This past week at the SEC Coaches Meetings in Destin, FL, SEC commissioner Mike Slive told all coaches to stop their bickering in the media and to abide by the rules of the SEC put forth in 2004 that all complaints be made direct to the SEC offices in Birmingham.
This weekend, Auburn gave the other 11 coaches a nice test to see which method they will choose to use in the coming week.
This weekend, Auburn set up a recruiting weekend entitled "Big Cat Weekend", a weekend that was invitation only for the top prospects of the class of 2010.
The idea was to have as many members of the class who are interesting in Auburn to come and hang out on campus for a weekend to get to know the coaches and get to know each other.
Among those in attendance were Lache Seastruck, the top prospect out of Texas and a Rivals top ten, Marcus Lattimore, the top prospect out of South Carolina and a Rivals top ten, and Khairi Fortt, the top player out of Connecticut.
All of these players had to find a way into Auburn on their own as this was an unofficial visit weekend, also meaning that no official tours were given, no organized parties were had with Auburn overseeing or participating, and no violations were had. Right.
That's what the Tigers want you to believe, but there are already plenty of people who are calling foul.
First, on a personal level, I find it hard to believe that all three of the recruits mentioned above would come down voluntarily while still in school, especially while Lattimore and Seastruck have finals starting tomorrow. As a student, I wouldn't be "hanging out" with other people five states away when I have tests determining my admittance to this school in a year hang in the balance.
Second, these recruits participated in pie and watermelon eating contests, yet didn't pay for a single thing, receiving free stuff all day long. That would be considered an extra benefit for the recruits. During unofficial visits on football Saturdays, visiting recruits must pay to eat before the game. Something tells me these recruits didn't bring lunch money or an entrant's fee.
Finally, the cream of the crop for the trip, was the night cap at Toomer's Corner.
Go ahead and get comfortable for all the things that happened during this "celebration."
(Disclaimer: The Auburnsports.com link needs a Rivals screen name to view. Also, the video was originally four minutes long, but after noticing violations, the Rivals crew has shrunk it to two minutes, twenty seconds.)
First off, both of these videos show the recruits being introduced to the crowd at Toomer's Corner. This is a violation of NCAA Rule 13.10.6.
13.10.6 Introduction of Prospective Student-Athlete.
An institution may not introduce a visiting prospective student-athlete at a function (e.g., the institution’s sports award banquet or an intercollegiate athletics contest) that is attended by media representatives or open to the general public. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospective student-athlete’s eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1. (Revised: 1/14/97) In both videos, you can hear the name of prominent recruits announced as they throw toilet paper over the trees in front of the crowd on Toomer's Corner. The announcement is being made by members of the Auburn recruiting team, Tigerettes/Tiger Hosts, who assist during unofficial and official visits and their services must be requested by the athletic department.
If the T/Th services were requested, that would imply an organized event was happening at Toomer's Corner, and with the president, vice president and treasurer of the group all present, it doesn't seem voluntary. (Foreground, blue and orange shirt, and to his left, blue shirt)
Second, the event itself is was a simulation of a game-day atmosphere, another secondary violation in itself.
13.7.3 Activities During Unofficial Visit.An institution may not arrange miscellaneous, personalized recruiting aids (e.g., personalized jerseys, personalized audio/visual scoreboard presentations) and may not permit a prospective student-athlete to engage in any game-day simulations (e.g., running onto the field with the team during pregame introductions) during an unofficial visit. Personalized recruiting aids include any decorative items and special additions to any location the prospective student-athlete will visit (e.g., hotel room, locker room, coach’s office, conference room, arena) regardless of whether or not the items include the prospective student-athlete’s name or picture. (Adopted: 8/5/04, Revised: 5/14/05, 4/27/06) Sure, the student body at Auburn has rolled the Corner after the election of President Obama, but it has long been known the true reason for rolling Toomer's Corner: when Auburn Football wins, you head straight for Toomer's. Not only are, the recruits obviously present at this "impromptu" celebration, but one even forgot to take off his official Auburn name tag.
We can thank Auburnsports.com for this picture (and many more) and the blurring of his name tag, but that would be Fortt, the linebacker from Connecticut. Too bad Brian Matthews and the rest of the crew there at The Bunker forgot to edit the pictures before putting them up the first time. A huge picture of Fortt graced the front of the website on Sunday with the name tag in clear sight and a huge roll of Charmin in the other hand.
If any more evidence for an organized activity is needed, besides promotion on three Auburn message boards plus police crowd and traffic control, how bout this guy.
Why yes, boys and girls, that would be Aubie, the Auburn mascot. Do we really believe that the same tiger I have actually gotten in an altercation with (great day) just walks around campus looking for fun?
In all actuality, to request the services of Aubie at any function, it must be applied for and processed through Auburn University. I'm sure that could be done quickly on a Saturday night to get him there for the "spur of the moment" get together.
(Personally, the worst discovery out of all of this for Auburn is that their quarterback of choice, Kodi Burns, throws like a seven year-old girl. Just check out the Auburnsports.com video)
With first the Tiger Prowl, and now Big Cat Weekend, one has to wonder if this is all a part of the new "extreme recruiting" tactics that Auburn is employing.
Last week at the L'Arche Football dinner in Mobile, that was the phrase Gus Malzhan used to describe these bright ideas the new coaching staff have come up with.
Too bad they couldn't shut the recruits' mouths from making extreme comments.
Seastrunk can be heard in the O-A News video as saying, "Nick Saban is S.O.L." and openly sending salutations to Saban in the Auburnsports.com vid.
Its ok, Lache, you can just admit that you are upset that Saban isn't going to offer you a scholarship to play for a team you have seriously considered. Its also funny that his interest in Auburn has been lowered from "High" to "Medium" now that the week has begun. We forgive you, Lache, everybody makes mistakes.
Now that Auburn's second "extreme recruiting" act is over, the next thing to look for seems to be coming in July, while we also wait to see if this produces any recruits.
Between the Prowl and Big Cat Weekend, Auburn has not gotten one commitment and currently sits last in the SEC with four to date. If the Tigers can't produce any recruits from all of this, it will continue to be all laughs with no one taking Auburn seriously.
Capstonereport.com was used to assist in this blog.
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