See ya, Canes...

[billybud]

The "everybody does it" defense is as old as sin itself.

It's just like speeding. Everybody goes 5 MPH over the limit and, while technically an offense, it is generally dismissed. It's when you are doing 80 in a school zone you usually get the book thrown at you.

[donovan]

The "everybody does it" defense is as old as sin itself.

It's just like speeding. Everybody goes 5 MPH over the limit and, while technically an offense, it is generally dismissed. It's when you are doing 80 in a school zone you usually get the book thrown at you.

And when you get pulled over for exceeding the speed limit and you were relatively sure "everybody else" was passing you, few of us do not wonder, "Why me, what about all those other law breakers/" But that is no defense before the magistrate.

And yet, as pointed out...what about the "other schools" that have been identified; those schools that collectively have a huge financial impact on all of college football, the Oregon's and Auburns, to name a couple. Sure Boise will get slapped, but who cares about their pittance. Ohio State got zonked, or did they...the thrown him under the bus sure seemed to work.

How calm it was when conferences were the ultimate and there was no need to for "... all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments...,"

Mr. Billybud is correct that it is naive to believe 121 teams can compete with any type of fairness, or as Lord Acton said, "“The strong man with the dagger is followed by the weak man with the sponge.”

[Spence]

When coaches know about it, it is really bad. If someone other than coaches know then look out. It really sucks, though, when boosters think they are above the school.

[Cane from the Bend]

And that is precisely what has happened here.

shapiro assumed he was the best thing going for the `Canes, when in reality, he was everything wrong with financial influence in collegiate sports.

I have a quote from someone wishing to remain anonymous:

"He ( shapiro ) wanted us to believe he was helping us, but really he was helping himself. Yeah, it takes money to get in the doors of some of those places, but everybody down here ( in Miami ) has money. You can't get into the back rooms in some of those places with just money, you need V.I.P. image. He needed us as much as he thought we needed him. If you're a `Cane, you're treated like a rock star. Instead of waiting in line, there is no line. Being seen with the players was his way into a lot of the exclusive joints. Once he was in, he could start taking his women to fancy places he couldn't before. And he could show off to people he wanted to do business with. It was as much about making him money as it was him doin' anything for us. Then he wanted us to sign with the agents he chose. More money for him. He says he thought we were all one family, but if you weren't a star player, he didn't have much love for you. He only wanted to be seen with players ( those who saw game time ), not 2nd or 3rd."

Take what you will from that. Because to me, it not only proves quite a bit of the he said, but, it also tells me that the players were not as blind to shapiro's motivations as he figured.

The guy is right where he belongs. There is no question about that.

But, let's expose the cheaters on this team, and get rid of them.

It doesn't matter enough to me that shapiro's influence is no longer present. Now that the ones who got the favors have been exposed to it ( without telling anyone ), I find it hard to believe they wouldn't jump if someone else came around.

What exactly can the NCAA do here? Other than removing as many as 16 current scholarship players; I don't know.

However, removing 16 players from the program in the immediate sense, will leave a massive hole in the roster. And if they are key players, we are in serious trouble.

The `Canes have likely just gone from transitioning, to rebuilding. And will have to wait until next year to even start building. Which may very well become even more so difficult, if there are also scholarship restrictions tabbed on.

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[Cane from the Bend]

Another thing to note:

If it was true that there were assistant coaches who brought recruits to shapiro in order to get them to sign; then, even if it happened behind the head coach's back, I'm no longer concerned with losing Randy Shannon as a good recruiter.

The biggest drawback in losing someone who can acquire great talent ( even if he didn't know how to developed them ), is in replacement of such a person.

Now, it looks as though Shannon had less to do with the signing of top prospects than once assumed.

Although, this side of the issue has yet to be verified. But, where there is smoke there is something burning.

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Also, Spence;

It is going to be a sad event went the Buckeyes travel to Sun Life in September.

The media is going to make it more about how both teams are dealing with controversy, and off the field issues.

It will be less about football, and more about non-competition adversity.

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[Yeofoot]

This Shapiro guy is a world class scumbag. I'm pretty sure most other colleges' "temptations" from boosters were not even on the same level of "hard to turn down." Colt McCoy apparently had to turn down dinners and hunting trips. These guys were offered a "rap video" lifestyle.

It is unfortunate what transpired, but I am completely disgusted with Shapiro, not as much with the players.

[Cane from the Bend]

The thing that really irks me, is when shapiro said:

"In the 90' Luther Campbell was the guy who provided for these guys . Once he was gone the was a need, and I was the the guy to fill that need."

The only thing Miami needed, was to keep people like this away from the team.

The `Canes were doing fantastic without the influence of campbell. And they continued to improve, rose back to power, regained the national spotlight in a positive way.

Then, when shapiro got involved with the team over the past 8 years, look at what has happened.

He simply proved just how terrible people like this are.

Though, don't get me wrong. The players have the right to say no. I do hold them accountable for their own actions.

But it did all start with shapiro giving $1000 to a player, who never asked for anything.

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[Spence]

Also, Spence;

It is going to be a sad event went the Buckeyes travel to Sun Life in September.

The media is going to make it more about how both teams are dealing with controversy, and off the field issues.

It will be less about football, and more about non-competition adversity.

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I agree. I'm still irked Ohio State kept Gene Smith. I don't know nor will I ever believe that he didn't know about the tatoo thing. Tressel did the wrong thing and there is no denying that, but I still think he fell on a big sword to keep the failure to monitor or lack or control tag from hitting the school. The penalties would have been worse, no doubt, but I wish what I believe to be the whole truth to come out.

[Spence]

I don't believe in cheating, but there isn't much a school can do to stop rogue boosters. Kids get stuff all the time. Maybe lunch, maybe something bigger, but at the end of the day a school can't really monitor them. I doubt most schools really try. It doesn't seem Ohio State did. I hope this isn't as bad as it looks on the surface. This Shapiro guys seems to be a blow hard, big shot type of guy. So maybe there isn't much fire. Ohio State's situation looked worse than it ended up being, so far anyway.

[billybud]

If Miami's administration did not know what whas going down with Shapiro, they had to be blind or willingly dumb.

They did investigate him and found out that he was a part owner of an agent agency. And he still had access. The players knew...some coaches were bringing him recruits to spend momey on while they were in town.

A guy tries to punch out your compliance officer in the school VIP box and that doesn't get him disassociated? Shalala looking down at the $50,000 Shapiro contribution check with glee tells the story. Stolen money..but money talks in Miami.

[GoBoilers]

A past player now comes into play! http://www.jconline.com/article/2011081 ... |FRONTPAGE

[Spence]

If Miami's administration did not know what whas going down with Shapiro, they had to be blind or willingly dumb.

They did investigate him and found out that he was a part owner of an agent agency. And he still had access. The players knew...some coaches were bringing him recruits to spend momey on while they were in town.

A guy tries to punch out your compliance officer in the school VIP box and that doesn't get him disassociated? Shalala looking down at the $50,000 Shapiro contribution check with glee tells the story. Stolen money..but money talks in Miami.

I'm not with the first 250 million fans of Shalala, but I'm going to wait and see what she really knew. If she knew then I agree they should be punished more harshly, but I don't know the whole story yet. I did read that Miami self reported over six months ago.

[donovan]

If Miami's administration did not know what whas going down with Shapiro, they had to be blind or willingly dumb.

They did investigate him and found out that he was a part owner of an agent agency. And he still had access. The players knew...some coaches were bringing him recruits to spend momey on while they were in town.

A guy tries to punch out your compliance officer in the school VIP box and that doesn't get him disassociated? Shalala looking down at the $50,000 Shapiro contribution check with glee tells the story. Stolen money..but money talks in Miami.

I'm not with the first 250 million fans of Shalala, but I'm going to wait and see what she really knew. If she knew then I agree they should be punished more harshly, but I don't know the whole story yet. I did read that Miami self reported over six months ago.

Shalala has been oblivious to most every job, at least the public ones, she has had. No reason to believe that she still isn't.

[billybud]

The NCAA has been forced lately, by media like Yahoo Sports and other blogs to do their investigative job...once it is public, the NCAA must act.

We all remember the old movies..

"The officer spy is seated at his desk. There is a gun on his desk. Someone's at the door. Whomp! Whomp! Banging on the door. Open up! Gestapo! The officer's eyes go to the door, the gun, the door..BANG!"

The current version..."The AD is seated at his desk. There is knocking on his door. Yahoo Sports, can we have a minute? His eyes go to the door, the gun..."

[Cane from the Bend]

Here is the list of names that have been investigated with implementation in regards to the allegations made by ex-booster, nevin shapiro:

Current or Former Miami athletes

Football -

Ray-Ray Armstrong
Jon Beason
Travis Benjamin
Arthur Brown
James Bryant
Calais Campbell
Vernon Carey
Howard Clark
Graig Cooper
Antonio Dixon
Dyron Dye
Dedrick Epps
Kayne Farquharson
Marcus Forston
Orlando Franklin
Vegas Franklin
Jason Geathers
Tavares Gooden
Frank Gore
Cornelius Green
Gavin Hardin
Courtney Harris
Jacory Harris
Orien Harris
Devin Hester
Aldarius Johnson
Andre Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Charlie Jones
Carlos Joseph
William Joseph
Robert Marve
Marcus Maxey
Colin McCarthy
Jerome McDougle
Willis McGahee
Rocky McIntosh
Eric Moncur
Brian Monroe
Tyrone Moss
Javon Nanton
JoJo Nicolas
Adewale Ojomo
Bryan Pata
Kenny Phillips
Randy Phillips
Anthony Reddick
Marcus Robinson
Antrel Rolle
Darryl Sharpton
Sam Shields
Sean Spence
Sean Taylor
Vaughn Telemaque
Santonio Thomas
Olivier Vernon
Jonathan Vilma
Carl Walker
Vince Wilfork
Andrew Williams
D.J. Williams
Leon Williams
Willie Williams
Kellen Winslow Jr.
Reggie Youngblood

Basketball -

DeQuan Jones


Miami Coaches/Staffers

Football -

Sean Allen
Aubrey Hill
Clint Hurtt
Joe Pannunzio
Jeff Stoutland
Ralph Nogueras
Joey Corey

Basketball -

Frank Haith
Jake Morton
Jorge Fernandez

Athletes from other schools

Bryce Brown
Orson Charles
Andre Debose
Jeffrey Godfrey
Matt Patchan
Benard Thomas
Worrell Williams

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I'm not going to be pulling any punches here.

If the allegations are true, then I want it all out in the open.

I will say this with regards to "turning a blind eye" & what if being touted as "the infamous picture of Shalala".

First off > I've never been a fan of Shalala. However, that picture was taken at a moment during a public event with a booster, who just handed her a check for $50,000 towards the athletic department.

Yes, she looked gleeful. It was her job to do so. Especially when that booster is at a microphone in an upbeat environment, where everyone is laughing and having a good time. One of her obligations is to keep boosters happy.

It's not a picture of her being caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
It's a picture taken just after being handed a $50,000 check.

Everyone looks at that check when placed in their hands. The snap on the camera happened to catch the still after she received the donation; as opposed to during the exchange.

As for turning a blind eye > maybe; but to what extent does that mean.

A booster wants to have a player over at their house for dinner, or the Booster wants to be seen with a player, to have pics taken with them. A booster wants to run out of the tunnel with the team ( this last one annoys me, because the media is attempting to use this as the finger print which was left on the smoking gun ).

These are things that are common. There is nothing outlandish in any vision here.

The Booster does not say; "I'm going to take the players out for a night on the town", or, "Hey, how about I get your kids liquored up & show `em a good time", or even, "You know what I think the boys need? A sex party at a hotel with a bunch of prostitutes".

shapiro says Miami coaches were involved; but only mentions them with allegations of introducing the players to a money man who can get them cash & gifts.

Nowhere does he claim these coaches knew everything that was going on. And the media wants us to believe everyone from the President of the school on down was in on it.

The coaches implicated need to be publicly humiliated for their involvement, no doubt. But make sure if you are going to do that, you mark them with what they knew. Not just, they knew.

Those current players listed need to be ousted.

It's over for them. Put a gap in the roster, whatever. They need to be gone.

Names not on the list above:

Anyone who is in administration or on the coaching staff presently.

So who becomes the fall out guy? Who gets the proverbial treaded imprints scuffing their image?

Somebody has to be to blame, because that is the only acceptable solution to the problem ( as far as the common perception is concerned ).

Do you blame a compliance office, who turns itself in 14 months ago, and this story is out in the public view now?

The is something the media only mentions in statements made by the University, but conveniently leaves out of their own coverage.

To me, it's clear > blame all of those whose hand is crimson tinted, and splash their names everywhere for all to see.

However; blaming & penalizing those who were not apart of this is just as horrendous as the acts that took place themselves ( save for the implications of targeting opponents for injury, which is purely abhorrent ).

It's hard enough living down Miami's past as the public knows it.

It is going to be even harder to live down the present, when it's not presently happening ( even though the common media informed individuals will say " it is true, Miami never change their ways, I saw it on espn, ").

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