Heh: Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin Accuses Florida of Cheating, Offers Groveling Apology

You think the Tennessee-Florida rivalry has been nasty the past couple of decades? Well, it's now gone nuclear.

What is it about former USC assistant Coach Lane Kiffin that produces venom-spewing press conferences and/or tersly worded released statements?

Raiders' owner Al Davis fired Kiffin last fall and held a rare -- and very bizarre -- press conference afterward to rip the young coach, Davis calling Kiffin a "Flat-out Li-ah" (Liar).

Kiffin recovered by getting named head coach at the University of Tennessee, in the cutthroat Southeastern Conference, where on Thursday he found out what happens when you accuse Florida's coach of of evil doing.

That's right, Kiffin accused Florida Coach Urban Meyer of violating recruiting rules in pursuit of receiver Nu'Keese Richardson. WVLT -TV out of Knoxville reported Kiffin told a group of fans at post-recruiting breakfast that Meyer called Richardson during the player's recent visit to Tennessee. Richardson ended up signing with Tennessee.

Kiffin told the crowd: "I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get him."

Needless to say, them's fightin' words. Naturally, this hasn't gone over well in Gainesville, where the Vols play in September. How vicious a beatdown is that going to be?

UF released the following statement from athletic director Jeremy Foley: "There was no rule violation and we have confirmed this with the Southeastern Conference. It is obvious that Coach Kiffin doesn’t know that there is not a rule precluding phone contact with a prospect during an official visit on another campus during a contact period. His allegations are inappropriate, out of line and, most importantly, totally false. It is completely unfair to Urban Meyer, our coaching staff, our football program and our institution. The appropriate action at this time in my opinion is for Coach Kiffin to make a public apology.

His comments not only slandered our coach, but he violated SEC rules by publicly criticizing another coach and institution."

On cue, Golden Boy apologizes and gets a reprimand.

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin apologized Thursday for remarks he made about Florida coach Urban Meyer, where he alleged the Gators coach violated recruiting rules in pursuing wide receiver prospect Nu'Keese Richardson.

Florida demanded an apology and the SEC publicly reprimanded Kiffin on Thursday.

"At an energetic breakfast with some of our donors and alumni I made a statement that was solely meant to excite the crowd," Kiffin said in a statement.

"If I offended anyone at the University of Florida, including Mr. Foley and Urban Meyer, I sincerely apologize. That was not my intention."

As a special added bonus, Kiffin also took a swipe at Alabama Coach Nick Saban. Good careeer move. The Vols also visit the Crimson Tide this year. Expect another bloodbath.

One writer wonders if Kiffin is nuts.

Some of Kiffin's tactics rate as good ol' fashioned hardball – take the hiring of Thompson, for example. But it crosses a line when you accuse an opponent publicly of cheating without the facts to back it up.

I would imagine that all over the SEC today, rivals are triple-checking each Tennessee recruit for any signs of funny business. I would also imagine that will go on for as long as Lane Kiffin coaches there.

And since the Vols don't figure to have full cupboard of talent for a while, he may soon discover what street justice looks like in the SEC.

It won't be pretty.