"Yahoo 10" the U-Miami saga

[Makkah]

For months we've been hearing about a "10" story regarding recruiting/booster activities involving a "top 12" school. I guess it's finally out. Some convicted and jailed dude came forward to say he's provided over 72 Miami athletes with money, parties, prostitutes, and lodging. Some are expecting major sanctions and the possibility of a death penalty.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6866006/ponzi-schemer-nevin-shapiro-says-provided-benefits-miami-athletes


While a death sentence to Miami's athletic program, I think, is bullshit and very far-fetched, this may be a huge blow to all of Miami's athletics.

[Warriorbird]

For months we've been hearing about a "10" story regarding recruiting/booster activities involving a "top 12" school. I guess it's finally out. Some convicted and jailed dude came forward to say he's provided over 72 Miami athletes with money, parties, prostitutes, and lodging. Some are expecting major sanctions and the possibility of a death penalty.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6866006/ponzi-schemer-nevin-shapiro-says-provided-benefits-miami-athletes


While a death sentence to Miami's athletic program, I think, is bullshit and very far-fetched, this may be a huge blow to all of Miami's athletics.

In addition to blowing Miami athletics I've heard there might have been blow for Miami athletics. I guess this blows for Miami athletics!

[RichardCranium]

For months we've been hearing about a "10" story regarding recruiting/booster activities involving a "top 12" school. I guess it's finally out. Some convicted and jailed dude came forward to say he's provided over 72 Miami athletes with money, parties, prostitutes, and lodging. Some are expecting major sanctions and the possibility of a death penalty.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6866006/ponzi-schemer-nevin-shapiro-says-provided-benefits-miami-athletes


While a death sentence to Miami's athletic program, I think, is bullshit and very far-fetched, this may be a huge blow to all of Miami's athletics.

ESPN is reporting that a couple of Bama aids have been tied to the Miami story.

Edited to add: One is Alabama's o-line coach, the other their head of football operations. Nice hires.

[Atlanteax]

Well, certainly an unsurprising situation for Miami.

[g++]

Dude I dont think its far fetched at all. Its pretty much confirmed that this booster was running a fucking brothel for Hurricane players for like 5 years. Let that sink in a minute.

[Keller]

Drew? You there?

[BriarFox]

Drew doesn't generally respond to anything before about 2 p.m. Something about mornings.

[Warriorbird]

Drew doesn't generally respond to anything before about 2 p.m. Something about mornings.

Stop keeping him up so late!

[Drew]

For some reason I just feel like this'll story isn't goifbg to blow us out of the water. A convicted felon who mostly has photos of two players from 2002. We knew the bulk of these allegations in spring and it still seems mostly circumstantial stuff based off the word of a convicted d liar

Also maybe I'm just deep in the depths of my dreams and homerism. Asking me to be circumspect aboutl this is impossible.

[Drew]

Also I'm on my phone sorrybfor the spelling errors

[RichardCranium]

For some reason I just feel like this'll story isn't goifbg to blow us out of the water. A convicted felon who mostly has photos of two players from 2002. We knew the bulk of these allegations in spring and it still seems mostly circumstantial stuff based off the word of a convicted d liar

Also maybe I'm just deep in the depths of my dreams and homerism. Asking me to be circumspect aboutl this is impossible.

Seven former players and one former coach have corroborated his story.

[g++]

I mean there are dozens of quoted confirmations from the athletes in the story. The felon has lounges named after him on campus and pictures of himself shaking the hand of the UM athletic directors. Theres records of hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts to UM as well as plane tickets for hurricane players. He has thousands and thousands of dollars in bar tabs and pictures of these guys on his boat. Short of wearing a video camera for the entire 8 year period I dont know how there could possibly be more evidence.

[Drew]

Right but the stuff past 4 years is outside the statute of limitations for the NCAA. So unless you can prove that there was some sort of institutional knowledge of this you can only go after stuff 4 years old and newer. The university took money from this guy which is returned. Same thing politicians do when they found out they took money from someone who later turned out to be a crook. Until this guy got caught everyone thought he was a legit businessman, you can't expect the U to know more than the police did in this scenario. So you have to find someone from the last 4 years to corroborate this info and as far as I can tell Kyle Wright ain't saying shit.

Am I moderately disappointed that this happened? Maybe? I'm torn, these kids broke no laws and for most of my young life after I was say 10 I never felt worried about my family having food and shelter. It's hard to judge someone who lived their whole life poor taking a free hand out that isn't illegal. Tyrone Moss confirmed he took 1000 bucks for his baby. I have a hard time judging someone for doing that.

[RichardCranium]

Kellen Winslow Jr. kind of debunks the poor kid spin.

[Drew]

He is the exception to the rule.

[Drew]

I'm worried about Miami being made an example of, even though we self-reported this stuff unlike say Tressel. Unfortunately this story broke after all the other embarrassing stories about players taking money/gifts even though Miami reported it to the NCAA half a year ago and has cooperated in the investigation I'm worried that is going to get lost in the sensational aspects of the story.

[RichardCranium]

He is the exception to the rule.


That doesn't excuse them from following the rules. Taking money to eat is one thing; jewelry, prostitutes, and clubbing is another.

[Drew]

That doesn't excuse them from following the rules. Taking money to eat is one thing; jewelry, prostitutes, and clubbing is another.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying it's all Robin Hood stuff. Just that it's not illegal, and it happens at every major football school. Most of them don't just have a butt-hurt booster who turns on the school. Can you imagine what would happen to Auburn or Florida or ANY top 50 school if they did? That doesn't excuse them from breaking the rules. I'm just sick about the whole thing and I'm clinging to hope. Most of the Miami fans think the hammer is coming down on us hard, like 40 schollys and 4 year bowl ban, something like that. I think as long as the 4 year limitation is upheld it won't be that bad.

[Tolwynn]

Interesting concept that the provision or receipt of illegal services is somehow not illegal, heh.

[Drew]

Interesting concept that the provision or receipt of illegal services is somehow not illegal, heh.

I guess you could make the argument that the money they received was stolen, but they weren't aware of that. I'm just talking about boosters giving things to players, that's not illegal. Just against NCAA rules.

[Latrinsorm]

I can't imagine a death penalty. This is nothing compared to SMU's colorful history of constant infractions.

That said, I'm glad we kicked these guys out of the Big East. There's no room for this kind of behavior in the greatest and best athletic conference in the country.

[Sean]

Oh yeah, I'm not saying it's all Robin Hood stuff. Just that it's not illegal, and it happens at every major football school. Most of them don't just have a butt-hurt booster who turns on the school. Can you imagine what would happen to Auburn or Florida or ANY top 50 school if they did? That doesn't excuse them from breaking the rules. I'm just sick about the whole thing and I'm clinging to hope. Most of the Miami fans think the hammer is coming down on us hard, like 40 schollys and 4 year bowl ban, something like that. I think as long as the 4 year limitation is upheld it won't be that bad.

I'm fairly certain banging hookers is illegal as long as you know she's a hooker.

[WRoss]

If Miami gets the axe, I could see FSU jumping ship to a struggling big-12.

[Drew]

If Miami gets the axe, I could see FSU jumping ship to a struggling big-12.

They won't get it. Some of the HS players that Shapiro claims he paid to come to UM went on to other schools like Georgia, Florida and FSU. Seemingly indicating they received better offers than what Shapiro paid them. The NCAA doesn't want to open that can of worms or else you're gonna lose a lot more than one program.

[waywardgs]

I don't get why the death penalty was mentioned...?

[WRoss]

Death penalty is the term when an NCAA program gets the sport completely shut down for violations. It isn't permanent, but usually at least 4-5 years. Last time this happened was SMU, I believe.

[Drew]

My punishment prediction: 1 year bowl ban, 20 schollies over 2 years. And I'm sticking with that.


Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go waterboard myself.

[Atlanteax]

I think we'll see some vacated wins.

[Drew]

I think we'll see some vacated wins.

Oh no. Not our beloved MPC computers bowl win!

[Doughboy]

:(

Sad panda. To think I had hope this year....

[WRoss]

:(

Sad panda. To think I had hope this year....

From 1-10, Univ of Florida was the most winning team in the state of Florida, followed my USF. It was likely that this decade, FSU or Miami would take that second place, if not first. Maybe next decade Miami will have a shot again.