SEC Coaches Engage in Old Fashioned Cat Fight Over Local Recruit

By Michael J. Mooney Fri., Feb. 6 2009 at 8:48 AM

So first Nu'Keese Richardson said he would play for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. Then on national signing day the speed-demon wide receiver from Pahokee decided he would rather play for University of Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin (a UF rival).

Then at a press conference yesterday morning, Kiffin told reporters he was turning in Meyer for recruiting violations (calling Richardson as he toured UT), dropping this tasty morsel: "I love the fact that Urban [Meyer] had to cheat and still didn't get him."

ZING! Who doesn't love a good cat fight?

Here's the problem: what Kiffin accused Meyer of doing isn't against any SEC rules. Florida officials immediately called for an apology, which Kiffin delivered thusly: "In my enthusiasm for our recruiting class, I made some statements that were meant solely to excite those at the breakfast...I apologize to Commissioner Mike Slive and the SEC, including Florida AD Jeremy Foley and coach Urban Meyer."

Zing retracted.

This isn't the only trouble Kiffin has run into in his first season replacing Philip Fulmer. Last week Kiffin told running back Damien Thigpen - who committed to UT before Fulmer's firing, but said he still wanted to play for the Vols - that his services were no longer needed in Tennessee. Thigpen has since agreed to play for UCLA.

By the way, Tennessee plays at Florida on September 19.