University of Miami and New Allegations...The Fallout

Let me start by saying as a University of Miami Hurricane fan, my heart breaks. It breaks for new Head Coach Al Golden, who stepped away from a blossoming program at Temple to lead the new era for the U, it breaks for his new coaching staff who also came to Miami thinking they would usher in the new winning era for the team, and it breaks for those kids not involved in this. This is a disgusting display of an out of control booster, wrongdoing by coaches, and most importantly, administrators at the University.

I won't re-hash the allegations against Miami - you can read all the gory details here, as uncovered by Senior Investigative Reporter for Yahoo! Sports, Charles Robinson. It's so bad you want to look away. This very well could be the end for the Hurricanes football program. There are so many players and coaches involved in this thing, it wouldn't shock me to see the death penalty a la SMU. In my opinion, though, I think what happens to the U will be worse than death. I see a sentence far worse than what we see at USC and Ohio State, or any other school dealing with major NCAA infractions. It will be close to the brink, so much so, that they will be unable to recruit, unable to retain, and unable to reestablish. A fate, in my opinion, worse than death for the once great program.

Quite frankly, I'm at a total loss for words when it comes to the University of Miami administration's actions...especially those of UM President Donna Shalala. The administration KNEW that Nevin Shapiro had been illicitly involved with UM student-athletes. They knew that he was not a standup guy (altercations with the head of Compliance?! How was this not investigated?!) and knew of his transgressions...for over a year. How dare this program not tell Al Golden and his staff? It blows my mind.

The only statement UM can muster? "As stated this morning, the University of Miami takes any allegations seriously and will continue to cooperate fully in a joint investigation with the NCAA." Oh, so NOW you cooperate. Sounds good, Miami. This morning, more news comes pouring out from Shapiro's lawyer, stating that now former football head coaches Randy Shannon and Larry Coker were involved and knew full well of Shapiro's activity from 2002-2010. How is this man, currently incarcerated for being a crook and criminal, doing this? How could UM not have said "perhaps we should keep this guy away from our kids?" How could an administration knowingly not take action. There is so much wrong here, so many people wrong. To see guys that I respected as men and players on "the list" of those who interacted with him - Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Jonathan Vilma, Devin Hester, Sean Spence, Kellen Winslow, Jr, etc... is a brutal reality that this happened...and that it continued to happen and affects players currently on the roster (ie: Jacory Harris, Ray Ray Armstrong, et. al.). Unbelievable.

The University of Miami administration needs to step up and get in front of microphones and cameras and talk. This responsibility should not fall on Al Golden. Period. End of story. In his presser this morning, Golden showed grace and class in this whirlwind of chaos and said "How did this guy, if he did, how did he get around our players like that? Me, as a head coach, wants to know." You're damn right he wants to know, and deserves to know what the hell kind of mess he just walked into.

What now? What about the kids who have been sold on Coach Golden and his staff...the new "Golden Era" at UM? It's reality check time. It won't exist. Al Golden was the future of this program, and because of past actions and disgusting behavior from previous coaches, administrators, and players, it is ruined. When I became a UM fan, I learned of the "U Family." My boyfriend of 4 years grew up in the Orange Bowl. He grew up loving guys like Ken Dorsey. He held the winning ideology of the program to his heart and he learned toughness from watching players like Devin Hester, Willis McGahee, and Frank Gore. Where are they at a time like this? As he said, "Some U family this is." He's beside himself. He has been a fan since he was a small boy, a lover of the orange and green, though the good and the bad. He truly loves Miami. He feels cheated, slighted, and is without words. You know what? He's right and he's justified in this feeling. Where is the U Family? Why aren't we working together as a family to prop each other up? This is beyond sad...it's heartbreaking.

I fear that we will soon learn more and become inundated with "Thug U" all over again. It's like a flashback, but worse this time around. There are more than just Miami players and coaches involved, here, and I'm sure they will be feeling the pressure soon (word is Clint Hurtt is already in deep). I'll be keeping my eye on this story and updating as I can...I'm sure it will be in our faces for some time.

Below is Coach Golden's presser this morning. Classy, tasteful, strong.



Until next time...
S.