NCAA investigating UT's use of recruiting hostesses

The NCAA is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into the Univesity of Tennessee's football recruiting practices, according to interviews with several prospects, their family members and high school administrators.  A significant part of the investigation is focused on the use of recruiting hostesses who have become folk heroes on Tennessee Internet message boards for their ability to help lure top recruits. 

NCAA officials have visited four prospects and are scheduled to visit two others this week in an investigation covering at least three states.  The inquiry is unusual in its scope and its timing.  It is rare that the NCAA looks at this wide a swath of one university's recruits before the players have signed with a program in February. 

Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamiliton confirmed that an investigation was under way but declined to elaborate. 

In one case, hostesses traveled nearly 200 miles to attend a high school game in South Carolina in which at least three Tennessee recruits were playing. 

For full read:  NY Times. com