Tennessee football Coach Lane Kiffin was reprimanded by the Southeastern Conference on Thursday for falsely accusing Florida Coach Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation, and the new Volunteers coach has apologized for his remarks.
Kiffin told fans attending a breakfast to celebrate his first recruiting class that Meyer violated recruiting rules by phoning wide receiver prospect Nu'Keese Richardson, WVLT-TV reported.
"I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get him," Kiffin said.
NCAA and Southeastern Conference officials said it is not against recruiting rules to contact a prospect while he is on an official visit to another school.
Kiffin later issued a statement apologizing, and said he was trying to excite the crowd of donors and alumni.
Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said the comments were slanderous and violated SEC rules against publicly criticizing another coach and school.
Richardson, a Pahokee, Fla., native, signed with the Volunteers, despite having indicated he would sign with the Gators.
Jawanza Starling, a defensive back from Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla., became the 18th recruit to sign a letter of intent to play football at USC. He is the seventh out-of-state player to sign with the Trojans in the class of 2009.
SWIMMING
Phelps draws suspension
Michael Phelps has been suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.
"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the federation said in a statement.
Also, Kellogg Co. said that it would drop its endorsement deal with Phelps.
PRO FOOTBALL
Franchise tag put on Cassel
The New England Patriots put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel. The move means he remains a free agent, but the Patriots can match any offer made by another team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
If or when he signs the one-year franchise tag designation, worth $14.65 million for 2009, he will be under contract to the Patriots, who could keep him or trade him.
