Tennessee, Florida spar over recruiting accusations

Sports Network | February 5, 2009

Gainesville, FL (Sports Network) - Southeastern Conference rivals Florida and Tennessee are apparently clashing over the treatment of a high school football player courted by both schools.

According to a Gainesville newspaper, Vols head coach Lane Kiffin accused Gators head coach Urban Meyer on Tuesday of a rules violation regarding phone contact with Pahokee wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson during the young man's official visit to Knoxville last weekend.

Kiffin is reported to have called out Meyer for the violation and gloated that, even by cheating, Florida didn't manage to nab the wideout, who eventually signed with Tennessee on Wednesday.

However, according to NCAA rules, Kiffin's accusation is false. There is no current rule prohibiting a coach at one school from calling a recruit who is visiting another school during the contact period.

"There was no rule violation and we have confirmed this with the Southeastern Conference," said Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley. "It is obvious that Coach Kiffin doesn't know that there is not a rule precluding phone contact with a prospect during an official visit on another campus during a contact period."

"His allegations are inappropriate, out of line and, most importantly, totally false," Foley added. "It is completely unfair to Urban Meyer, our coaching staff, our football program and our institution."

Kiffin is entering his first season as Tennessee's head coach after going 5-15 over one-plus seasons with the Oakland Raiders, while Meyer has been head man at Florida since 2005 and carries eight years of collegiate head coaching experience.