Former Gamecock Staley calls out Reaves on the air
By Travis Haney
COLUMBIA — An interesting exchange took place on Columbia radio waves Tuesday afternoon, with former South Carolina running back Duce Staley calling out former USC recruiting coordinator David Reaves.
Reaves, who recently joined Tennessee's new coaching staff, was then invited on WNKT-FM's "Halftime Show," with Staley and co-host Jay Philips.
Predictably, Reaves defended himself against accusations that he's been playing dirty with Gamecocks recruits since leaving for UT after the Nov. 29 Clemson game.
"In clearing that up, I've never said a bad thing about the University of South Carolina," Reaves said. "People are going to say what they're going to say, but I would never do anything to hurt the University of South Carolina."
Several issues have surfaced pertaining to Reaves and recruiting in the short time since he's been gone.
In the days after he left, sources said he was in contact with Rock Hill prospects Stephon Gilmore and DeVonte Holloman, Rivals four-star recruits who are hard commitments with the Gamecocks.
Reaves said, yes, he had been in touch with them. But only to let them know he was leaving and to, as he said, "wish them well at USC." He noted that a coordinator develops a bond after recruiting kids for a year or two.
Reaves was later asked about actually visiting one of their homes in Rock Hill. He said that it happened, but there is a distinction between visiting a family and a prospect. Reaves said the family contacted him and wanted to talk with him about Tennessee, where Reaves' brother-in-law Lane Kiffin was just hired. Reaves said it would've been foolish not to follow up on the family's request.
Additionally, some have asserted that Reaves has told prospects that he knows USC coach Steve Spurrier will retire in the next year, preying on a widely held idea that Spurrier is frustrated with how things have gone in four seasons.
"No, I've never said that to any recruit. I've never mentioned coach Spurrier is going to retire," Reaves said. "I've talked to coach Spurrier. He's very excited at the University of South Carolina, and he's looking forward to coaching at South Carolina and winning championships there."
Last weekend, Tampa, Fla., running back Jarvis Giles said Reaves told him he went to Tennessee to win championships. Some insinuated that meant Reaves didn't feel like he could win them at USC, where the Gamecocks have one conference title (1969 ACC) to their credit.
On Tuesday he said he was speaking more to the Volunteers' rich tradition. As an example, he cited UT's five appearances in the SEC title game in the past 10 years and 13 conference titles overall.
Giles, a four-star prospect according to Rivals, formally committed to the Gamecocks on Tuesday.
Staley didn't exactly hold back before talking to Reaves. Or even when he had the young assistant on the phone line.
"I'm going to be real with you right now, Reaves," Staley said. "Your name is mud here."
Staley, a 10-year NFL veteran, insisted to Reaves that he wanted to have him on so it didn't seem like he was talking bad about him behind his back. He thanked Reaves for coming on and "being a man about it."
Reaves, who also coached USC's quarterbacks, said he wanted to reach out to someone in Columbia because friends had told him what his reputation had become.
"I guess that happens when you make a change," he said. "I would never do anything to discredit the university."
Spurrier will coach the quarterbacks in the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl. With two current openings — including offensive line coach, as well — he's making a decision about how he wants to shake up his offensive staff.
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.
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Nonsense (anonymous) says...
Good for Duce - we need more loyal Gamecock alumni like him. Reaves may have been a little bitter since Spurrier's interest is mostly the quarterbacks and Reaves probably didn't have much say-so about anything in Columbia.
December 10, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vmid (anonymous) says...
Okay....we get the message..are you proud of yourself that you use the airway to air a confrontation? Sad state when the Post has nothing to write about and you use this subject to write two articles...get your head out of the sand..there is more news to write about out there.
December 10, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackMagic84 (anonymous) says...
Duce is nothing but a bully.
Reaves is doing the job he was hired.
South Carolina goes after recruits all the time
that have committed to other programs. Every football team
does the same thing. Duce is just upset that someone is coming after South Carolina committed players. If the guy left Tenn and was trying to recruit for South Carolina, Duce would be jumping for joy and saying all kinds of good things about Reaves.
Duce is just upset that the Gamecock program is still mid to low level in the SEC after 4 years under Spurrier.
December 10, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
Actually, ironically named, BlackMAgic84, he's upset because of the negative recruiting tactics employeed by Reeves, also the fact that Reeves is still recruiting the same kids he did at SC. That's a no-no in coaching. If you swithc teams you generally stop recruiting the players you were at your previous school. That's the difference, it's not that he's going after committed SC players, he's going after players that he got to commit to SC. That's alright, things like this tend to come back around. Like I said it's not that Tennessee is going after SC commits, it's that David Reeves is going after SC commits that he recruited while at SC using negative recruiting as a way to get them to change their commitment. It's shady.
December 10, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coachken (anonymous) says...
Sharks eating sharks. Recruiting is worse than a hotly contested political race. What kind of negative tactics do you imagine were used to get Holloman to de-commit from Clemson and get a commit from his homie Gillmore? How many sharks are in the water around Auburn, Tenn, Miss State recruits? Grow up and be a big boy. Whatever it takes, thats the name of the game.
Inside scoop? You use whatever works, no ethics required. Why did you leave coach? A better opertunity, I want to win a championship! Why take the steps one at a time when you can take the elevator? Just how long do you expect SOS to keep putting up with the BS at USC?
If you had $1,000 to bet, would you put your money on USC or TENN. Case closed.
December 10, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
After seeing where their program is after this year, the fact that Kiffin has shown nothing in the NFL and benefitted greatly from following Norm Chow at Southern Cal with all those weapons, I'd put $1,000 on SC. Kiffin's got a hot name now, but so did Charlie Weis when he was first at ND.
What negative tactics were used for Holloman? Probably something like this..."Tommy Bowden got fired, Clemson doesn't have a head coach now and they don't know who the successor is going to be or who the staff will be." My guess is something like that, so I guess the newspapers where negatively recruiting against Clemson as well.
December 10, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thaney (Travis Haney) says...
This is the first time we've heard from Reaves in all this. That's what makes it news.
-- Th
December 10, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vern (anonymous) says...
Cut Coach Reaves some slack, his sister is HOT!
December 10, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigerrecord (anonymous) says...
It's incredibly funny to see all of the gamecock fans supporting Staley and the negative recruiting tactics of THEIR former recruiting coordinator.
Those players aren't committed until they sign a letter of intent. They are open game. Just like Holloman, gamecock fans.
Get over it.
December 11, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WLM8288 (anonymous) says...
I see that my comment from earlier was taken off. Duce is the biggest jerk around. Loves to dish it all out, but can't take it.
December 12, 2008 at 4:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JoanneH (anonymous) says...
So you had to repeat it, WLM. Nice.
December 12, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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