TC’s Green leaning toward Vols for school and football, not hostesses

Posted Dec 10, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Dec 10, 2009 at 11:28 PM

You may have heard about the the NCAA investigating the University of Tennessee for alleged violations by its “recruiting hostesses.” These co-eds are part of the school’s “Orange Pride,” a group of UT ambassadors who provide campus tours and host prospective athletes and their families.

According to a New York Times story, several female members of Orange Pride traveled nearly 200 miles this season to attend a prep game in South Carolina, where at least three Tennessee recruits were playing. Some of the UT co-eds brought signs, including one that read “Come to Tennessee.”

While many schools have students who act as a host or hostess during a prep athlete’s recruiting trip, going off-campus to recruit is a no-no in the eyes of the NCAA. And while the New York Times story doesn’t go into much detail, you get the feeling there’s more to the NCAA’s investigation of Tennessee than some girls holding up signs at an out-of-town prep football game. The report said the NCAA has met with four Tennessee prospects and is expected to speak with others soon.

Tampa Catholic senor Chaz Green, a 6-foot-6, 295-pound star tackle on the Crusaders’ state finalist squad, made his recruiting trip to Tennessee in October. He said Thursday that no one from the NCAA has contacted him about his trip. And while Green says the two hostesses that showed him around campus were indeed “pretty,” he says the hospitality he was shown was completely above board.

Green, one of the top recruits in the nation at his position, said he was shown around UT’s campus and athletic facilities, was told of the school’s academic strengths and was treated to the Vols’ game against Georgia, which Tennessee won 45-19. Still, ever since the New York Times story broke, Green’s name has turned up on various web sites, including deadspin.com, which said Green left a message on the facebook page of a UT hostess saying he had “a great time” during his visit to Knoxville.

Green says he did enjoy his recruiting trip with the Vols. And he says right now, Tennessee is No. 1 on his list. But he says the reasons UT is the leader has nothing to do with his hostesses.

“It’s strictly to do with the coaches there and the actual school,” Green said. “It’s the coaches, the offense, the defense there and what the school has to offer academically.”

Green has already made an official visit to Ohio State (where he says he had a male student show him around campus) and plans two other official trips: to Florida and the University of Southern California.