SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin Must Be Decisive In Dealing With Player Arrest Incident

Posted: Nov 13, 2009

For Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, this week was supposed to be about continuing the Vols current momentum (on the field as well as recruiting) and winning the "Coach O" game in Oxford. Instead, he's dealing with his first 'crisis management' experience as three UT freshmen were arrested Thursday in a confusing armed robbery case. Nu'keese Richardson and Mike Edwards appear to be in bigger trouble with the law, while Janzen Jackson was less involved and may see his charge dropped.

Kiffin could not comment on the specific incident yesterday, but he did say:

"We're gathering all the information, so we don't know exactly what happened. Unfortunately there was an incident. We made it 11 months and 11 days without any incidences."

Unfortunately for the first-year head coach, the next day (after the ’11 months and 11 days’) is the one the national media and competing coaches will choose to be their focus. Once he has all of the correct information, Lane Kiffin must act swiftly and strongly in his punishment. Many think that he should kick Richardson and Edwards (if not all 3) off the team, but it is understandable that a coach would let the legal process play out.

As big a recruit as Richardson was for the Vols staff, he has been more trouble than he's worth. He has been a constant controversy in Knoxville, including almost quitting the team two weeks ago. Richardson (Pahokee, FL) and Edwards (Cleveland, OH - Glenville) come from powerhouse high schools, but Kiffin must let go of those recruiting victories and show his team and fan base that their behavoir will not be tolerated.

Honorable Mention SEC Headlines:

Gators offense missing the big plays from ’08

Bama’s Arenas almost quit football