NCAA asks recruits about Vols

The NCAA's multi-state investigation of the Tennessee football program will zero in on Suwanee's North Gwinnett High School today. NCAA investigators want to interview North Gwinnett offensive lineman JaWuan James, a senior who made a commitment last month to sign with the Volunteers. James and his parents are scheduled to meet with representatives of the NCAA's enforcement division at the school, according to North Gwinnett football coach Bob Sphire. Specifically, the NCAA is interested in correspondence James might have had with Tennessee's coaches and/or school representatives via social networking Web sites and/or text messages, according to Sphire. "My understanding is it's about social media and stuff like that," Sphire said. The New York Times, however, reported Wednesday that the NCAA had launched a "wide-ranging" investigation into Tennessee's recruiting practices. The report focused on the possible misuse of UT student "hostesses" during the recruiting process. At least seven prospects in three states have been contacted, including three from Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C.: Marcus Lattimore, an uncommitted prospect who is rated the No. 1 running back in the nation by one recruiting service, and defensive ends Corey Miller and Brandon Willis, both of whom have committed to the Vols. The NCAA also has talked to Pahokee, Fla., wide receiver Chris Dunkley and linebacker Christian Jones of Winter Park, Fla., both of whom remain undecided on their college choices. The NCAA is scheduled to visit Tennessee commitment Ted Meline of Miami. The Times story quotes Lattimore as saying Tennessee hostesses attended one of his games this fall and held up signs that said, "Come to Tennessee." NCAA rules prohibit anyone other than a college coach to recruit a prospect off campus, and then only during specified periods. "I never saw that," Sphire said of UT hostesses coming to North Gwinnett to recruit James. James, a one-time Alabama commitment who eventually chose Tennessee over Georgia and UCLA, declined comment for this story. He should not have to defend himself, his coach said. "People need to know the NCAA has been in Florida and South Carolina about this thing," Sphire said. "This is all about Tennessee. It's not about the kids. They're not investigating the kids. They're investigating Tennessee. These kids have done nothing wrong." It is also alleged that members of the UT hostess group "Orange Pride" have been contacting recruits via text messages and through social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. That falls into a gray area in NCAA policy. According to UGA compliance director Eric Baumgartner, there are NCAA rules regarding students being used in the recruiting process and rules regulating the use of electronic media. He said a school representative is not permitted to communicate with a recruit via text message until the day after he has signed a letter of intent. Communication via social networking sites is permitted as long as it is done using the private e-mail function, Baumgartner said. Instant messaging and text messaging are specifically prohibited. Baumgartner said Georgia discourages its hostesses from having contact with recruits other than when the prospects are on campus. "We tell them, 'If a prospect tries to call you, refer them to the coach,' " Baumgartner said. "We try to discourage any type of relationship beyond their official recruitment." Tennessee has committed at least six NCAA rules violations that were deemed "secondary" in the 12 months that Lane Kiffin has been the head coach. Secondary violations are considered inadvertent in nature and minor. But repeated minor violations can bring increased scrutiny from the NCAA , a former NCAA investigator told the Times. Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging the investigation. "We are concerned about the alleged activities of some members of the Orange Pride," the statement read. "Both university and NCAA guidelines are a part of the Orange Pride's orientation and training. If those guidelines were violated, we will take appropriate action. "Because of federal student privacy regulations, we can't comment further."