KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee is looking into whether it committed another NCAA recruiting violation by allowing media to be present during a meeting between coach Lane Kiffin and recruits.

A segment of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” which aired Sunday, showed Kiffin in his office with two people identified by the network as recruits.

According to NCAA recruiting rule 13.10.1, “A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution’s coaching staff member.”

Tennessee spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter confirmed the review, but declined further comment.

Tennessee has reported at least four minor recruiting violations since Kiffin was introduced as coach Dec. 1. Athletic director Mike Hamilton said recently the number isn’t any more than the school usually reports.

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” segment, which recapped Kiffin’s first six months as coach of the Volunteers, also included a statement made by Kiffin’s former team, the Oakland Raiders.

Kiffin was fired in September for cause after what owner Al Davis described as acts of insubordination and lying. Kiffin filed a grievance and is seeking two months pay for the time he was unemployed before being hired at Tennessee.

“Lane Kiffin is a flat-out liar. He lied to the team, he lied to the fans, and he lied to the media,” the Raiders’ statement said. “He will try to destroy that university like he tried to destroy the Raiders, and will eventually clash with (women’s basketball coach Pat) Summitt and (men’s basketball coach Bruce) Pearl.”

Carpenter declined comment on the Raiders’ statement.


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