# HUGE allegations against the University of Miami football program **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 17, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984 "2011-08-17T02:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/21 "2011-08-17T15:11:26Z")
He revealed his involvement to the feds nearly a year ago while cooperating in their investigation, as part of his plea bargain. Yahoo! Sports picked it up and dug into the bankruptcy records and interviewed people. Since it was going to be in the open, this Shapiro guy probably said “Screw it, might as well tell my side.” I believe pretty much everything he says. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/22 "2011-08-17T15:16:44Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > he’s a scumbag who made his fortune out of scamming people. Now he wants to come clean? > [@astorian](#): > > Why is Nevin Shapiro telling people about this NOW? Are we to believe a con artist and thief of Shapiro’s brazenness just had an attack of conscience? Yahoo says he’s going public because he’s angry. (And like **MOIDALIZE** said, the finances were disclosed in his criminal case.) When he got busted, everybody at Miami acted like they didn’t know him because they didn’t want to be associated with him. That’s one of the risks of a system like this: someone gets caught, everyone turns their backs, and then the person who gets caught is upset and goes public. I’m one of the people who say nobody will ever get the death penalty again, but wow, this is enormous. They even managed to work abortion in there. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/23 "2011-08-17T15:20:01Z")
Beaten to the punch, but this came out a year ago: [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/29/1797096/new-book-to-allege-violations.html](http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/29/1797096/new-book-to-allege-violations.html) He never got a chance to get his book published, of course, and I’d imagine that book deal is worthless now that Yahoo! has put out so much info. I also agree that he’s just trying to weasel his way out of his share of responsability, which makes sense for a weasel. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/24 "2011-08-17T15:23:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m one of the people who say nobody will ever get the death penalty again, but wow, this is enormous. They even managed to work abortion in there. The details of that are to be taken with a grain of salt or more. An unnamed player went to a strip club and had sex with a stripper. Certainly plausible/likely. But he’s the only guy she had sex with, and she knew she was pregnant after 2 weeks, so he paid for the abortion? And he didn’t tell the player? Sure, I’ll buy that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/25 "2011-08-17T15:27:23Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > The details of that are to be taken with a grain of salt or more. An unnamed player went to a strip club and had sex with a stripper. Certainly plausible/likely. But he’s the only guy she had sex with, and she knew she was pregnant after 2 weeks, so he paid for the abortion? And he didn’t tell the player? Sure, I’ll buy that. We can’t really evaluate it since there are no names in the story (although they evidently did get the player’s name from Shapiro). I’m just saying that the story even manages to touch on that controversial issue. I don’t think it’s implausible but I’m inclined to think the story is generally true. We’ll see if the inquiry bears it out. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/26 "2011-08-17T19:55:08Z")
Since Miami is playing Ohio St next month, I guess it will be dubbed the “Inelig-Bowl” ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/27 "2011-08-17T20:23:56Z")
Assuming the 12 players named are forced to sit during the investigation, we’ll only be without our best linebacker, the 2 starting safeties and their top back-up, our best DE, and a top-2 wr. Nevermind the depth. At least our qb situation looks to be settled. Jacory Harris’ penchant for throwing lots and lots of INTs will be eliminated. Also, the team’s strength was already going to be running the ball, and the top 2 RBs and all the O-linemen look like they’ll be alright. Miami 56 OSU\* 49 ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/28 "2011-08-18T03:36:11Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Miami 56 > OSU\* 49 This is how Vegas pays for giant hotels. Dude, you guys are a 7-5 team _at best_ this year. OSU, Va Tech, and FSU are all going to spank your ass. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/29 "2011-08-18T11:13:50Z")
Speaking of ESPN, they’ve upped it to millions. > **[Schlabach: Allegations 'disgust' former Canes](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/6872043/former-miamia-hurricanes-disappointed-allegations)** > > The allegations against the Miami football program made by former booster Nevin Shapiro have hit former Hurricanes players like Gino Torretta and Dan Sileo hard. > [@](#): > > Shapiro, who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and is currently being held in Atlanta, told Yahoo! Sports that he provided millions of dollars in improper benefits to 72 current and former Miami football players. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/30 "2011-08-18T13:11:32Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > This is how Vegas pays for giant hotels. Dude, you guys are a 7-5 team _at best_ this year. OSU, Va Tech, and FSU are all going to spank your ass. I don’t bet. And it was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/31 "2011-08-18T21:33:14Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > I don’t bet. And it was a joke. Oh. Well, whoosh on me. For what’s it worth, as a life-long Seminole fan, I hate this situation. Look, “The U” made convenient bad guys for a lot of years and certainly, you had Bobby’s number for years, but I would still rather play and beat (or not) competition at the top of their game. Abusing a down team just seems…meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/32 "2011-08-19T00:02:31Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Oh. Well, whoosh on me. > > For what’s it worth, as a life-long Seminole fan, I hate this situation. Look, “The U” made convenient bad guys for a lot of years and certainly, you had Bobby’s number for years, but I would still rather play and beat (or not) competition at the top of their game. Abusing a down team just seems…meaningless. Agreed. Growing up, Miami-FSU was THE game for cfb, and so it always will be for me. It finally looked like both could get back up high, especially with Meyer leaving UF. Now this. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/33 "2011-08-19T01:57:36Z")
Here’s an interesting [read](http://allabouttheu.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/renegade-reporter-spells-out-litany-of-accusations-while-often-failing-to-substantiate-his-claims/) (very long). Yes, I’m a Miami fan linking a column from a Miami fansite, but it provides a bit of context to the Yahoo! articles. > [@](#): > > The main point of contention, the reason why the national media is calling for the death penalty, the reason Miami is being compared to SMU, is that Yahoo! cataloged 72 players involved. That’s a huge number. Almost all pundits preface their comments by saying, ‘if true” and then launch into an attack that assumes truth. College Football News’ Russ Mitchell exclaimed, “First things first – if there’s any doubt that Yahoo! Sports has cemented its position as the preeminent sports investigative reporting organization of this time, leave it at the door.” > > Well, I will pick up those doubts and bring them back in the house. Because, as you scrutinize Yahoo!’s claims in the same manner that Yahoo! failed to scrutinize Shapiro’s claims, you will find a pattern of lazy journalism and in some cases willful deceit. Rather than writing “if true” and then assuming truth, all you have to do is click on the player’s names and read the specific accusations. Anyone can do it, which is why it is so shocking that no one in the national media has pointed the finger at Yahoo! [Here](http://www.wqam.com/index.php?page=347)’s something else I saw last night, with an interesting quote (as transcribed elsewhere, the link is audio): > [@](#): > > “My friend Charles Robinson…” Note that this quote is from Maria Elena Perez, the attorney for Shapiro. I’m not a lawyer nor a journalist, but in a case like this, should either of these people be using the term “my friend” when referring to the other? Maybe that’s a nitpick, or maybe it’s taken out of context. But it’s a bothersome quote at face value. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/34 "2011-08-19T05:15:08Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Here’s an interesting [read](http://allabouttheu.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/renegade-reporter-spells-out-litany-of-accusations-while-often-failing-to-substantiate-his-claims/) (very long). Yes, I’m a Miami fan linking a column from a Miami fansite, but it provides a bit of context to the Yahoo! articles. That wasn’t terribly convincing. Basically, his argument boils down to “They haven’t printed all the evidence they have in the Yahoo article!” Given that there’s apparently eleventy-billion pages of evidence, thousands of photos, and hundreds of interviews, I can only respond with “No shit, Sherlock.” The only thing that _might_ save Miami is that it appears that former coach Randy Shannon did specifically try to keep Shapiro away from the program (but not entirely successfully). But really, the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that if Miami doesn’t get the death penalty for these violations, then no major football program will ever get the death penalty again, so go ahead and pay your players all you want because the punishment won’t be that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/35 "2011-08-19T06:35:59Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > It seems that Miami’s AD during most of this period, Paul Dee, was also the chairman of the compliance committee that whacked USC. > > [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart\_mandel/08/16/miami.hurricanes.allegations.reaction/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp\_t11\_a2](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/08/16/miami.hurricanes.allegations.reaction/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2) That article is effin’ beautiful. Paul Dee, you get an F. Go eff yourself, effin’ hypocrite. (USC fan chiming in.) ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/36 "2011-08-19T09:58:22Z")
Come on, Yahoo Sports, what about Auburn? Surely you can’t believe that Cam Newton had NO IDEA Daddy got all the money for him. I know, patience. It took them 4 years to get USC and, apparently, Miami. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/37 "2011-08-19T13:55:19Z")
> [@quixotic78](#): > > Given that there’s apparently eleventy-billion pages of evidence, thousands of photos, and hundreds of interviews, I can only respond with “No shit, Sherlock.” Hell, one of the photos they ran is Shapiro in a nightclub VIP area with football players and assistant basketball coaches. That is lack of institutional control. > [@](#): > > But really, the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that if Miami doesn’t get the death penalty for these violations, then no major football program will ever get the death penalty again, so go ahead and pay your players all you want because the punishment won’t be that bad. I agree. And I don’t think that dropping the death penalty bomb every 25 years could be considered excessive. And like Mandel points out, if USC lost 2 years of post season play and 30 scholarships for what happened with one player, what punishment would Miami get for issues with 72 players? If the NCAA has to pay payroll tax if were to players get paid, an you know they don’t want to pay it, they have to use the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/38 "2011-08-19T14:43:53Z")
Hey, on the bright side, the U won a couple of national championships the last time they came off sanctions, IIRC. What pisses me off is that this could do serious damage to the other Florida schools because the U and/or Shapiro apparently gave a bunch of improper benefits to recruits who wound up signing elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/39 "2011-08-19T16:37:11Z")
I like how we’re hearing the common refrain “This wouldn’t happen if we only paid college players”. I’m thinking they wouldn’t get paid enough to afford all that bling, cars, yachts, abortions, and other VIP treatment. You never hear “Team is on probation because an agent/booster helped a player feed his family” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984/40 "2011-08-19T16:38:37Z")
Agreed. I’m not necessarily opposed to paying college players, but it would have minimal impact on how many players take improper benefits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-allegations-against-the-university-of-miami-football-program/592984.md?page=3)