I've met the guy a couple times many years ago...he actually graduated High School with an Uncle of mine here in MN....but he seemed like a douche-bag then....always acted like he was better than everyone else and his Dad was the most powerful guy in the world..just seems he can't coach on the field and then there's countless instances such as this off the field where the guy keeps sticking his foot in his mouth:
[h=4]Remarks and accusations[/h] On February 5, 2009, Kiffin accused
Urban Meyer, then head coach of the
Florida Gators and currently head coach of the
Ohio State Buckeyes, of violating NCAA recruiting rules while at a Tennessee booster breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center.[SUP]
[24][/SUP]
| “ | "I'm going to turn Florida in right here in front of you," Kiffin told the crowd. "As Nu'Keese (Richardson) was here on campus, his phone keeps ringing. And so one of our coaches is sitting in the meeting with him and says, 'Who is that?' And he looks at the phone and says, 'Urban Meyer.' Just so you know, you can't call a recruit on another campus. But I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get him."[SUP][24][/SUP] | ” |
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While Kiffin accused Meyer of violating NCAA rules, he incidentally violated a Southeastern Conference rule that prevented coaches from mentioning a recruit by name, and his accusations against Meyer were mistaken.[SUP]
[24][/SUP] Southeastern Conference commissioner
Mike Slive issued a public reprimand to Kiffin due to the comment.[SUP]
[25][/SUP] In addition to the public reprimand by Slive, Florida Athletic Director
Jeremy Foley issued a statement demanding a public apology from Kiffin.[SUP]
[26][/SUP] Kiffin issued a public apology one day after making the comment. In a statement released by the University of Tennessee, Kiffin wrote, "In my enthusiasm for our recruiting class, I made some statements that were meant solely to excite those at the breakfast. If I offended anyone at the University of Florida, including Mr. Foley and Urban Meyer, I sincerely apologize. That was not my intention."[SUP]
[27][/SUP]
Kiffin generated further controversy when he told recruit
Alshon Jeffery that if he chose the
Gamecocks, "he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life like all the other players from that state who had gone to South Carolina."[SUP]
[28][/SUP][SUP]
[29][/SUP] Kiffin denied making the statement however the incident was corroborated by Alshon Jeffery's coach Walter Wilson who was listening to Kiffin's remarks on speakerphone.[SUP]
[30][/SUP][SUP]
[31][/SUP][SUP]
[32][/SUP]
