Hey everyone. As you've heard, the NCAA is conducting an investigation of sorts into Tennessee's "Orange Pride" athletic hostesses.I penned a little column about this very subject in Thursday's editions. (That column also delves ever so slightly into Tommy Tuberville's situation.)
Anyway, I don't see this Orange Pride thing becoming a huge deal. The school will portray these gals as rogues, operating at the behest of nobody but themselves, and sell them out in a way only Linda Tripp could appreciate.
This will be at least the seventh secondary recruiting violation incurred under Kiffin's watch. Sounds like a lot? It really is.
Still, he won't get busted. Not this time.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Wade Payne
Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
Cheaters never prosper...
ReplyDeleteUnless you're John Calipari.
ReplyDeleteWoooooo.
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin.
ReplyDeleteha@Calipari
ReplyDelete6TH ROUND SUBSTANCE.
ReplyDeleteWho is national coach of the year?
ReplyDeleteI have to vote on that.
TCU? Cincinnati?
also, ha@lindatripp
ReplyDeleteWhen is your vote due?
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, I think?
ReplyDeleteWifey says that award has to go to a coach who wasn't expected to be good.
ReplyDeleteI said: ``So you'd never give it to Urban Meyer."
No hesitation.
"Nope. Never. He's supposed to be good."
Makes no sense to me, but OK.
National Coach of the Year is Edsall in my book (well, I don't have a physical book, but I have a mental one). He held that team, that campus, and that town together after the tragic death of #6, Jasper Howard. He should be commended for his heroics in such a crazy situation. Saban couldn't have done it. Meyer couldn't have done it. He's a great man, and a great coach.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting idea.
ReplyDeletealso, average margin of defeat in 5 loses is 3 points (none more than 5) to pretty good teams (Cincy,Pitt,UNC, and WVU...plus a not so good Rutgers). This guy is coaching up the mediocre talent he's got to play tight in tough games.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work, DL
ReplyDelete...and you, too, JGT!
I think Notre Dame is using him, but he makes so much sense there. With the talent CHarlie Weis had this year, Edsall wins no less than 10 games (his defense would be much better).He's a standup human who understands standards, makes men of his players, and seems to be a really good coach. I'm a fan.
ReplyDeleteGary Patterson would get my vote, not surprisingly
ReplyDeleteI'd say Brian Kelly for coach of the year. Honorable mention to Peter's idea.
ReplyDeleteScrew Honorable mention. He's the only Honorable one out of the lot of them (big sweeping generalization added for effect- don't argue that point, I know it's not correct).
ReplyDeleteI need to write up a campaign and hit the blogs hard. Didn't realize I had an opinion until just now when Jay G mentioned it.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Paul Wulff is not on your short list, JGT?
ReplyDeleteJay G,
ReplyDeleteDon't you know you aren't supposed to mention our previous coaches name anymore?
I didn't know that was a rule.
ReplyDeleteJayG, concerning Calipari...
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Cal keeps Memphis' and UMASS' Final Four banters in his closet somewhere since they can no longer be hung in their respective arenas?
Is he saving a spot for Kentucky?
Yeah, it was a rule that we invoked yesterday I believe.
ReplyDeleteSo over/under on when the NCAA comes to visit Kentucky basketball.
ReplyDeleteI say by the start of season 3 of Calipari.
Better mustache:
ReplyDeleteSchnellenberger or Wannstedt?
Schnell fo shizzle PF.
ReplyDeleteRK...I'm thinking along the lines of 3-4 seasons myself as far as Kentucky and probation.
ReplyDeletePF...I'll go with Schnellenberger, mainly because of the pipe. It's unstoppable.
Coach of the year: Bobby Hauck
ReplyDeleteIt's a difficult choice for me.
ReplyDeleteSchnelli's got that well groomed, thick, pushbroom thing going that's maintained even since turning snow white. It's manly and you don't want to mess with him because of it.
Wannstache's is out of control and all over the place. It's got character. In fact, it may not be part of him at all. It has potential to be a puppet that took up residence on his face years ago that he just maintains because it won't go away.
If they were being judged, they'd be in different categories. Like working breeds and terriers. There would have to be decision on which is best in show, though. I'll go with Schnelli's, because Beverly loves it, and she wears white mink.
Plus, he looks like Hemingway's doppelganger in the picture. Got to respect that.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he reads "Death in the Afternoon" to his team before every game?
I will give Schnellenberger the mustache award if he sends his 1983championship ring (which is probably the one that shows up in that picture) to its rightful ownner, Pat Dye.
ReplyDeleteAs for Kiffikin, this isn't a killer for him, although I do think it could really hurt their recruiting. The timing of the NCAA is poor for them.
ReplyDeleteAs for Tuberville, I read in a South Bend paper this morning an article that basically said why not Tommy Tuberville. It was interesting because it included quotes from Tuberville on what he thought it would take to win at Notre Dame.
Personally, if I am Notre Dame, I am going after the head coach at one of the undefeated teams this season such as Cincy, TCU, or Boise State. It is easier to justify that hire.
^ One more space, one less "n".
ReplyDeleteThe Schnell in a landslide.
ReplyDeleteI don't like admitting it, but any coach that leads his team to consecutive undefeated SEC regular seasons deserves consideration.
ReplyDeleteOr you could go the laugh rout and vote for Les Miles.
ReplyDeleteEt tu Steve? Et tu?
ReplyDeleteVote for Best Beard:
ReplyDeleteBeard 1
Beard 2
How will Turner Gill do in the voting for coach of the year?
ReplyDeleteI mean he's the guy we should have hired, right?
Yea, I am afraid so. On the plus side, if I were interviewing Les Miles the first question would be "so, how have you managed to keep from getting fired"?
ReplyDeleteNot that he'd be Amanda Beard, but what about Frank Beard from ZZ Top...also known as the only guy in the band without a beard?
ReplyDeleteI considered adding him as a third choice, WERK.
ReplyDeleteYea, I am with you. I give Frank a vote just on the ironic irony he provides.
ReplyDeleteTake it from a man with a beard. Beard 2 is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteTommy Hanson for the Braves sat behind me at the Iron Bowl. he's got a beard. i vote for him.
ReplyDeleteAs for Kiffikin, I don't see him in the hot seat. He is setting pretty even with the controversy. Now, a loosing season next year would change the story, but if they show improvement, he should be safe regardless of what the NCAA does.
ReplyDeleteI can't grow a beard.
ReplyDelete(I think there is a funny dirty line I could follow that sentence pertaining to another "Beard" linked to earlier, but since I am a man of good moral fiber, I will abstain)
As an aside, if Kiffikin was hit by a car tomorrow, in his press conference from the hospital he would say that it is okay and it was only part of the plan to draw attention to Tennessee.
ReplyDeleteI chose to abstain as well Michael.
ReplyDeleteSo it goes.
long drive home starts early! Later, Ha Tees
ReplyDeletePeople are unfamiliar with Kiffikin's film work. He played a knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail.
ReplyDelete"It is only a flesh wound".
I am a big fan of beards... I feel every man should have one if he can, and should be pointed at and laughed if he can. Unfortunately I chose a career that generally does not allow them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in shaving. A full beard works for me.
ReplyDeleteTo borrow from Clay Travis's lexicon, I'm a BGID (Beard Gettin' It Done").
ReplyDeleteLatest update from whiskeredtrophy.com (adjusted for regional bias):
ReplyDeleteAmanda Beard 2 votes
Jeff Beard 0 votes and condemned arena
Frank Beard 2 write-in votes
Tommy Hanson 1 write-in vote
MJT 1 vote against himself
1 vote for beards in general.
Projected winner - Mark Ingram with 0 votes (stupid REC)
I have Amanda on my ballot.
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteI think you should give all 12 SEC head coaches nicknames.
Right now we have
Kiffikin
OleNutt
I would probably say that Chip Kelly is the NCAA coach of the year. They lose early on the opening week of the season to Boise St. He loses a significant portion of what he had schemed for offensively in his first year as a Head Coach when Legerrit Blount goes Ron Artest on the Boise football field. He takes down the all might Pete Carroll the king of west coast football on his way to winning the Pac 10 for the first time since 1994. Pretty impressive to me for a first year coach!
ReplyDeleteI vote for Urban Creyer at UF cause man that guys is a whiner!
ReplyDeleteI'm with JD.
ReplyDeleteAnd can we make Meyer's nickname Hypocritical POS, or HPOS for short?
I meant I agree with JD on Chip Kelly? Although Urban Cryer is a close second to my idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no clue why I included a question mark in that last post... been a weird day.
ReplyDeleteI would vote for Chuck Norris for the greatest beard award.
ReplyDeleteThere is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard...only another fist
Oswald shot, Chuck Norris met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.
and in honor of the Christmas Season...
Chuck Norris was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of “beard”. Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus’ obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have Chuck omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.
Chuck Norris does not go hunting because the word "hunting" suggests a chance of failure.
ReplyDeleteChuck Norris goes killing.
i saw a Chuck Norris daily calendar the other day at Target. hilarious.
ReplyDeleteAnyone think the timing of the UT HO!!stesssssssesssess news and the defection of a couple..and counting...assistants is odd?
ReplyDeleteChuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open!!
ReplyDeleteChuck Norris uses roundhouse kicks to kill threads.
ReplyDeleteCoach of the Year:
ReplyDelete1. Trooper Taylor
2. Howard Schnellenberger
3. Gary Patterson
4. Brian Kelly
5. Layla Kiffin
As I've said before, if you ain't secondarily violatin', you ain't 'cruitin'.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Steve..
ReplyDeleteTwo undefeated SEC regular seasons in a row should count for something.
Saban for coach of the year.
My real vote:
ReplyDelete1. B. Kelly (lost his QB, presumed to be taking another job and kept it together)
2. Saban (held serve ... started near the top and stayed there)
3. Edsall (had they won one of those near-misses, I'd put him No. 1)
4. Patterson (probably the most underappreciated coach -- understand he didn't have a great interview with AU)
Jet:
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few interviews with Patterson.. I can understand why he wouldn't interview well..
However, I can't imagine Pat Dye interviewing well either. Interviews are overrated in football.
Is it just me or is there something very almost dirty feeling about Brian Kelly? I don't know why I just really get that feeling from him.
ReplyDeleteThen again, it could just be the stadium that the Natty plays at. I've always heard Nippert Stadium is one of the the worst facilities in the country.
Does Pat Dye ask if there will be George Dickel at an interview?
ReplyDeleteFSJ ...
ReplyDeleteOne on one, Pat Dye is awesome. When he was in his early 40s, his eyes were like sharks with frickin' laser beams on top.
I agree JD..
ReplyDeleteKelly is a good coach, but there is something that's not right...
JD...I'm with you on Kelly. Something about that guy just doesn't jive with me. Can't quite put my finger on it.
ReplyDeleteFSJ...
ReplyDeletegreat minds...
Well I am glad that I am not the only one. I was feeling really bad for a while about it. It is almost that "Used Car Salemsan" feeling I get from him.
ReplyDeleteJet:
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Dye is great one on one. Love him on Finebaum. I'd much rather listen to him on Finebaum than Stallings to be honest. Dye will tell you exactly what he thinks. Stallings filters everything he says...well with the exception of Terry Bowden and Bill Curry.
Supposedly the interview is the reason that Bowden didn't end up at Alabama...at least if you believe Joab Thomas. Supposedly his was subpar too.
Of course they ambushed him with Walter Lewis who for some reason was on the committee.. asking some interesting questions about his quarterbacks. (Remember this was before Charlie Ward)
At least with Kiffin he tells you up front..listen...we are going to bend every possible rule as far as we can...Catch us.
ReplyDeleteKelly just seems dirty to me...I don't know why I get that from him.
Is your Brian Kelly program related to his mobility? Or is it because he's Chris Mortenson's long lost twin?
ReplyDelete* problem.
ReplyDeletesorry.
Agreed with you FSJ on the Dye interview on Slimbaum radio network. He is a way better interview than is Stallings. Part of that is Slimebaum too though, he really treats Dye much different than the way he does Stallings. He tip toes around with Stallings and often times seems to bait Dye into some of the stuff. That may be somewhat biased though based on my allegiance, has anyone else ever thought that as well?
ReplyDeleteWell Finebaum knows that if you get Dye riled up he will go off which is great for ratings. I sorta get the impression that Dye goes along with it too.
ReplyDeleteI figure Stallings would just hang up on him.
Don't know how accurate..but the South Bend newspaper is reporting that Kelly will be the next ND coach..
ReplyDeleteKelly
I know and I am certainally not the best one to give an opinion on Finebald but I really think it goes along with his sleezy persona.
ReplyDeleteESPN just reported Brian Kelly just became the next coach at ND
ReplyDeleteFSJ you out scooped JD...
ReplyDeleteLOL...
ReplyDeleteI've been in contact with people in high places.
Mortensen is reporting it. He's usually one to believe.
ReplyDeleteWho will the Natty come after?
ReplyDeleteJim McElwayne?
I would JD..
ReplyDeleteHim or Gus... :-P
New question...will ESPN do and expose report that ND hired a coach with the last name Kelly? That seems pretty predjuicial to me. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteThe Gus Bus is in the Chizik shop and the estimate is it will take at least another year before it is ready to roll to it's next stop.
ReplyDeleteI have it on good authority Gus will be in Auburn for 3 years.
ReplyDeleteI have heard similar things from sources, Jet. At least one more year for sure.
ReplyDeleteWell Jet that fits in to the average lifespan of an Auburn OC....
ReplyDeleteMan in that case I guess next year we can expect to see Roof leave to become the DC at Texas.
ReplyDeleteFSJ - You've already professed your love for Auburn. I don't think it would be that much of a jump from that statement to a well-timed BEASLEY!!!
ReplyDeleteI also have it on good authority that Pete Rose will be the next coach at Cincy.
ReplyDeleteBookies celebrate!
ReplyDeleteHow's this for fun....
ReplyDeleteSupposedly Mike DuBose is being considered for the DL position at Memphis.
That is very interesting, FSJ. From what I understood, as a head coach, he is a great DC.
ReplyDeleteDubose was a great example of a coach that really didn't need to be a head coach. He must have missed the memo on coach speak. How could any coach talk in the preseason of winning a national championship and end up 3-8. He might as well have put a fire me sign on his back, but somehow he survived a little while longer.
ReplyDeleteSo, has the countdown on Brian Kelly's career started yet?
ReplyDeleteI tell ya what...Jen Brown from ESPN would have made a great Orange Pride girl.
ReplyDeleteI love me some Jen Brown.
ReplyDeleteIf Brian Kelly's career dies at Notre Dame, that job is going to become the one coaches don't want, ironically. Notre Dame isn't what it once was. It was typically a national recruiting power. Many don't even know where it is. It is like it was an entire different world known as Notre Dame. Now it is where decent coaches go to die.
ReplyDeleteEBro: I don't care about Calipari's past problems.
ReplyDeleteI just want wins against Duke.
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Duke-UK matchups. Always fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteBut Duke? I would think Kentucky should be shooting higher these days. Don't get me wrong, I would kill for Duke's basketball program, but as far as elite programs go, they've fallen off in recent years.
They struggle these days to make the Sweet 16. The Duke name still carries some weight given they're somehow ranked in the preseason top ten every year, but I think UK can surpass Duke pretty easily. Probably already have.
I like to poke fun about Cal, but overall, I think it's huge for the SEC. Given how god awful things were last year for this conference come Tourney time (only getting two at large bids). It's like the SEC gets no respect for producing the only back to back national champ (Florida) in recent times.
ReplyDeleteBut Kentucky being good (or at least considered to be good) undeniably raises the profile of the conference to a whole other level that no other team, not even Florida evidently, can.
The SEC needs Kentucky to be good. So as a college basketball fan whose teams plays in the SEC, I say go Cats!
.
ReplyDeleteThe SEC always needs Kentucky as it is right now. No doubt.
ReplyDeleteI like unneeded history lessons.
ReplyDeleteI must be bored...I'm watching a show on CNBC called "Inside the mind of Google"........weird wild stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhere is WTC or D. Millar I need my daily recruiting fix? What's this about a possible new leader for Seastrunk? Also since I am new can someone clue me in on the whole BEASLEY thing?
ReplyDeleteFrom an earlier converstaion I say UK is on some sort of probabtion by the 4th yr.
ReplyDeletePenguins on the power play! We're tied at 2 with the Habs early in the 3rd period.
ReplyDeleteM=B - the "BEASLEY!!! thing" is my fault. Terry Beasley, one of my most favorite AU players ever, was #88, so I like to honor him on the 88th post. Some other Hotties have filled in admirably in my absence.
ReplyDeletePens 0 for 2 on PP in first 6:30 of the 3rd period. UGHHHH!!! Penguins have 3rd worst PP in the entire NHL. What on earth is wrong?!?!
ReplyDeleteWell, bad news.. Pens get another power(less) play.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm live blogging to the "crowd" at BEMC, but I'll keep going...
ReplyDeletePens now 0 for 5 on the PP, but they just scored the go ahead goal on a slap shot by Pascal Dupuis. The Habs goalie got his glove on it, deflecting it into the net. Without that, it would have sailed at least a foot over the crossbar.
HANG ON PENS!!!
some Taliban dude just threw a shoe onto the ice after a bad call against the home team Habs. Is he going home in one shoe? We'll have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteGot it thank. Although I don't see how you know what number post you are on. I still can't figure out how to turn off that stupid pop up that comes up everytime I post or refresh the page.
ReplyDeleteHanging on every word THT. Who needs ESPN.com and gametracker?
ReplyDeleteMB, it shows how many comments at the top of the page, under the blog entry title.
ReplyDeleteFinal from Le Centre Bell (formerly the Molson Centre):
ReplyDeletePenguins 3
Canadiens 2
Pins and needles. PINS. AND. NEEDLES.
ReplyDeleteThe Pens going back to back?
Thrashers and Canucks just dropped the puck about 2 minutes ago in General Motor Place in Vancouver.
ReplyDeletethey did it in '91 & '92, so why not?
ReplyDeleteCanucks score first at 3:09 of the 1st on a wraparound.
I can't decide if Matt Millen is a worse coach or broadcaster.
ReplyDeleteD all of the above
ReplyDeletedefinitely all of the above
ReplyDeleteYou'd think the NFL network could do a better job of coverage on NFL games.
ReplyDeleteNew thread UPZ.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the NFL Network's telecast.
ReplyDeleteIt's better than ESPN's shady work on the UK-Connecticut game last night. The camera operator either was over-caffeinated or high.