New USC assistant coach Ed Orgeron violates NCAA rules by calling Vols recruits?
Unfortunately, it looks like Orgeron wanted to take more than his personal belongings to Southern California. Prior to departing Knoxville, Orgeron contacted Tennessee’s mid-term enrollees and offered them a piece of advice–do not attend class this semester if you want to play for USC in 2010. By attending, you forfeit your right to transfer to another D-1 school without sitting out for the 2010 season.
Orgeron’s most obvious violation was his communication with Tennessee prospect Brandon Willis. Willis was a top defensive lineman who was going to enroll early at Tennessee so he could start classes this January. Of course, after talking to Orgeron, Willis did not enroll. Coincidentally, at the same time, Willis received a scholarship to USC, a school that wasn’t even on Willis’ radar.
These actions did not bode well for Kiffin and his new assistant coach. To calm the storm, Kiffin said he would not lure any Tennessee commits to USC. When questioning Orgeron, his response was such, “In my knowledge, I followed the NCAA rules correctly and did what was best for the recruitment of the family and the young men,” Orgeron said. “In my knowledge, I did not knowingly break a rule.”
So I guess if Orgeron doesn’t think he didn’t break a rule, he must be innocent. USC is already under heavy investigation with upcoming sanctions for NCAA infractions; this incident would just be the icing on the cake.
