Crimson Tide Trio Named to Sporting News Freshman All-SEC Team

Alabama freshmen Barrett Jones, Trent Richardson and Nico Johnson were named to the 2009 Sporting News Freshman All-Southeastern Football Team, the long-time sports publication announced Wednesday.
Alabama (13-0, 8-0) captured its 22nd SEC Championship with a 32-13 win over Florida in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on Dec. 5. The Crimson Tide will now face Texas in the BCS National Championship Game on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Jones started all 13 games for the Tide at right guard and helped the Crimson Tide offense churn out 215.8 rushing yards and 413.8 total yards per game this season. He also cleared the path for sophomore Mark Ingram’s school record 1,542 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season. The Memphis, Tenn., native was twice named Alabama offensive player of the week this season by the Tide coaching staff.
Richardson played in all 13 games at running back this season for the Crimson Tide. The Pensacola, Fla., native was the Crimson Tide’s second-leading rusher with 642 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry this season. He also caught 14 passes for 107 yards. He was twice named SEC Freshman of the Week following wins over Florida International and Arkansas. In the win over the Golden Panthers, Richardson had 15 rushing attempts for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 23 yards. In his SEC debut against Arkansas, Richardson had nine carries for 65 yards, including a highlight-reel 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Johnson played in 11 games and made two starts and had an increased role in the Tide’s defense after the season-ending injury to preseason All-SEC linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Johnson recorded 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss (-18 yards) and one sack (-15 yards). He also added two pass breakups and forced one fumble. Johnson turned in his best game of the season with a career-high eight tackles and one sack (-15 yards) in the Tide’s 12-10 win over Tennessee on Oct. 24 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He also added four tackles in wins over Florida International and Chattanooga. Johnson recorded two stops and one tackle for loss (-1 yard) in Alabama’s SEC Championship game win over Florida. The SEC Rocks!

Xavier Nixon Earns Sporting News SEC All-Freshman Honors

Florida freshman offensive lineman Xavier Nixon (Fayetteville, N.C.) was named to the 2009 Sporting News SEC All-Freshman Team, announced Wednesday by the publication.
Nixon played an intricate role in UF’s 12-0 school-record regular-season finish, and started in the 2009 SEC Championship Game for the Gators at left tackle. Nixon played in nine of UF’s games in 2009 and secured starts in the final four, including South Carolina, FIU, FSU and Alabama.
Nixon became the first true freshman to start at left tackle in the 24-14 win over South Carolina Nov. 14 - the last true freshman to start at left tackle was Reggie Green in 1992. Mo Collins was the last true freshman to start at right tackle for UF in 1995. The SEC Rocks!

UF Places Six on 2009 AP All-America Team

The University of Florida placed a total of six student-athletes on the 2009 AP All-America Team, announced Tuesday afternoon, with two first-team selections and four second-team selections. Leading the way for the Orange and Blue, junior tight end Aaron Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) and junior cornerback Joe Haden (Ft. Washington, Md.) garnered first team offensive and defensive All-America honors, respectively.

Senior quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.), junior offensive linemen Mike and Maurkice Pouncey (Lakeland, Fla.) and senior linebacker Brandon Spikes (Shelby, N.C.) represented the Gators as second-team honorees. For Mike Pouncey, the honor marks the first All-America accolade of his career as a Gator.

Son of Phil Simms heading to Vols

Quarterback Matt Simms, the son of former NFL star Phil Simms and younger brother of ex-Texas QB Chris Simms, has signed a letter of intent to play at Tennessee, a source inside the Volunteers program has confirmed to ESPN.com.
Wednesday is the first day this year when junior college prospects can sign with four-year colleges and Simms, who began his college career at Louisville, comes to UT via El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. He is a midyear recruit, meaning he will begin classes in Knoxville in January and be able to go through spring practice.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Simms has two years of eligibility remaining and will compete with Nick Stephens for the vacated QB job since Jonathan Crompton will finish up his career for the Vols in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Also expected to battle for the starting QB job is Tyler Bray, a 6-7 quarterback recruit who is committed to UT and set to arrive at Tennessee next month.
Simms took an official visit to UT two weekends ago.
In 2009, he completed 159 of 269 passes for more than 2,200 yards and 17 TDs in a season that was shortened when he broke his hand in the second-to-last game. Simms had surgery on the hand and has already had a pin taken out of it and is scheduled to resume throwing next week. He will come to Knoxville with El Camino teammate Kenbrell Thompkins, a Miami native touted to be one of the country's top junior college receivers.
In his high school career in New Jersey, Simms passed for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns during his career. The SEC Rocks!

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Spurrier not a fan of Wolford's move

On a day when his coaching tree branched out to Ohio, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier did not endorse Eric Wolford's jump to Youngstown State.
Wolford was introduced as the Penguins' coach Tuesday afternoon, ending his tenure as the Gamecocks' offensive line coach and run game coordinator after one season.
Spurrier tried to talk Wolford into staying at USC. But the 38-year-old called Spurrier on Tuesday to tell him he was leaving for the FCS school in his hometown.
"If it's a good decision, time will tell. I didn't think it was the right decision for him right now," Spurrier said. "But we all have choices to make, and that's what he wanted to do. He wanted to go back to his hometown and be a head coach."
Graduate assistant Andy Boyd, a former USC tight end who worked with Wolford this season, will serve as the interim line coach until Spurrier hires a replacement. That likely will not happen before the Gamecocks' Jan. 2 matchup with Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl.
"We're not going to be in a big hurry," Spurrier said. "We're going to get the best guy we can."
Spurrier said he had a stack of applicants interested in becoming the Gamecocks' third line coach in as many years. While acknowledging staff movement is part of college coaching, Spurrier said he did not expect to be hiring for the line position again so soon.
"I thought he'd be here longer than one (season)," Spurrier said. "But he got a head-coaching opportunity, and that's what he wanted. So we'll move on."

Shop Rock.com for all your official Rock band t-shirts and gear. Over 15,000 items in stock every day!

Vols Berry makes first team All-America

Tennessee safety Eric Berry helped make the SEC the most represented conference on The Associated Press All-America first team released Tuesday, with a total of 11 players coming from the league.
Vols defensive tackle Dan Williams made the third team.
Alabama had six players on the first team, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram — more than any other school.


Tennessee Volunteers - BlackBerry Theme


Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Urban Meyer is dealing with the Departure of Coaches and a Mass Defection

One of the stories that has gained momentum since Billy Gonzales left for LSU was that the wide receivers coach was shown the door because he was aware of the birthday party attended by Dunlap and several other prominent players.
"That's absolutely not true," Meyer said. "In fact, that's the first I've heard of that one. Billy left because he was passed up last year for the offensive coordinator's job (which went to Steve Addazio). It was about the title."
Gonzales is now the passing game coordinator at LSU. Much of the speculation was based on how quickly Meyer hired Zach Azzanni from Central Michigan after word leaked Gonzales was leaving.
"We had to act quickly on that because of recruiting and because we have a bowl game coming up," Meyer said. "I knew the guy and we moved fast on that."
Meyer hasn't had to act as quickly in replacing Charlie Strong as defensive coordinator because Strong, as first reported in The Sun, will coach the defense in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 vs. No. 4 Cincinnati (12-0) before returning to Louisville. Meyer denied reports Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix was offered the job and turned it down.
"I talked to Tyrone. I've known Tyrone for a long time," Meyer said. "But we would have had to change our whole defense if we hired him. We would have had to change everything our players are doing, and we didn't want to do that."
"I'm going to take my time with that hire."
Meyer was also asked about reports that many of the UF juniors are going to turn pro including Joe Haden, Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, Aaron Hernandez, Carlos Dunlap, Lawrence Marsh, Chris Rainey, Ahmad Black and Major Wright.
"They'll be getting their (NFL) paperwork back in a couple of weeks and I'll sit down and talk to each of them," Meyer. "If they're an early-round pick, that's one thing."
Haden, Hernandez and Dunlap are all considered first-round selections according to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who lists Maurkice Pouncey as the second best junior center available and Mike Pouncey as the third best junior guard. The remaining players are not among his top five juniors.

$40 OFF NFL 2008 Tradeables 10 Packs at Fathead.com!

No decision made on Gators' Dunlap

Meyer said he has yet to make a final decision on whether or not Dunlap will play in the Sugar Bowl.
"It's close to being finalized," he said. "It'll be done pretty soon."
Meyer said he, UF president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley will all be part of the decision. Dunlap was suspended for the SEC Championship Game following his DUI arrest.
Florida did receive a bit of good news Sunday night when five-star recruit Matt Elam re-committed to the Gators on local television in West Palm Beach. There had been speculation Elam was considering FSU and Tennessee.


Florida Gators - BlackBerry Theme

Ingram, McClain lead 6 Alabama AP All-Americans

Six players on the top-ranked Crimson Tide, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, made The Associated Press All-America team released Tuesday.
Ingram was a unanimous choice, as was linebacker Rolando McClain. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody was voted to the team for the second consecutive season. Cornerback Javier Arenas, guard Michael Johnson and kicker Leigh Tiffin also were on the squad.
Oklahoma twice (1987, 2003) had five first-team All-Americans, according to STATS. But no team has had more since 1964, when the AP started selecting both an offensive and defensive team.
"I think having six Alabama players on the first team says a lot about all of the players on our entire roster and is an indication of the hard work we put in and the togetherness we have on this team," Arenas said in a statement to the AP through the school. "You aren't going to have six guys make first-team All-American unless your team is playing at a high level week in and week out. It's a credit to our entire team and our coaching staff."
Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, the Heisman runner-up, and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, fourth in Heisman voting, were also unanimous first-team All-Americans.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was the All-American quarterback, selected to the first team by a panel of 14 AP college football poll voters. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a second-team choice. Boise State's Kellen Moore was the third-team quarterback.
McCoy finished third in the Heisman voting last weekend and was a second-team All-American last year. The senior was joined by his longtime pal and favorite receiver, Jordan Shipley, on the first team. Texas safety Earl Thomas gave the Longhorns three players on the first team, second only to Alabama.
The Crimson Tide and Longhorns play in the BCS national championship game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7.

Football Internet Specials
Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Spurrier gets year extension

South Carolina President Harris Pastides and Athletics Director Eric Hyman recommended a one-year contract extension for head coach Steve Spurrier to the school's Board of Trustees.
Today, as expected, the board approved the one-year addition to Spurrier's current deal, meaning the Ol' Ball Coach is now signed through the 2013 season.
""I appreciate our administration in believing in what we are doing here at South Carolina," Spurrier said in a statement. "We believe we have some big years coming in the near future. We have the best group of players here now or on the way here next year since I've been at Carolina and our staff is looking forward to coaching them over the next four years."
While the contract was extended, there was no bump in financial compensation for Spurrier. The coach has stated that he wanted any money that would've been earmarked for himself to be directed at his assistants instead.

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans
Football Internet Specials

UF Hires Zach Azzanni to Coach Wide Receivers

Zach Azzanni has been hired as the wide receivers coach at the University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer announced Friday.
“Zach and I worked together when I was the head coach at Bowling Green,” said Meyer. “He is a tireless worker, relentless recruiter and a great teacher of fundamentals. He is also very familiar with our philosophy and will be a good fit with our players and staff.”
Azzanni, who has spent the last seven years coaching wide receivers, tutored a pair of record setting wide receivers at Central Michigan, who captured their third conference title and secured a fourth straight January bowl appearance.
“I’ve known Coach Meyer for a number of years and it will be great to be coaching with him again, “said Azzanni. “I’m excited to be joining the Florida football staff and becoming a part of the Gator nation.”
Azzanni’s 2009 wide receiver unit was one of the most prolific in the college football. Bryan Anderson established an NCAA mark with a catch in 53 consecutive games, while teammate Antonio Brown has a streak of 40 straight games with a catch. Anderson and Brown combined for 49 touchdown receptions in 2009, tied for the top duo for scoring receptions in the country. Anderson has totaled more than 3,500 yards receiving in his career and Brown eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second consecutive year and surpassed 3,000-yard receiving for his career.
His 2008 unit showed depth, with at least six players catching a touchdown pass and five hauling in at least 15 passes. His 2007 position group produced the top pass-catching combination in school history. Anderson and Brown a combined for 192 catches, 2,135 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Prior to joining the Central Michigan Staff, Azzanni spent the previous six seasons at Bowling Green. He coached the wide receivers from 2003-06, leading a group that broke nearly every school receiving record. He coached Charles Sharon; the school’s all-time leader in receptions (232), receiving yards (3,450) and touchdown catches (34). In 2004 he coached a group that produced four receivers with 1,000 yards receiving. Five of his receivers at Bowling Green went on to sign professional contracts.
He graduated with a degree in Sports Management in 1999 from Central Michigan.
Azzanni and his wife, Julia, have two daughters: Ava (2) and Lyla (1).
Zach Azzanni File
1999-2000 Wide Receivers Coach, Valparaiso
2001-02 Graduate Assistant (Offense), Bowling Green
2003-06 Wide Receivers Coach, Bowling Green
2007-09 Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers, Central Michigan

Shop Official Budweiser Merchandise On Sale!

Regular retail price $78 now 8 Super Premium Cigars for only $24.99!

Herererere's Johnny...We mean Lane Kiffin

University of Tennessee's football program made it through Sunday without another recruiting problem. Though, Coach Lane Kiffin is receiving a number of "compliments."
Even with no new news, the reaction to last week's off-field activities at Tennessee continue to go on and on with the postings.
Here are a selection of the latest:
Google likes Lane Kiffin Michael Silence, No Silence Here: First-year UT football coach Lane Kiffin gets almost 23,000 hits on Google Blog Search between Dec. 1, 2008, and Dec. 14, 2009.
Convicts wearing Tennessee Orange Jay Maguire OnMilwaukee.com: The NCAA might as well put an office in Knoxville, TN. Seems Coach Kiffin doesn't believe he needs to follow the rules. Recently, the Vols are in trouble for providing "hostesses" to go to recruits holding up "come to Tennessee" signs. This is a blatant rules infraction.
Lane Kiffin Is Hilarious II: Tennessee Coach Flattered By Investigations Bleacher Report: You are right Lane, UT's recruiting class is just so good, nobody can believe it could be legal. So they are just assuming, evidence be damned, that you have to be cheating. I mean nobody's recruiting class could be this good.
Capstone Report Apologies to Tennessee & Lane Kiffin: Gone are the days when you couldn't spell Citrus without UT.
Pic shows UT hostesses with recruits; heat rises on Vols AJC College Sports Recruiting: Well, this Tennessee story just keeps better and better, doesn't it? I'm not sure how many of you caught the latest updates over the weekend. If not, I'll catch you up this morning.
For Better or Worse, Tennessee Football Is Married to Lane Kiffin Bleacher Report: Lane Kiffin's stint at Tennessee has been incredibly eventful so far, and whether that's a positive thing is going to differ depending on whom you talk to.
Lane Kiffin, Confusing Concern for Compliments - Andy Hutchins - The Sporting Blog - Sporting News: I wonder if Lane Kiffin actually hears what he is saying, and, if he does, what he thinks of what he says. Certainly, this delight in NCAA attention would be something he might regret, no? Well, there you have it...The SEC Rocks!

Shop Rock.com for all your official Rock band t-shirts and gear. Over 15,000 items in stock every day!

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Petrino wastes no time replacing brother

Just a day after Paul Petrino left his brother Bobby's Arkansas coaching staff for the same position at Illinois, the elder Petrino has filled his offensive coordinator vacancy.
According to a press release from the school, Garrick McGee, the Razorbacks' quarterbacks coach the past two seasons, has been named as the new coordinator. The release mentions that McGee is the first African-American coordinator, offensive or defensive, in school history.
"Garrick McGee is one of the top young college football coaches in the country," Bobby Petrino said in a statement. "He came to Arkansas after a successful tenure as the offensive coordinator at Northwestern. His accomplishments as an assistant coach, including as an offensive coordinator in the Big Ten, demonstrates his ability and his outstanding leadership.
"I want to thank my brother, Paul, for his hard work and dedication to the Razorbacks the past two years. He feels like this move will help him achieve his professional goals. I have always supported my brother, and will continue to do so. I wish him the best of luck. Our search to fill the vacant position on our staff begins immediately."
Why Petrino's brother would bolt for the Illini, According to the Champaign News-Gazette, the younger Petrino signed a two-year deal that will pay him $475,000. Per season.
That figures makes him the highest-paid coordinator in the Big Ten according to the paper.

Easy to buy, easy to use, a Golfballs.com gift certificate is the perfect golf gift.

GolfEtail.com carries the top brands at always unbeatable prices!

Cocah Saban Named Finalist for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year

Now in its fourth year of heralding college football coaches who demonstrate sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility on and off the field, Liberty Mutual Insurance today named Alabama head football coach Nick Saban one of 10 Football Bowl Subdivision finalists for the 2009 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
Saban joins Mack Brown (University of Texas), Pete Carroll (University of Southern California), Al Golden (Temple University), Kirk Ferentz (University of Iowa), Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech), Brian Kelly (University of Cincinnati), Joe Paterno (Penn State University), Gary Patterson (TCU) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson University).
The winner of the 2009 Liberty Mutual award will receive a $50,000 contribution to the charity of his choice, plus a $20,000 contribution to the school’s alumni association for student scholarships and activities. The winner will be announced January 6, 2010, in Los Angeles, in advance of the BCS Championship Game.
Alabama fans are encouraged to vote for Coach Saban online at http://www.coachoftheyear.com/ from Dec. 15-29. The fan vote constitutes 20 percent of the coach’s final score.
“Many passionate fans came out to vote for Coach Saban because he embodies the college football spirit and the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year values,” said Greg Gordon, senior vice president of Consumer Marketing at Liberty Mutual. “Coach Saban has made a great impact on the lives of his student athletes and his community and we are proud to recognize him as a Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist.”
Saban won the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year and donated his winnings to Nick’s Kids Fund, a charity he and his wife Terry began when they were at Michigan State. Since their arrival in Tuscaloosa, the Saban’s have raised more than one million dollars for the Nick’s Kids Fund, which has been distributed to numerous schools, agencies and organizations in Tuscaloosa County and the state of Alabama.



Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Miss State Quarterback Tyson Lee Nominated For Rudy Award; Fans Can Vote Now

Mississippi State University nominated Bulldog Senior Quarterback Tyson Lee for the THIRD ANNUAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARDSTM, it was announced by The Rudy Foundation charitable organization.
Forty-nine of the 120 Division I FBS football programs and all Division I FBS Conferences were represented in the nominations for the Award, which honors student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary CHARACTER, COURAGE, CONTRIBUTION and COMMITMENT as members of their collegiate football teams. These same traits were immortalized in the blockbuster film "RUDY" in 27 seconds and against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, enabling Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to carve his name into college football lore.
Three RUDY AWARDSTM finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee, as well as through fan voting, and honored at a breakfast to be held in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Convention on January 11, 2010, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, in Orlando, FL. Rudy Ruettiger will personally present the awards.
Each finalist will be presented with a classic finalist award and have an academic scholarship made in his name to the general scholarship fund of his college or university, as well as have travel expenses paid to the event. An overall winner will be chosen and presented with the top scholarship and bronze RUDY AWARD trophy.
Fans can review nominations and place their votes from December 4-15 for the most deserving player at www.CollegeRudyAwards.com/NomineeSearch.aspx.

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Wildcats, Hartline Return to Practice

After the coaches spent a week on the recruiting trail and the players prepared for final examinations, the Kentucky football team returned to practice Saturday morning with a two-hour workout in the Nutter Field House.
The major news was the return of quarterback Mike Hartline, who – except for a brief appearance in the Vanderbilt game – has been out of action since incurring a knee injury at South Carolina on Oct. 10.
“Hartline did 7-on-7, 1-on-1 (drills) and all of that, and if he doesn't have any setback we'll increase his reps into the team period tomorrow,” Brooks said. “What I was impressed with was his accuracy. When he came back before we played at Vanderbilt, he was throwing it accurately but when he had to move he couldn't move. We didn't stress that today. There's no soreness right now, there's no swelling. We'll see how it reacts from what he did today and increase that on a daily basis and hopefully he won't have any setbacks. We have two more practices (Sunday and Monday) and then he'll get a three-day break before a Friday night practice next week.”
With All-Southeastern Conference performer Sam Maxwell out of the bowl game because of shoulder surgery, Brooks also addressed the situation at strongside linebacker. Junior Jacob Dufrene and true freshman Ridge Wilson have played a lot this season on special teams, but have seen limited action as Maxwell's backups.
“It's a little early to tell,” Brooks said. “Dufrene knows what he's doing. Ridge has to pick it up and get more familiar assignment-wise. They're getting a lot of work right now, so I think they'll be fine.”
Brooks reported that players missing practice today included defensive tackle Antwane Glenn (illness), defensive tackle Corey Peters (shoulder injury), tight end Nick Melillo (shoulder), and linebacker Ronnie Sneed (shoulder and shin). Tight end T.C. Drake returned to practice after missing most of the last month because of a severe groin strain.
Brooks turned his attention to Clemson, Kentucky's opponent in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.
“They're a really good football team,” Brooks said. “They were a tremendous team (when UK played Clemson in 2006), they're a better team now. (All-America tailback C.J.) Spiller was a freshman at that time and sharing carries. He's a major weapon. They have great receivers, big physical, offensive line, tremendous talent on defense – they're the real deal.”
The Wildcats battle the Tigers on Sun. Dec. 27 at 8:30 p.m. EST at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.

StubHub.com - The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Get best weekend car rentals deal as low as $14 a day!

Georgia's Drew Butler Wins Ray Guy Award As Nation's Top Punter

University of Georgia All-American Drew Butler has been named the winner of the 2009 Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to college football’s top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
Butler, a 6-2, 203-pound sophomore native of Duluth, Ga., received the award here Thursday during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show televised live on ESPN.
"I didn't play a whole lot last year and knew that I had to come in and compete since I was following a great punter in Brian Mimbs," said Butler. "We had a good punt team last year and I wanted to make sure we took a leap forward this year rather than a step backwards. The credit for this award goes to the team, all of the guys on the punt team. We call ourselves the 'Pride' team."
Butler, who was also named to the 2009 Walter Camp All-America First Team on Thursday, said much of his success comes from coaching and his hard work.
"I want to thank Coach (John) Lilly and all of the coaches," Butler said. "I tried to be consistent this whole season and it has paid off." The SEC Rocks!

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans

Shop Official Budweiser Merchandise On Sale!

Hamilton not aware of violation in intern's trip to South Florida

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said Saturday he does not believe UT’s football program committed a secondary violation after a report surfaced into the actions of a recruiting intern.
First-year UT coach Lane Kiffin didn’t seem so sure. Hamilton said UT has provided the SEC with its internal review of intern Steve Rubio’s trip to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rubio was accompanying Kiffin recently while he was recruiting at football powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
The story implicating Rubio, who played football and spent a year there as a volunteer assistant coach after graduating in 2003, was reported by The New York Times late Friday on its Web site. It’s the second time this week the newspaper uncovered possible recruiting violations by the Vols.
By NCAA rules, only UT’s nine assistant coaches and Kiffin are allowed to visit prospects off campus.
Hamilton said he does not believe Rubio met with prospects. If he did, the violation would likely be ruled a secondary violation by the NCAA.
“In college athletics from time to time, institutions will have secondary violations,” Hamilton said. “The rule book is thick in its intricacies.”
Under Kiffin, UT self reported six secondary violations earlier this year. UT is also under a highly publicized review by the NCAA for alleged misuse of its recruiting hostesses.
The Vols are recruiting several prospects from St. Thomas Aquinas, including defensive back Cody Riggs and kicker Michael Palardy, who committed to UT in September.
After practice on Saturday, Kiffin declined to rule out contact between Rubio and prospects during the trip.
“You never want to say never but I’ll pretty much say that he did not (have contact with prospects),” said Kiffin, who added that Rubio visited with friends at the high school.
Rubio joined UT this summer. He had been director of player personnel at the University of Central Florida. Rubio spent three years as an equipment manager for the Golden Knights and was moved to graduate assistant for recruiting and operations in 2007.
Kiffin said he doesn’t believe it would have been possible for Rubio, who acts as a personal assistant and often guides him on the road in South Florida since he is familiar with the area, to meet with prospects since the team was practicing during their visit.

Shop for holiday gifts for sports fans
Football Internet Specials