somewhere, in front of a chalkboard—his hands coated with chalk dust—Lane Kiffin is smiling…

For the past several months Tennessee fans and the general sports-watching public have heard a near endless discussion about the various secondary infractions which have occurred since Lane Kiffin (a/k/a “the Blackjack General”) took the reins as the head football coach for the Tennessee Volunteers.  Needless to say, some have taken every available opportunity to criticize the University of Tennessee, The UT Athletic Department, Smiling Mike Hamilton, and the Blackjack General himself.  Some of it has amounted to little more than sniping and smack-talk, while others have been decidedly more direct.

Rightly or wrongly, Tennessee has self-reported (or is in the process of investigating with with an eye toward reporting) six secondary violations of NCAA Rules, the most recent coming—as HSH reported just the other day—as a result of the Blackjack General’s recent appearance on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” where he discussed, imagine that, secondary infractions with ESPN’s Bob Ley.

A “secondary violation” is defined in the NCAA Manual as follows:

A secondary violation is a violation that is isolated or inadvertent in nature, provides or is intended to provide only a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage and does not include any significant recruiting inducement or extra benefit.  Multiple secondary violations by a member institution may collectively be considered as a major violation.

•  2008-09 NCAA Division 1 Manual § 19.02.2.1 (emphasis added)

To put this in layman’s terms, secondary violations are the functional equivalent of talking in the NCAA’s rather large and particularly boring class.  Or, perhaps, in Lane Kiffin’s case, they amount to showing-off for all the girls (or in this case, recruits) in the back of class to impress them and passing notes reading:

I like you.  A Lot.

Do you like me?

Check One:  ___Yes  ___No  ___Maybe

— Lane

While this sort of thing—in both Mrs. Elliott’s 6th Period English Class and in the world of NCAA compliance—are annoying, they are largely harmless.  While it is true (again, with both Mrs. Elliott and the NCAA) that enough of these sorts of minor errors along the way can land you in the proverbial Principal’s office, as long as you say you are sorry after each instance (and UT has self-reported all such violations) and space the occurrences out by a day or two, usually there is little punishment to be meted out, aside from being made a spectacle in front of your peers…

… or by having to stay after class and write on the blackboard.

Kiffin at the Chalkboard

Hence, while Lane Kiffin and the UT Athletic Department are probably getting a little tired of having to deal with the issue of secondary violations, they have been merely a bump in the road thus far.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, on the other hand, is now facing a decidedly more serious situation…

Findings of the NCAA Committee on Infractions

As a result of what the NCAA described as “Impermissible benefits obtained by student-athletes through misuse of the institution’s textbook distribution program.” the University of Alabama is staring a real violation dead in the face—the NCAA’s penalty summary leaves little question about this:

Penalty Summary: Public reprimand and censure; three years of probation; vacation of records for all wins in which any of the seven involved football student-athletes competed while ineligible during the 2005-06 and 2007-08 academic years. Further in the sports of men’s tennis, men’s track and women’s track the records of the 15 involved student-athletes shall be vacated and team point totals shall be reconfigured accordingly; the institution shall pay a fine of $43,900; annual compliance reporting required.

•  via: NCAA Legislative Services Database (emphasis added)

This penalty came about as a result of Alabama’s violation of three NCAA regulations: § 15.2.3 (“Books”); § 16.11.2.1 (“General Rules on Extra Benefits“); and § 2.8.1 (“Responsibility of the Institution“).  These rules, especially the two latter ones, are not merely fluff in the NCAA Manual, they are major rules, which is why Alabama was slapped—not on the wrist, but across the face—for its major violation of NCAA writ.

Major violations are broadly and somewhat cryptically defined as: “All violations other than secondary violations are major violations, specifically including those that provide an extensive recruiting or competitive advantage.”  (2008-09 NCAA Division 1 Manual § 19.02.2.2)  I am quite sure that Alabama is familiar with this definition, since the athletic programs at Alabama have had five major NCAA violations—four of which occurred since 1995.

A little light reading for athletes.

While the definition of a “major violation” does, admittedly, leave a little to be desired in terms of clarity, the language of the NCAA’s Infractions Report is far less difficult to understand.  The report cites the involvement of “201 student-student athletes who received impermissible benefits…” from 16 different sports.  That’s right, 201 athletes!  Of that number 22 athletes were cited as being “intentional wrongdoers”. In other words enough people to fill an entire string of both the offensive and defensive squads of a football team.^ (Report, p. 1)

The offenses were first discovered by a university bookstore employee in October of 2007 and totaled approximately $ 40,000 in improperly obtained textbooks.  (Report, pp. 3, 6)  The majority of the violations arose from athletes obtaining non-required textbooks for free, which they in-turn gave to friends and family. (Report, p. 5)

Gee, it’s easy to see how that one didn’t get caught earlier.  I mean, most defensive linemen need three copies of Sandler’s Compendium of Chemical, Biochemical, and Engineering Thermodynamics…

Ignoring the fact that there was a documented 30% spike in textbook costs charged to the Athletic Department—a fact which somehow went unnoticed for almost 3 years—once bookstore officials made the administration aware of the problem, Alabama did self-report the violation.  (Report, pp. 1-2, 5-6)  The NCAA Infractions Report notes this and indicates that, in most circumstances, such violations can be adjudicated without a hearing, in Alabama’s case, however, that was not possible, “because of the institution’s status as a repeat violator.” On this point, the committee made itself abundantly clear:

Although the committee commends the institution for self-discovering, investigating and reporting the textbook violations, it remains troubled, nonetheless, by the scope of the violations in this instance and by the institution’s recent history of infractions cases. In fact, not only is the University of Alabama currently a “repeat violator,” because of the 2002 case, it was also in a “repeat violator” status when that case was adjudicated and when a 1999 case was decided.

* * * * *

In fact, because of the institution’s extensive recent history of infractions cases, the committee strongly considered making a more serious finding of a lack of institutional control, rather than a failure to monitor.

•  NCAA Infractions Report, p. 2 (emphasis added)

In other words: “Don’t even pretend you didn’t know better, and don’t complain about the penalty—you got lucky.”

In the end, the NCAA Committee on Infractions lowered the boom on Alabama and—though not mentioned—likely dodged the death penalty in football once again due to the fact that other sports were involved.

Meanwhile, back in Mr. Brand’s 3rd Period “Recruitin’, Footballin’ and You” Class

At the end of the day, I really take little joy in seeing Alabama hit with penalties.  Does it help Tennessee when recruiting against the Crimson Tide?  Sure it does, but it hurts the SEC as a whole when recruiting against other conferences.  Furthermore, the widespread perception that anything goes in the SEC is only bolstered by this most recent penalty—which increases the number of major violations committed by SEC member schools to a grand total of 49 (two of which belong to Tennessee) since 1953.  As much as I enjoy gigging the Tide for “cheatin’,” I have no desire re-live the whole “Fulmer Lied” fiasco of the decade.  While it would hardly surprise me to start hearing rumors that the Great Punkin was briefly employed as a bookstore cashier in Tuscalsoosa, it seems there is no one to blame but Alabama itself.  As I’ve said in the past, I am not exactly an Alabama hater—I’m not here to gloat over Alabama’s shortcomings. Besides, I’d rather focus on what Tennessee does on the field than what the Tide does in the university bookstore.

On the other hand, given the frequency, severity, and seriousness of Alabama’s violations I do have one general question which bothers me.  Alabama has now had three major violations in less than a decade.  Alabama has been stripped of wins on multiple occasions in that time period.  Alabama has built a strong reputation of, at best, poor compliance and, at worst, cheating.

So why exactly is it that everyone keeps pointing their fingers at class-clown Tennessee?

I suppose I should not be bothered by this, given the general tenor of discussions by both mainstream media outlets and New Media (a/k/a “the blogosphere”) providers.  Still, at some level the outcry over Lane Kiffin holding faux-news conferences, letting recruits run through the tunnel in Neyland Stadium “improperly”, for wanton use of  Twitter, and all the other recent oversights by Tennessee that have raised the ire of the NCAA seems a bit overblown in comparison to what has obviously been occurring at Alabama.

Of course, Lane Kiffin is probably feeling pretty good about it though.  Now, Alabama has gotten itself kicked out of class—sent to the principal’s office for cheating.  Meanwhile, there’s Lane, standing at the front of the classroom for being a cut-up—a seemingly forgivable sin.

Sure, he has had to make a few apologies.  Sure, he has had to suffer a bit of embarrassment.  Sure, he has had to endure a few barbs from here and there.

But standing up there at the front of the class—the focal point of every single kid in the class—might not be that bad.  Maybe he’s not the best behaved, but he’s not really cheating.  What’s more, he’s now getting all that attention from all those recruits sitting behind him.  Maybe that’s why he takes so much time to carefully copy his sentences on the chalkboard.  Slowly.  Deliberately.  Methodically.

Yes, Lane has chalk all over him.

That and a great big smile…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:  Textbooks.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

^ Note: The 22 “intentional wrongdoers” cited in the NCAA’s Infractions Report were not identified as being football players, and this is only used as an analogy.

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For those that might have missed it, ESPN’s Outside the Lines ran a feature story on Lane Kiffin this morning. In case you did miss it, take a moment and watch it.

Now, I think most of us can agree on the quality of that report in terms of a positive portrayal of Tennessee’s football coach and the confidence (outsiders will say arrogance, of course) he has in his plan. What he says about rivals’ fans and coaches at the very end might be my favorite part of the story – other than the parts with the lovely Layla.

In case you were not aware, am I currently a student at UT, entering my senior year. I am majoring in journalism/electronic media here in Knoxville, and as I get closer to having to go out and start working, I find myself watching all kinds of TV – the local news, SportsCenter, highlight shows, the Tonight Shows with Conan/Letterman – and noticing different specific journalistic and production aspects that most of you probably don’t, simply because I have a better understanding of it (I am studying and doing some of this stuff, after all).

Put another way, what lawvol is to law, I am to journalism – except much less of an expert, obviously.

Anyways, this is a really good piece from a journalistic point of view, and credit Wendi Nix for doing a good job. It covers the recent stories surrounding Coach Kiffin and the program very well, and gets added input from other sources – the Raiders, Ed Orgeron, Mike Hamilton, Layla, and USC head coach Pete Carroll. The piece is very visual, with clips from Kiffin’s various public appearances to shots at the spring game and spending time with his daughters at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville.

However, the part in question (and where I find issue with ESPN) comes with just under two minutes left in the story. In Coach Kiffin’s office, you see him and assistant coach Eddie Gran speaking with a couple of recruits. It isn’t in the video linked above, but after the completion of the feature, Bob Ley, the host of the show and longtime ESPN personality, says that the clip is actually a secondary violation. Media members cannot witness the contact between a coach and a recruit.

Did ESPN set Tennessee and Lane Kiffin up for another violation?

There are a variety of theories about this, and maybe it’s not even that big of a deal. Perhaps ESPN threw that in there to create a story. Perhaps they showed somebody at UT the story and UT didn’t know or didn’t even care that there may have been a minor violation (it was Florida commit Lamarcus Joyner, so the Take that, Urban! possibility enhances that theory). We’re taught that when you interview someone, you don’t show them what you’re going to use or the final product, because they may want to change it and that may influence how you report a story (if I look like a moron in an interview, I’ll want to change that, right?). I have no idea if ESPN goes by that or how they do it, but that’s beside the point.

The problem I have with taking this story and throwing that little jab in at the end is this: the fundamental bottom line purpose of a journalist is to report the news. Present the necessary information in an accurate, unbiased way. Theoretically, you’re supposed to lose credibility if people find bias or inaccuracies in your reporting. It has to do with more or less being a service to the public and operating in their interest.

As a small disclaimer: no, I don’t watch any of the politics-heavy stations that skew stuff. And in today’s age, most people will find problems in the way you report or write a story just to find problems. Also, if a story disagrees with someone’s opinion, it’s automatically dismissed – that’s just the world we are living in. You can’t and you’re not gonna please everybody. Also, I think everyone is biased and personally it’s near impossible to hide that.

It just seems to me that the point of the piece was to show Tennessee football under Lane Kiffin in a more in-depth way. It was effort to see what Lane’s behavior – the comments, the violations, etc – really is a reflection of: his arrogance, his brilliance, or his inexperience. Why do you feel the need to throw in the bit about the violation? It just seems they felt the need to add the scene with Kiffin and the recruit for no other reason than to create another story.

ESPN could have taken a clip or used another one. For example, Nix mentions the number of recruits that visited Knoxville for the Orange/White Game. Why not show a shot of recruits standing on the sidelines or sitting in the stands watching the game? It’s not like the recruits don’t stick out on campus, could getting a shot of them on a tour or at the game been impossible for ESPN?

I’ll try another scenario. I’m a reporter doing an interview with Barack Obama. In this scenario, Obama has just made a couple of foolish remarks (insert G.W. Bush jokes here) and told some other world leaders they’re idiots. However, the focus of my story is how Obama is really a genius behind-the-scenes and a family man. However, I get a clip of him kicking Bo, the family dog, because Bo just kept digging holes in the White House flower beds.

As I’m putting the story together, I see this clip. Should I use it or not? It doesn’t really have anything to do with the rest of my story, but man, the uproar I could create by putting it in there! OK, it’s a little extreme and probably an awful comparison, but I think it’s the same point.

It’s almost as if ESPN set Tennessee and Kiffin up by doing the story, and then finding this to make more out of it. I don’t think I would be alone in feeling that way.

I’m not saying this means ESPN is going to lose all of its credibility and viewers because they push and may have crossed the boundary of journalism ethics. I just think if you’re looking for examples of how not to be respected, professional institution focused on presenting information as clearly as possible, then this would qualify.

I’ll use another such example. Earlier this year Sports Illustrated reported Boston College DT B.J. Raji failed a drug test at the NFL Combine. Raji disputed that report, and it turned out SI.com was wrong. Think Raji will be willing to do any SI interviews anytime soon? Doubt it.

Maybe UT wanted it this way. Any publicity is good publicity seems to be the line of thinking over there. Maybe I’m wrong about ESPN. I’m sure they have their reasons for doing what they did. Maybe I’m being biased myself. Maybe I’m a moron. Maybe I’m making much ado about nothing. After all, it’s just a measly secondary violation…

Either way, playing some football games would render all this pretty moot. August can’t get here quick enough…

– … to me.

Images Courtesy of: xx • xx • xx

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