The University of Southern California received a copy of the notice of allegations that was sent from the NCAA to the University of Tennessee concerning head coach Lane Kiffin and his tenure during his stay at the University of Tennessee on Wednesday. The NCAA said Kiffin "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program and failed to monitor the activities regarding compliance of several assistant football coaches." The investigation took 22 months to complete.
The notice of allegation includes Kiffin and his staff made 16 impermissible phone calls to five recruits stemming from Jan. 3-9, 2010 and also permitting an recruiting intern to make impermissible off-campus contact to a recruit in Florida. "We have received from the NCAA a notice of allegations against Lane Kiffin pertaining to his tenure as the head football coach at Tennessee," said USC athletic director Pat Haden in a statement. "The NCAA enforcement process provides for Tennessee and Lane to address those charges. Until that process is completed, it would be unfair and premature for me or USC to comment on this matter.
"However, I will say this: Since his return to USC last year as our head football coach, Lane has been vigilant in making sure he and the football program follow the NCAA's rules and compete the right way. Lane has my support as our head football coach."
Kiffin did not elaborate on the notice of allegations.
"On the advice of my legal counsel, we cannot comment other than to say we look forward to working through the process with the NCAA," Kiffin said in a statement.
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