Miami “lacked institutional control” when it did not monitor booster Nevin Shapiro’s activities, the NCAA stated in releasing its report on the Miami investigation Tuesday.
But the NCAA acknowledged Miami’s self-imposed penalties since the investigation began more than two years ago. Miami did not play in bowl games the past two seasons and also missed last season’s ACC Championship game as part of its penalties. The university also limited its recruiting as part of its punishment.
"The Committee on Infractions report closes a challenging chapter in the history of the University of Miami," said university president Donna E. Shalala. "I am grateful to our coaches, staff and student-athletes for their dedication to the University and to intercollegiate athletics. I also want to thank Atlantic Coast Commissioner John Swofford for his steadfast suppport.
"Finally, I want to apologize to the Hurricane family, as we have always asked for your patience, faith, and support during a difficult time. Thank you for standing with us."
On Tuesday, the NCAA announced the following penalties:
— Three years probation from Oct. 22, 2013 through Oct. 21, 2016
— Public reprimand and censure
— A loss of nine scholarships over the next three seasons: 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
— Miami can only provide a recruiting prospect on official visits complementary tickets for one game during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
— Two former assistant coaches — Clint Hurtt and Aubrey Hill — received two-year show cause penalties.
Hurtt is an associate head coach at Louisville, in charge of the defensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator. Hill joined the Florida staff in 2010, but resigned before the 2012 season.
“Many of Miami’s violations were undetected by the university over a 10-year period, and they centered on a booster entertaining prospects and student-athletes at his home, on his yacht and in various restaurants and clubs,” the NCAA said in its release. “Approximately 30 student-athletes were involved with the booster. Several football coaches, three men’s basketball coaches and two athletics department staff members were also involved in the case. These staff members had a poor understanding of NCAA rules or felt comfortable breaking them. Furthermore, some of the coaches provided false information during the enforcement staff and university’s investigation.”
The investigation looked into Shapiro, the former UM booster and a convicted felon, and his relationship with both the Miami football and basketball teams.
Shapiro made the allegations months after federal authorities charged him in April 2010 with bilking investors of at least $900 million in a Ponzi scheme. He is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison in North Carolina.
Miami was hoping to find out its NCAA punishment before fall practice begin. When that didn’t happen, the hope was that it would know before the season started. But that didn’t happen, either.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are off to a 6-0 start, which includes a win against in-state rival Florida, and are ranked No. 7 in the country.
"Our honest and committed efforts to address these allegations have made us stronger," Miami AD Blake James said in a statement. "We have already taken many proactive steps to ameliorate any concerns, and we will continue to improve in all areas. Now it is time we look ahead and work diligently to support our student-athletes."
LOUISVILLE KEEPS HURTT
Despite being dealt a two-year show cause penalty, Louisville associate head coach Clint Hurtt will remain with the Cardinals, university AD Tom Jurich announced Tuesday after the NCAA announced penalties against Miami.
Hurtt is a former assistant at Miami.
Jurich said that Louisville has “further proposed actions” against Hurtt, including:
— His salary will be frozen for two years and he will not get raises or bonuses from May 20, 2013 through May 20, 2015.
— He has to attend and pay for NCAA regional rules seminars in 2014 and 2015.
— Hurtt faces a “zero tolerance” policy on violations during the rest of his contract with Louisville.
SWINNEY SEEING ORANGE
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney did have a better view than most of us.
Maybe that explains why he made the statement he made Tuesday, just several days after his third-ranked Tigers were routed at home, 51-14, to No. 5 Florida State.
Swinney said that after watching film that if the two teams played 10 times, “We’d probably win five, they’d probably win five.”
He said that the Seminoles were a great football team.
“That’s not taking anything away from them; they played a heck of a game, and we certainly didn’t give ourselves a chance. We didn’t give our fans a chance. You can’t make those mistakes and even really assess it as far as where you are competitively.
“They’ve got a couple of areas where they’re a little bit ahead of us, that I think we’re going to catch up.”
JACKSON STATE PONDERS SUIT
A nearly weeklong boycott by the Grambling State University's football team including forfeiting its game at Jackson State has made more people aware of the campus's financial struggles and drummed up interest from donors around the country, Grambling's president said Tuesday.
For its part, Jackson State said late Tuesday night that its losses over canceling its homecoming game Saturday could cost the school and the city millions and that it "plans to pursue litigation against Grambling State and others," which could cause Grambling even more headaches.
Grambling President Frank Pogue told the University of Louisiana System board that oversees the historically black college that "it's a rarity for any athletic team to come together to abandon their commitment to an institution by walking off the field. It's a very unique experience. But we're using this as an opportunity of learning, a teachable moment."
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press