INDIANAPOLIS — Former University of Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin briefly addressed reporters moments ago, following his role in UT’s NCAA Committee on Infractions hearing.
Former Vols football coach Lane Kiffin
“It was a very fair process,” said Kiffin, now the head coach at Southern California. “I’m glad that it’s over, and I can get back to LA, and get back to our camps that are going on right now.
“Under the direction of the NCAA, we can’t comment about (specifics) at all.”
Kiffin’s role today is done, but others aren’t so fortunate. The UT basketball staff has been waiting to go in and have its hearing. Former Vols head coach Bruce Pearl is hanging around the main lobby with his lawyers.
“It was a lot shorter than the last one,” Kiffin joked. “I sat through three days of USC’s (hearing). I’m just happy that it’s over. I’m happy we got to get the truth presented, and so we’re going from here.”
Asked if he was comfortable with what he told the committee, Kiffin said, “very.”
Asked if he was still concerned about any “repercussions down the road,” Kiffin said, “I can’t go into any more than that.”
Kiffin agreed when a reporter asked if it felt a bit surreal to share a room with so many former colleagues.
“It was,” he replied. “There were so many people with so many different connections last night. I was around a few of them. It is a little bit different.”
Kiffin said he’s spoken in the past few days with Mike Hamilton, who earlier this week announced he would resign at UT’s men’s athletic director on June 30.
“I was able to see him in there, and then right at the end again, and I just wanted to make sure that I said to him what I said before in the statement,” Kiffin said. “I feel really bad for him. It’s an unfortunate situation. I enjoyed him being my boss, and I think he’s a great man.”
Kiffin, who always has recruiting on his mind, ended the interview with a reminder to reporters that he’d be recruiting later that day.
“I’ve got a camp that ends at 5 o’clock, so I’ve got to get there,” Kiffin said with a grin. “Thanks, guys.”
UT officials haven’t been made available for comment today, and spokespeople have consistently said that UT will simply release a statement after today’s hearing.
GVX247 will update this story throughout the day.
Contact Wes Rucker at wrucker@247sports.com, www.twitter.com/wesrucker247 or www.facebook.com/wesrucker247
- Wes Rucker
- Tennessee Insider - GoVols247