Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

When the University of Miami hired Al Golden to coach the Miami Hurricanes football team after the 2010 season many 'Canes fans felt that the football program had taken one positive step forward.

When Golden welcomed back some of the old school players and even former UM offensive line coach Art Kehoe to contribute to the resurrection of the famed Hurricane program most Miami fans thought that this was another big step forward.

When Golden implemented an old school Miami Hurricane strength and conditioning program with the help of Andrew Swasey to build toughness, unity and team strength Hurricane fans unanimously and literally applauded out loud as another huge step forward.

Now, with the recent stunning news of allegations of NCAA violations that could send the program reeling into college football oblivion, the Hurricane Nation has been brought to its collective knees.

Hoping for a positive outcome some Hurricane fans have tucked their tails between their legs and have managed to stop bashing other universities for their recently confirmed NCAA violations and instead are looking inward at their own program's potential consequences if these allegations are proven true.

It is really anyone's guess about where this investigation will go from here but for now we wait, and hope and pray that there are more steps forward rather than back for the UM program.

Below is a statement released by UM President Donna Shalala this afternoon.

"To the University Community:

Since its founding more than 85 years ago, the University of Miami has stood for excellence in higher education in every endeavor, every degree, and every student. Our more than 15,000 students, on three campuses in 11 schools and colleges, and over 150,000 alumni expect our core values to remain steadfast and true in times of extraordinary achievement as well as those rare times when those values are called into question.

As a member of the University family, I am upset, disheartened, and saddened by the recent allegations leveled against some current and past student-athletes and members of our Athletic Department. Make no mistake—I regard these allegations with the utmost of seriousness and understand the concern of so many of you. We will vigorously pursue the truth, wherever that path may lead, and I have insisted upon complete, honest, and transparent cooperation with the NCAA from our staff and students. Our counsel is working jointly with the NCAA Enforcement Division in a thorough and meticulous investigation, which will require our patience.

I am in daily communication with our Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Director of Athletics, and counsel, and will continue to work closely with the leaders of our University.

To our students, parents, faculty, alumni, and supporters—I encourage you to have patience as the process progresses; to have confidence in knowing that we are doing everything possible to discover the truth; to have faith in the many outstanding student-athletes and coaches who represent the University; and to have pride in what our University has accomplished and aspires to be."

Comments

[canes]

last?

[canechic]

???

[j.w.]

top 3!

[canes]

Have been hanging around this site often, always wished to be the first to post. But it is really sad in these couple of days since news spread out ... even changed my perspective to this program and my be love school a lot. I have a bad feeling the U will be made as a bad example ...

[JameriCANE]

4th!

[JameriCANE]

I mean 5th and 6th

[canechic]

Well that comment from Donna was did not give me a warm and fuzzy at all.

[canechic]

sorry did not

[JameriCANE]

Yeah, what she is NOT saying speaks volumes...and scares me.

[canechic]

You got that right JameriCANE

[JameriCANE]

Ultimately, we may survive the Death Peanlty for purely financial reasons, but will likely have suspension of players this season and lose scholarships for the future. We will be looking at a 10 year rebuild after that. JoPa will likely retire in that time period and Golden will be gone. Maybe Mario Cristobal will take over, or Mike Leach will leave his poisition at FAU to be the U's new head coach.

[dj moonbat]

On the one hand, this Shapiro dude seems to have been the World's Worst Booster. But on the other hand, this doesn't seem to be systemic corruption -- it's just a rich a-hole buying stuff for guys in a feeble bid for respect. (JJeez, how weird is this? A guy trying to parlay a criminal empire into an opportunity to hang out with 19-year-old boys?)

There's no indication (yet) that the coaching staff was involved in channeling payments to players. Really, there's not much indication that the coaching staff as a whole knew what was going on.

Even if Shapiro's charges are substantiated, I doubt the NCAA will lower the boom on the current UM program, although I think scholarship reductions are basically a given The seriously lax times appear to have occurred under the Coker regime.

[canechic]

Watching college football live...Yahoo guy sounds pretty credible.

Herbie NCAA broken!

[Sarasota 'cane]

The silence is deafening!

sigh... 'cane's...

[canes]

This Shapiro is a true cancer ...

[canechic]

Oh lawd Mark May is loving this garbage. Not sure why I am watching?

[JameriCANE]

We also need to know to what extent Shapiro may have been involved with the sports agency. Article says he is part owner. If he can be tied to actual recruitment of players for the agency, we are still screwed. Any legitimate booster activities sponsored by the school would be tantamount to aiding illicit solicitation by an agent. It is hypertechnicalties like that, that lead to convictions (e.g., Al Capone sentenced for tax evasion).

[THE MAN]

THE TRUTH = NEVIN SHAPIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think about it. Didn't he disappear around the same time he went to jail or got arrested for the Ponzi scheme?

[dj moonbat]

Aw, c'mon. Isn't five national championships enough for you people?

[canechic]

Now Urban Meyer...ugh!

[j.w.]

Meyer supposedly supported us earlier today, canechic

[JameriCANE]

THE TRUTH = NEVIN SHAPIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think about it. Didn't he disappear around the same time he went to jail or got arrested for the Ponzi scheme?

Posted by: THE MAN | August 17, 2011 at 03:49 PM

The Truth disappeared around the time Randy Shannon got fired and Clint Hurtt announced he was going to Louisville.

[Gin & Tonic]

There is a snake coming out of the darkness..
A rain in paradise....

This will sting, but can it really put the program back as far as having clappy and onion running the show for the past decade?

[canechic]

Yes he said to wait it out but if coaches were involved it is really bad.

[CGNC]

Posted by: j.w. | August 17, 2011 at 03:52 PM

LOL! He knows what was going on in G-ville and knows very well they could be next....

[JameriCANE]

"clappy and onion"???

[CGNC]

CC and Jamericane - what did you expect her to say? I thought it was ok, politically correct, not expecting a flat out denial which would be foolish if not all the facts are known.

[Gin & Tonic]

Alabama and FSU recently gon run thru the sanction ringer and they both recovered just fine.

Oregon, UNC, USC, Auburn got clouds too.

Not like this is an isolated event in college football that only happened in Coral Gable.

[CGNC]

Jameri- Coker and Shannon are Clappy and Onion

[WestCoastIbis]

Nevin = Truth does make sense and fits Nevin's ego. Plus he knew a lot of inside stuff that was coming from players and staff

[CGNC]

CC you are a brave brave woman to watch Mark May on any given day of the week, let alone when we are under NCAA investigation!

[Canestruck]

I am devastated. I put my heart and soul into the U every day and it is slowly being taken away from me. The sanctions are inevitable, but what we should all pray for is that Coach Golden decides to stay and bring us back. If the University mislead him in anyway during the hiring process I can not blame him for leaving. He has a plan and the right people in place to execute it. We just need to hope he stays on board.

[canechic]

CGNC- do not want her to flat out deny but the feeling I get from her and Al Golden is they are just waiting to here their punishment. Watch the re-run of College football live tonight. Al's body language says quite a bit.

[dj moonbat]

Not like this is an isolated event in college football that only happened in Coral Gable.

Posted by: Gin & Tonic | August 17, 2011 at 03:56 PM

Did the words "hooker" or "abortion" come up in any of those other inquiries?

Unless this guy can be proven to be lying, UM is in a world of hurt.

[canechic]

I know CGNC he was ragging hard.

[Ohio_Cane]

Josh Baumgard - Listen to Nevin's lawyer with Joe Rose on WQAM this AM....WOW, Joe annihilated her! http://t.co/oxmB3g4 start at 8 min mark

[canechic]

for the punishment

[eYeofthestorm]

Donna with a typical vanilla statement while the vultures are flying around her. I guess she didn't realize she was sleeping with the enenmy when she held that big check in her hand. Golden ain't going to Penn State, either.
To all the true Canites, The eYe says we will be the cataylst in changing College football as we know it to day. We will be the only University, with a section in the NCAA rule book devoted especially to us. Just think about what this tiny University has accomplished the last 28 years: 5 Ships, & played for 3 others, 2 other times we should of played for it and got crapped on. Have been probably the most despised team in America, Had new rules adopted because of us, Had the most #1 picks, the most players in the NFL, been under 2 major recruiting scandles, Had a couple of our games rated the in the top 10 most watched games ever. What would college football be without us, boring! Our former players come back and mentor the new guys. We're like the mafia, we don't Rat on each other TY!

[Gin & Tonic]

Unless this guy can be proven to be lying, UM is in a world of hurt.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 04:02 PM

Hopefully the NCAA takes the stance that he has to provide the burden of evidence. Maybe Donna can get the Casey Anthony jury on the NCAA compliance committee.

[CGNC]

CC - he reminds me of a ventriloquist's dummy! AG was probably waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come around and go "you've been Punked!". Probably hit him out of the blue.

[Ohio_Cane]

Unless this guy can be proven to be lying, UM is in a world of hurt.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 04:02 PM
------------------------------------------

Really? He doesn't have to provide hard evidence? Well that blows.

So, for example, can I go take some receipts where I spent money on random things and say I bought those things for an OSU player and that accusation will stick if they can't prove I DIDN'T buy said item for myself and not the player?

[CGNC]

^^Mark May not Golden

[Ohio_Cane]

Steve Gorten: Angelo Jean-Louis, one of 24 #UM commits for 2012 class, told Dieter Kurtenbach of his status: "Definitely, things could change. But as long as everything is the same, and Al Golden is still coach, and we don't lose any bowl games...it'll be fine."

[dj moonbat]

Really? He doesn't have to provide hard evidence? Well that blows.

So, for example, can I go take some receipts where I spent money on random things and say I bought those things for an OSU player and that accusation will stick if they can't prove I DIDN'T buy said item for myself and not the player?

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | August 17, 2011 at 04:11 PM

The NCAA is not a judicial body. It''s a company. If they think college football needs to be taught a lesson, they will do what they think it takes. Miami, given its history, looks like a great candidate for them to show everybody who's boss.

[Ohio_Cane]

The NCAA is not a judicial body. It''s a company. If they think college football needs to be taught a lesson, they will do what they think it takes. Miami, given its history, looks like a great candidate for them to show everybody who's boss.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 04:15 PM
------------------------------------------

Interesting.

Also, re-read my post and seemed as if I was being sarcastic. I wasn't, that was a serious question and example.

[Ohio_Cane]

Report: Miami coaches knew of massive violations http://t.co/Z0eMtUz

[Ohio_Cane]

Jon Vilma says he's not worried about University of Miami allegations http://t.co/baztQAM

[Ohio_Cane]

Former compliance directors believe NCAA has evidence to hand down 'death penalty' to Miami Hurricanes

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/hurricanes/former-compliance-directors-believe-ncaa-has-evidence-to-1755335.html

[CGNC]

and we don't lose any bowl games...it'll be fine."

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | August 17, 2011 at 04:14 PM

LOL well young man we haven't won a bowl game since that computer bowl game fiasco. Nice out you left yourself there ;-D

[solarcane]

This is just a hunch but you guys collectivly did about an hours worth of work today right? lol.

[Ohio_Cane]

and we don't lose any bowl games...it'll be fine."

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | August 17, 2011 at 04:14 PM

LOL well young man we haven't won a bowl game since that computer bowl game fiasco. Nice out you left yourself there ;-D

Posted by: CGNC | August 17, 2011 at 04:29 PM
--------------------------------------

I think he meant bowl bans...

[Ohio_Cane]

This is just a hunch but you guys collectivly did about an hours worth of work today right? lol.

Posted by: solarcane | August 17, 2011 at 04:32 PM
---------------------------------------

Yes, I'm back to "work". Lol

[dj moonbat]

This is just a hunch but you guys collectivly did about an hours worth of work today right? lol.

Posted by: solarcane | August 17, 2011 at 04:32 PM

Thanks, mom.

[CGNC]

"Miami is one of the most corrupt programs in the country," said Ridpath, an assistant professor of sport management at Ohio University. "I don't think (NCAA president) Mark Emmert has the guts, and I don't think the NCAA has the guts to use the death penalty.

said a guy from Ohio

[CGNC]

Solar - I can multitask like no other LOL. Have you gotten a break from the heat?

[SOUP]

STILL

BREATHLESS

SPEECHLESS

DEPRESSED

Just when U thought it might be OK to come out of hiding and step into the light as a Miami Hurricane fan after several years of mediocrity...then this.

Yes, officially it appears to be true:

The sky is falling.

[Canestruck]

Posted by: SOUP | August 17, 2011 at 04:36 PM

Its over. We are back to 1995-1998 years. It hurts me to.

[SOUP]

Watch the re-run of College football live tonight. Al's body language says quite a bit.

Posted by: canechic | August 17, 2011 at 04:02 PM

I told U about Al Golden's body language the other day during his before practice interview remember? I was right.

He must have been told that the NCAA was coming on Monday. I feel so bad for the guy, really I do.

[canechic]

Soup remember that gut thing? YUCK!

[SOUP]

I read all of the comments from the past two days, but have been busy and didn't want to comment anyway. I did't really know what else to say and wanted to wait for more facts to come out before I jumped to any conclusions or got angry and regretted something I said here.

I love The U and I love this blog.

But right now, I'm a heartbroken man.

I'm off to drink U away...

[2002nemo]

Three Small Steps Forward,
One Giant Leap Backward

[CGNC]

Alright I am out. I know misery loves company but wait and see how this thing plays out.

Later

[j.w.]

I love The U and I love this blog.

But right now, I'm a heartbroken man.

I'm off to drink U away...

Posted by: SOUP

Know the feeling, brother! I'm off to ride for a while, drink for a while, and forget sports for a day or two . . . This too shall pass.

[solarcane]

Soup I dunno man,

Does the NCAA tell you on Friday they will be at your campus on Monday?

Next thing does Golden strike you guys as the type of guy that heard about the NCAA coming the same time we did?

I think Golden has known for a good while this day was coming. He is doing what he was hired to do getting his players ready for the season.

If the worst happens ( we aren't getting the mythical death penalty, the NCAA saw it took SMU a qtr of a century to rebound from that.)

Our second and third team guys play as hard as UNC's kids did I will proud of them.

On a brighter note Billy Corbin will probably hook a couple Emmys over the next couple seasons.

[eYeofthestorm]

Hey, look on the bright side, the cats out of the bag, we've got no where to go but up. Once again it's us against the world and We Canes fans are like no other. The strong will survive and the meek will fold. We ain't meek or mild, that ain't our style. We need to take on the personna of our coach. He's the one that has to deal with this b.S.and I'm sure he's not quitting. This will only make him more determined. How this team handles adversity will go a long way in determing what kind of team we are. We are going to be the butt of countless jokes but we will overcome this. I was a Bama fan for years and I still have a little love for them but when I started liking the "U" in 82, that liking turned into love and I ain't never stopped loving her yet. There is something special about this team that I only felt while Bear Bryant Coached the Tide. Like any crazy fan i loved being able to talk junk, while we changed the landscape of college football. It's like a bully that talks junk and you'd love to kick his ass but you know you can't, you just have to sit there and take it. The last 6 years I've had to eat allot of crow and I guess i'll just have to eat it a little while longer but no matter how long it takes, i won't quit on the "U". I relish being called renegades because they fear us. Whether good or bad we're trend setters in college football and we'll have to stand tall and eat That shyt sandwich, that the NCAA is going to shove down our throats, whether we like it or not!

[solarcane]

ohio might have put this up

Luke's Gospel

Nevin Shapiro Can Kiss My Ass

By Luther Campbell Wed., Aug. 17 2011 at 8:21 AM Comments (39) Categories: Luke's Gospel
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Nevin Shapiro wishes he could wear my shorts for one day. The New Jersey-born Napoleon dubbed himself "Little Luke" in a so-called investigative report by Yahoo! Sports claiming all sorts of corrupt shit Shapiro committed while he was a booster of the University of Miami athletics program.

The claims even include hooking up football players with prostitutes and buying them bottles at Mansion. That punk could never be me.

First of all, I have never been a UM booster. I have never given a dime to the school. I have and always will support the players and the program out of civic pride, but I never violated any NCAA rules when I was the team's biggest fan in the '80s. And I definitely would not have ever paid for a stripper to abort a baby allegedly fathered by a UM football player, like Shapiro claims he did.

You can't be me just by reading a Dan Le Batard article in the Miami Herald from 21 years ago alleging I paid players for hits on the field. The NCAA investigated those accusations and found no wrongdoing on my part. This notion that I was paying players is false. It never happened.

If Nevin really wanted people to see him as "Little Luke," he would have dedicated part of his life to helping kids in Miami's inner-city neighborhoods get a college education. He certainly never started a youth athletic program that has been around for more than 30 years helping underprivileged parents in Liberty City mold their children.

It has never been about money for me. It has always been about community service. That's what being Uncle Luke is really about.

Read more in our December 2010 feature, "Nevin Shapiro: Miami's Caligula."

Shapiro is nothing more than a jilted groupie who fucked over a lot people. He is an opportunistic schemer who now wants to play the role of jailhouse snitch. His word isn't worth squat, especially if Yahoo! paid him for the exclusive. Nevin is angry because he couldn't get former players to invest in his Ponzi scheme or come to his rescue when his criminal enterprise was exposed.

I always had a feeling Shapiro was a sketchy motherfucker. I could see right through him two minutes into our first conversation. During one of our meetings, he was trying to get me to be a part of his sports agency because he knew I work with all the kids in the inner city playing football. He also complained that the former players didn't want to invest in his food business after he had bought jerseys and memorabilia to support the program.

He was all about himself. Shapiro wanted to use me like he was using the UM players and other celebrity athletes he courted. I knew to stay away from him. So did Randy Shannon, who warned all of his assistants that if he caught them with Shapiro, he would fire them. Randy hated that beady-eyed defamer. Surprisingly, Shannon's name was conspicuously absent in Yahoo!'s breathtaking 11-month investigation.

[canechic]

So did Randy Shannon, who warned all of his assistants that if he caught them with Shapiro, he would fire them. Randy hated that beady-eyed defamer. Surprisingly, Shannon's name was conspicuously absent in Yahoo!'s breathtaking 11-month investigation.

This makes my heart happy!!!

[solarcane]

ohio did you have this up also?

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Miami Returns to Full Pads in Physical Practice
Canes prepare for Thursday's two-a-day, the second of the week

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Aug. 17, 2011

CORAL GABLES, Fla.— Coming off short rest after Tuesday’s third two-a-day session of fall camp, the University of Miami football team donned full pads in a very physical practice Wednesday morning at the Greentree Practice Fields.

In Your Face
Tuesday’s evening session was spent in just helmets, shells and shorts, giving the team an opportunity to recover from the morning session while important special teams scenarios were rehearsed. However, the coaching staff and players were very enthusiastic about the physical nature of Wednesday’s practice.
Players were instructed to not tackle, but the sounds of shoulder pads cracking could be heard from every corner of Greentree. After individual position instruction, the Canes spent a vast majority of practice in 11-on-11 scenarios.

Brown, Patriots, 49ers Visit Practice
Scouts from the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers were in attendance during Wednesday morning's practice, marking the first time that the Patriots or 49ers have had a scout present this year at Greentree. Since the beginning of fall camp, members from 15 different NFL organizations have attended Miami practices.

Wednesday, Aug. 17 - Browns, Patriots, 49ers
Tuesday, Aug. 16 - Lions, Packers, Chargers, Browns
Saturday, Aug. 13 - Colts, Falcons
Friday, Aug. 12 - Saints
Thursday, Aug. 11 - Vikings, Raiders
Wednesday, Aug. 10 - Buccaneers
Tuesday, Aug. 9 - Panthers, Jaguars
Monday, Aug. 8 - Chiefs, Panthers, Jaguars

High Performance Players
Throughout camp, HurricaneSports.com will highlight some of the best performers in each day's practice. While there are certainly other players who stood out throughout the course of the session, these student-athletes in particular caught our eye.

Offense
TE Clive Walford - There is a lot of competition at tight end with almost all of them vying for a shot at playing time. He continued to build on his success the past few months on Wednesday morning, coming down with multiple grabs, including a spectacular 30-yard catch from Jacory Harris. Walford also had some tremendous blocks that created holes for the running backs.

RB Mike James - All of the running backs have elevated their game over the fall practices, but of the talented crew, it was Mike James who stood out on Wednesday. James had a 10-yard touchdown run, using his power to burst through the defense. He also had a nice catch on a swing pass and powered his way for 13 yards before being wrapped up.

Defense
DE Olivier Vernon - Vernon continued to make a case as to why he could be worthy of a starting spot come Sept. 5. He had multiple tackles for loss and received high praise from the coaches. His highlight of the day came when he stopped James for no gain in a red zone situation.

LB Jordan Futch - Futch, also in a battle for increased playing time, stepped up in Wednesday’s practice. He fought his way through the offensive line on numerous occasions, disrupting both running and passing plays alike.

[solarcane]

photos from todays practice

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/view.gal?id=99668

[solarcane]

That interview with coach Golden sounds like he is here to stay to me
He almost seems like he wants to see how mentally tough his players have become.
Having only 55 scholarships at Temple and straightening out the garbage from before he got there has to give him confidence.

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081711aab.html

[Q]

The night is darkest just before the dawn. - harvey dent

Miami will be okay. Go canes

[SinisterCane]

K!LL that POS, it's shankin' time

[solarcane]

NCAA: We've been investigating Miami for 5 months

Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011.

NCAA investigators were on campus this week to investigate an account by former booster Nevin Shapiro, who claims he treated football players with sex parties, nightclub outings, cars and other gifts.
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By STEVEN WINE - AP Sports Writer
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The NCAA said Wednesday it has been investigating the relationship between a convicted Ponzi scheme artist and the University of Miami for five months, and the allegations - if true - show the need for "serious and fundamental change" in college sports.

Former booster Nevin Shapiro, now serving 20 years in federal prison, claims he treated players with sex parties, nightclub outings, cars and other gifts. Shapiro told Yahoo Sports he provided improper benefits to 72 football players and other athletes at Miami from 2002 to 2010.

"If the assertions are true, the alleged conduct at the University of Miami is an illustration of the need for serious and fundamental change in many critical aspects of college sports," NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement.

The Hurricanes' entire football team took the practice field Wednesday, even though Shapiro's claims involve several current players. Coach Al Golden said it was too soon to take disciplinary action.

The Hurricanes open their season Sept. 5 against Maryland.

"Everybody is practicing," said Golden, who is in his first season as Miami's coach. "If it is determined somebody broke rules, then certainly they'll be first dealt with. ... As we get ready for Maryland, hopefully we'll swiftly learn if errors were made. If there are guys that are going to have to sit out games, we'll adjust our practice accordingly."

Players weren't permitted to speak with the media.

Last week, Emmert led a group of university presidents in drafting an outline for change in college sports, including higher academic standards, a streamlined rule book and new parameters for athletic scholarships. The group included Miami president Donna Shalala.

"The serious threats to the integrity of college sports are one of the key reasons why I called together more than 50 presidents and chancellors last week to drive substantive changes to Division I intercollegiate athletics," Emmert said in his statement Wednesday.

The allegations against Miami - a program that once reveled in an outlaw image and dealt with a massive Pell Grant scandal in the 1990s - have sparked the latest in a string of NCAA investigations involving some of college football's most high-profile and successful programs.

In the past 18 months, football teams at Southern California, Ohio State, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and LSU all have been investigated or sanctioned by the NCAA.

NCAA investigators were on the Miami campus this week in the wake of the allegations by Shapiro, and have interviewed Shalala and athletic director Shawn Eichorst. He was sentenced to prison in June for masterminding a $930 million Ponzi scheme, plus ordered to pay more than $82 million in restitution to investors.

Shalala said she was "upset, disheartened, and saddened by the recent allegations."

"We will vigorously pursue the truth, wherever that path may lead, and I have insisted upon complete, honest, and transparent cooperation with the NCAA from our staff and students," Shalala said in a statement. "Our counsel is working jointly with the NCAA enforcement division in a thorough and meticulous investigation."

Most cases are resolved in six to seven months, but more complex investigations take longer, an NCAA official said.

Golden said he's eager to obtain answers quickly, in part so his players don't repeat past mistakes.

"If they were exposed to Mr. Shapiro, clearly we have to make sure we prevent that going forward," Golden said. "You do that by getting to the facts. How did this guy, if he did, get around our players like that? As a head coach, I want to know. I know our assistant coaches want to know. We want to make sure it never happens again. It shouldn't happen."

Current Miami players named by Shapiro as receiving benefits included quarterback Jacory Harris, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston, Vaughn Telemaque, Dyron Dye, Aldarius Johnson and Olivier Vernon. Former Hurricanes quarterback Robert Marve, now at Purdue, also was named by Shapiro, Yahoo Sports said.

Yahoo Sports published its story Tuesday afternoon, saying it spent 100 hours interviewing Shapiro over the span of 11 months and audited thousands of pages of financial and business records to examine his claims, some involving events nearly a decade ago. The NCAA's four-year statute of limitations doesn't apply when there is a pattern of willful violations that continues into the past four years.

"I did it because I could," Shapiro said of his spending. "And because nobody stepped in to stop me."

A person familiar with the situation said much of Shapiro's access to Hurricane programs in recent years was approved by former athletic director Kirby Hocutt, who has since left the school for Texas Tech. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing joint investigation between the university and the NCAA.

Hocutt, the person said, allowed Shapiro on the sideline before football games at times during the 2008 season, plus invited him to select gatherings reserved for the athletic department's biggest donors.

"That's what Kirby did," the person said. "His No. 1 job was to raise money and this Nevin Shapiro guy was one of the few people Kirby could get to write checks."

Shapiro had been on the Miami sideline before games an unknown number of times before Hocutt's arrival as athletic director in 2008. Hocutt has declined comment on the investigation.

Shapiro dubbed himself "Little Luke" in reference to Luther Campbell - aka Luke Skyywalker, the rapper who was a constant presence on the Hurricanes' sideline during their 1980s glory days.

Campbell took exception to any comparisons.

"Nevin Shapiro wishes he could wear my shorts for one day," Campbell wrote in a blog post. "That punk could never be me. First of all, I have never been a UM booster. I have never given a dime to the school. I have and always will support the players and the program out of civic pride, but I never violated any NCAA rules when I was the team's biggest fan in the 1980s."

Former Nebraska defensive end Benard Thomas told the AP he was on Shapiro's yacht with two former Hurricanes players, Kellen Winslow Jr. and D.J. Williams, in 2005 when they had finished college.

"We all had money ourselves," Thomas said. "We didn't need anything from him."

Thomas described Shapiro as "cool."

"He was a nice guy," Thomas said. "I've got nothing bad to say about him."

Former Hurricanes in the NFL were reluctant to discuss the case. Said Devin Hester when approached at a Chicago Bears practice: "If this is about the Miami thing, I ain't got nothing."

Tennessee Titans rookie Colin McCarthy, who played at Miami, wore an orange Hurricanes' T-shirt when reporters talked to him after practice Tuesday night. He responded "no comment" to four questions.

Shapiro began making his allegations about a year ago. Golden joined the Hurricanes in December after Randy Shannon was fired. Eichorst was hired as athletic director in April to replace Hocutt.

Golden said when he interviewed for the job, Miami officials did not tell him about Shapiro's allegations.

"If they knew this was percolating, I believe they did have a responsibility to tell me," Golden said. "I believe they have a responsibility to tell Shawn. But look, I'm happy here. My wife is happy here. We have great kids on this team."

---

AP Sports Writers Michael Marot, Tim Reynolds, Eric Olson, Teresa M. Walker, Cliff Brunt and RB Fallstrom contributed to this story.

[solarcane]

Seasn Spence interview clip on ESPN/ACC

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/27427/video-miami-lb-sean-spence

[solarcane]

SI warms up by bashing Haith

Once an asset at Missouri, Haith's character now called into question

If Yahoo! Sports' allegations are true, Frank Haith will likely not coach at Missouri.
Gerry Broome/AP

When Missouri brought in Frank Haith as its new men's basketball coach in April, the hiring was hard to justify. Rather than celebrate, the Tigers' athletic department had to engage in spin control, because while no one was calling the move brilliant, many were calling it inexplicable. Mizzou had just been rebuffed by a very good coach, Purdue's Matt Painter, and now it was turning to someone who was in jeopardy of getting fired from Miami? Mind you, Coral Gables is not an easy place to win, but it was hard to sell fans on Haith's 43-69 ACC record over six seasons, which included just one trip to the NCAA tournament, in 2008.

Tigers athletic director Mike Alden had to fall back on less quantifiable justifications. Alden spoke of his new coach's experience recruiting in the Big 12 as an assistant at Texas. But what the AD really focused on, in his early defense of Haith, were the words "integrity" and "character" -- saying that Haith's "entire reputation is based on building young men of character," and that "Frank has the character and integrity we are looking for." One prominent Missouri booster, in an early article about the hiring, still seemed skeptical. "In this case, the margin for error isn't as great," he said. "[Alden] rises or falls with how Haith does."

It is generally appropriate to wait a few years -- at least three, maybe four -- before declaring that a hire was a mistake. A new coach needs time to put in his system, sign his own recruits, and get them to buy in to the program. But now the Haith "era" may end before he coaches a single game.

Yahoo! Sports dropped an investigative bombshell on Tuesday, effectively ravaging the Miami athletic department with allegations of wide-ranging, major NCAA violations. The Yahoo! story details the claims of former booster Nevin Shapiro, who before being jailed for his involvement in a $930-million Ponzi scheme was involved in providing unconscionable amounts of improper benefits to Hurricanes athletes and recruits. Most of the allegations are related to the school's football program, but among the most stunning is that Shapiro gave a Miami assistant basketball coach, Jake Morton, $10,000 that was used to help secure the services of recruit DeQuan Jones -- and that the deal was "acknowledged" by Haith. Members of the Miami staff, including Haith, allegedly partied with Shapiro at a strip club, made calls to his cellphone, and appeared in photos with the Ponzi-schemer -- including two damning snapshots that ran in the Yahoo! report.

MANDEL: NCAA enforcement to be tested

The NCAA is investigating Shapiro's claims, which have been laid out in great detail by Yahoo!. The Miami football program is likely to take the brunt of the punishment -- the death penalty is within reason, given that 71 football players are implicated -- but Haith and the basketball program will have difficultly escaping unscathed. For what it's worth, Haith issued a statement saying he'll cooperate with the investigation, and that Shapiro's allegations "are not an accurate portrayal of my character."

There's that word again -- character. It was all Missouri had to fall back on with Haith, and now it's being assailed. He was allegedly cheating at Miami, and he still couldn't win with any regularity. It could take years for the NCAA to rule on this case, but Alden needs to do his due diligence and decide if there's real merit to Shapiro's claims, which Yahoo! already felt were strong enough to include in its report. Typically an assistant (in this case, Morton) gets thrown under the bus to protect the head man, but with Shapiro fully cooperating with the NCAA, Haith faces the very real possibility of a show cause.

If Alden believes the odds of a show cause are strong, it's in his best interest to get out in front of the situation and put Haith on administrative leave. Doing so in the next few months would mean sacrificing a 2011-12 season in which the Tigers return enough talent to contend for a Big 12 title, but would be smart for the future of the program. Remember when, in May 2006, Indiana stuck with its freshly hired coach, Kelvin Sampson, despite the troubles that surfaced from his time at Oklahoma? That didn't work out for the Hoosiers. It doesn't make sense to hang on to a questionable hire who already has strikes against him, and it wouldn't cost Missouri anything to fire Haith with cause. His contract includes clauses that allow the school to fire him for "significant or repetitive violations" of NCAA rules. Paying for a recruit surely qualifies as significant.

There are a few parties to feel sorry for in this mess, namely the Missouri players, who just lost an excellent coach, Mike Anderson, to Arkansas, and will now enter a season with either a coach on the NCAA hot seat, or an interim coach who was thrown into the fire. The other sympathetic figure is Jim Larranaga, the longtime George Mason coach who surprisingly left for Miami in late April, taking Haith's old job. Larranaga, a beloved figure in Fairfax, Va., after leading the Patriots to the 2006 Final Four, could have coached out his career at the mid-major school, but wanted to take on the challenge of competing in the ACC before he retired -- and receive the heftier contract that came along with it. He didn't anticipate getting screwed by the misdeeds of Shapiro and Haith. At a school with no hoops tradition, it'll be nearly impossible to build recruiting momentum under the specter of NCAA sanctions.

Back in April, I wondered if I'd someday be writing a "Haith isn't working out for Missouri" column, and a "Larranaga regrets leaving Mason" column, maybe as separate topics in March 2014. Those would have been sad pieces. Being forced to already combine those subjects, in the wake of the great Miami scandal, is infinitely more depressing.

[CaneRock]

You know, this scandal reveals a lot of shortcomings about the human condtion.

What does it say about society that the excesses of one ratfacephuck can make a bunch of grown ass men NOT BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.

They didn't believe in themselves so much that they couldn't sell a young man on a solid education with an opportunity to play major CFB.

Al Golden said it best yesterday when He simply said "We don't have to do that!"

[Old Skool]

The one name I haven't seen quoted yet is Shannon. Not that he's been implicated and I doubt he would ever be. It's just the guy's become the JD Salinger of ex football coaches.

I hear his name mentioned on occasion, but haven't seen or heard him.

Attention hound he wasn't. If anything, he seemed to treat cameras as if they were going to steal his soul.

Like him or not the man had principles (and a very long memory. I doubt it was easy to get out of the doghouse once you were put in) and he lives by them to the point of being ascetic or monk-like.

[solarcane]

Ken Dorsey For Six
Don't think that this deuscher did anything for K-Dorsal.. I don't need to pay for booty, I'm Ken Dorsey

[pre83]

In Pursuit of the Truth:

Nevin = Truth does make sense and fits Nevin's ego. Plus he knew a lot of inside stuff that was coming from players and staff

Posted by: WestCoastIbis | August 17, 2011 at 03:57 PM

THE TRUTH = NEVIN SHAPIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think about it. Didn't he disappear around the same time he went to jail or got arrested for the Ponzi scheme?

Posted by: THE MAN | August 17, 2011 at 03:49 PM

Soup -

Can't blame U.

BTW, do you recall Truth ever alluding to anything of this magnitude in your conversations w/ him?? Is he named?

Posted by: Pre83 | August 17, 2011 at 01:40 AM

Truth NEVER said anything about this.

Posted by: SOUP | August 17, 2011 at 01:52 AM

Other than that: NO COMMENT.

Posted by: SOUP | August 17, 2011 at 01:55 AM

[BEERicane]

"If they knew this was percolating, I believe they did have a responsibility to tell me," Golden said. "I believe they have a responsibility to tell Shawn. But look, I'm happy here. My wife is happy here. We have great kids on this team."

He already has one foot out the door. The University clearly didn't disclose the goings-on to him.

This actually makes me more proud to be a hurricane. Hurricanes do it the biggest, the baddest, the best. Our actions, and our actions alone, shape the landscape of college football.

C-A-N-E-S CANES!

[SinisterCane]

Nevin Must Die

[SinisterCane]

Heard Nevil is being transferred down here

[360Cane]

But if the NCAA has been on campus the past year, how did Golden not know they were there investigating?

This shit needs to hit the fan so we can move forward. Man, now I know how OSU fans feel with a cloud hanging...

Cant' wait til next year! lol

[Willie Will in Nashville]

anyone?,

why in the hell was yahoo doing an investigation on us anyway????????

[canesteeler]

I am totally dissappointed in the U and I feel Donna should resign.I am not going to feel strong for a program where the administration and players on the team don't give a fukk about winning and doing things the correct way! At this time fukk the U. I am sick of them playing with my emotions!

[Willie Will in Nashville]

anyone?

y in the hell was yahoo doing a investigation on us anyway???????

[canesteeler]

Yahoo did the investigation after Nevin contacted them.

[360Cane]

Because Yahoo is releasing all the dirt. They found something that's taking them to the top. NCAA Violations.

They sprung the OSU case, too.

[Willie Will in Nashville]

thats it i'm deleting my yahoo accounts

[Six]

But maybe it was Kyle Wright.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 02:56 PM

Bahaha, then ya, I can maybe understand

Even worse, if it was Brock Berlin

[canechic]

Discussing this with Nick and whether or not College Football should just give up the amateur label:

NCAA going to have to make changes, maybe a minor league NFL with school names? Salaries instead of scholarships? Get rid of this facade that this some how about education. According to my son there are 1 Myron Rolle's to every 10,000 Channing Crowders.

[SOUP]

Does the NCAA tell you on Friday they will be at your campus on Monday?

Posted by: solarcane | August 17, 2011 at 04:57 PM

Solar... It is my business to read body language. I have extensive training in this area. I have never seen Golden in that frame of mind as that day in that interview. It was OBVIOUS he was troubled.

It really doesn't matter anyway.

We are justly screwed.

[DrewZ2]

The NCAA has been investigating for 5 months and no suspensions have been dealt out yet....so that makes me feel better because I would assume that the NCAA would at least let us know "Hey look don't worry about having a QB competition Jaboney isn't playing this season"

[orange 'n green in the vein]

"Unless this guy can be proven to be lying, UM is in a world of hurt.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 04:02 PM"

Wrong, unless this guy can be proven not to be lying UM isn't in a world of hurt. He's a ponzi scheming lowlife dj. Stop giving a convicted felon the benefit of any doubt, he has admitted to lying to steal money, now he's lying to strike back at the only thing that made him feel like he mattered before he got caught like the roach he was, his constant dry humping of athletes' legs who shunned him, well in his case, it's be big toes he was dry humping but they still shunned him once he got found out like anybody sane would.

[dj moonbat]

Look at it this way: at least we aren't being screwed on some crazy misperception that we're "Thug U" or what have you. If the hammer comes down, it will come down because our guys were living larger than any other players in the nation. As it should be.

[mi@mic@ne]

I hope Al stays around because even with this hanging over our heads ... i was looking at the pictures of this team and they do not look like the same team to me.... they look in shape and muscular... no man crush...lol... just sayin i hope we can field the whole team this yr.. i think we are going to be pleasantly surprised.

[SOUP]

If the hammer comes down, it will come down because our guys were living larger than any other players in the nation. As it should be.

Posted by: dj moonbat | August 17, 2011 at 07:06 PM

After reading that, I still don't feel better. Maybe I should drink more?

[dj moonbat]

After reading that, I still don't feel better. Maybe I should drink more?

Posted by: SOUP | August 17, 2011 at 07:16 PM

Yes. You should drink more.

However, you might just want to go to bed. If anything serious comes out of the NCAA investigation (OGV assures me that everything's fine, but you never know), you're REALLY going to need a drink then.

[mi@mic@ne]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2011/08/former-um-coach-jimmy-johnson-rips-nevin-shapiro.html

ManNy quoting Jimmy

[CaneRock]

Here's video of Luther Campbell on the situation:

http://www.miamiherald.com/508/index.html?media_id=107085271&genre_id=6309