U. of Miami = Toast

[Moranis]

http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news;_ylt=ArSJqfMJyiHzmvFHbqEuqD05nYcB?slug=cr-renegade_miami_booster_details_illicit_benefits_081611

This is astonishing.  The breadth and depth of the allegations is massive.  Much of the boosters story has been corroborated by former players, coaches, and others on the periphery, and as well as the actual records maintained by the booster. 

If there was ever going to be another program hit with the "death penalty" I believe this meets all the criteria i.e. coaches involved (both football and basketball at least 3 at each), multiple years (2002-2010, which was 2 different head coaches and their staffs), Yahoo confirmed 72 players from the paper records and independent research (the booster claims it was well over 100), massive amounts of cash (wilfork alone allegedly took 50k in a lump sum among many other benefits), other illicit benefits (jewelry, parties, prostitutes, strip clubs, etc.), both recruits and players received benefits, and on and on.

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

[Chris]

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

[Donoghus]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

[fairweatherfan]

Major program football is a complete sham, and major program basketball probably isn't far behind. 

I'm not quite cynical enough to think that every big athletic school is doing things at the size and scope of what we're seeing here, but I think the difference is just one of degree.

[Finkelskyhook]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

If the Miami program hadn't faded in prominence it would be treated with the same intense level of "dicipline" that Ohio State was..lol.

I'm thinking that Miami is going to be the NCAA skapegoat and used as an "example".

[Moranis]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

If the Miami program hadn't faded in prominence it would be treated with the same intense level of "dicipline" that Ohio State was..lol.

I'm thinking that Miami is going to be the NCAA skapegoat and used as an "example".

what was reported at Ohio State and Miami is world's apart.  Miami is much much worse and it isn't close. 

[Donoghus]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

If the Miami program hadn't faded in prominence it would be treated with the same intense level of "dicipline" that Ohio State was..lol.

I'm thinking that Miami is going to be the NCAA skapegoat and used as an "example".

Its about time that the NCAA did something like that.  I just think its an absolute joke of an organization and won't have the fortitude to do it.


It's about time that some program got blasted to send a message to everyone else, though.

[Moranis]

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Oh I'm well aware that all the major programs have slip ups and violations, but the level of this really is astonishing.  The shear dollars at play alone is obscene.  The grand extravagant parties that the players were going to, in the open and public is crazy.  

100 dollar handshakes here and there occur everywhere, but I suspect there aren't 50k payments being tossed around like candy at most places.

[wdleehi]

They drop the hammer, they really hurt the ACC football.  (If Florida State is leaving for the SEC)


They should drop the hammer, but the money loss among other teams in the ACC (and it does effect those teams) might make the NCAA do another wrist slap.

[Chris]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

If the Miami program hadn't faded in prominence it would be treated with the same intense level of "dicipline" that Ohio State was..lol.

I'm thinking that Miami is going to be the NCAA skapegoat and used as an "example".

what was reported at Ohio State and Miami is world's apart.  Miami is much much worse and it isn't close. 

But the point is, if Miami was in the position Ohio State is, all this stuff being reported wouldn't have been found.  

I am not one for conspiracies, but in this case I make an exception.  I think the NCAA looks the other way whenever they can, particularly with a major program.  

If there is something brought to their attention, like the Ohio State thing, they will make a show of it, and slap them on the wrist, but not really dig anymore.  

With Miami, who have basically been in shambles for years anyways, they really will have no problem making an example of them, so they can say "look at how deep we dug, you can't say we look the other way".

This is just like the Mitchell Report in baseball.  They chose a handful of scapegoats who were already basically at the end of their careers or retired.  Big enough names, so that they wouldn't be accused of just going after the little fish, and then put on a dog and pony show.

I am not saying that Mitchell saw and ignored say, Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols, I just think he chose not to investigate them, the same way he investigated lesser players, and guys who were no longer a big asset to the league.  

It's a great strategy, and it is very effective, because most people's first thought is "wow, they wouldn't throw a big star like Roger Clemens under the bus if they didn't have to"...but in reality, they had no problem with that, because it saved them from having to investigate the stars who were still selling tickets.

[Chris]

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Oh I'm well aware that all the major programs have slip ups and violations, but the level of this really is astonishing.  The shear dollars at play alone is obscene.  The grand extravagant parties that the players were going to, in the open and public is crazy.  

100 dollar handshakes here and there occur everywhere, but I suspect there aren't 50k payments being tossed around like candy at most places.

Maybe not "most" places...but I think there are is a lot of that going around at many different programs. 

[Finkelskyhook]

After SMU, I doubt the NCAA will ever have the cajones to dish out another "death penalty".

Totally astonishing the shear volume and level that this hits.

I don't find it astonishing at all.  I would be much more astonished if the exact same thing wasn't going on at the majority of major programs. 

To me, this is like steroids in baseball.  Everyone has known its been going on, but they look the other way unless they are given a blatant reason to have to pay attention. 

And even if they do go much further into it, they will barely touch the tip of it, since the system has been in place for years for all of this to go on unnoticed, since it is beneficial to the programs.

Totally agree.  Miami's problem is that they got caught.

If the Miami program hadn't faded in prominence it would be treated with the same intense level of "dicipline" that Ohio State was..lol.

I'm thinking that Miami is going to be the NCAA skapegoat and used as an "example".

Its about time that the NCAA did something like that.  I just think its an absolute joke of an organization and won't have the fortitude to do it.


It's about time that some program got blasted to send a message to everyone else, though.

The only problem, the "some program" should have been Ohio State.  The "some program" should have been virtually any of Calipari's schools.  

Instead they'll use a flegling program like Miami as an example.

The organization is a joke.....But it'll remain a profitable one without credibility.  

--------------------

Brilliant post and analogy, Chris.  I found it amazing that no current MLB star and no current member of the commissioner's handpicked political hack "investigator's"  team was found to be dirty.

[Chris]

Brilliant post and analogy, Chris.  I found it amazing that no current MLB star and no current member of the commissioner's handpicked political hack "investigator's"  team was found to be dirty.

In writing that I wanted to be sure I was remembering correctly, and I looked at the list of players in the report again...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/13/sports/20071213_MITCHELL_FEATURE.html

I can't see how anyone can look at that and not think its a misdirection.  Brilliant business move though.

The only reason why I am not 100% convinced that the NCAA will come down on Miami the way MLB came down on Clemens and a bunch of scrubs is that I am not sure there is a legit public outcry about this stuff...and this is why there hasn't been a message sent in the past.  When it comes down to it, the majority of people don't really care, and in fact, there is a huge part of the fanbase who feel like the players "deserve" it.  So, making an example of Miami may not even happen, because the NCAA doesn't have that much motivation to make it even appear like they will do anything.

[Moranis]

But the point is, if Miami was in the position Ohio State is, all this stuff being reported wouldn't have been found.  

Not likely since it all came from the same source and he is in jail and has an axe to grind.  That could happen to any program at any time.

I am not one for conspiracies, but in this case I make an exception.  I think the NCAA looks the other way whenever they can, particularly with a major program.  

I think the NCAA relies on self reporting as much as possible, but don't think they intentionally look the other way.  When they get wind of something, they investigate and punish.

If there is something brought to their attention, like the Ohio State thing, they will make a show of it, and slap them on the wrist, but not really dig anymore.  

I think the Ohio State thing really isn't that big a deal.  Some players sold some of their own merchandise for tatoos and discounts.  Not really a big deal in the scheme of things.  Granted the NCAA is still investigating so who knows what else will be found.

With Miami, who have basically been in shambles for years anyways, they really will have no problem making an example of them, so they can say "look at how deep we dug, you can't say we look the other way".

Miami has struggled of late sure, but they are still a major program.

This is just like the Mitchell Report in baseball.  They chose a handful of scapegoats who were already basically at the end of their careers or retired.  Big enough names, so that they wouldn't be accused of just going after the little fish, and then put on a dog and pony show.

they basically had two sources for that thing, so it pretty much just identified players that the sources could link.  It wasn't all encompassing and was never meant to be, but it had enough players identified from all positions and skill levels to show baseball had a problem, which is all it was supposed to do.  It wasn't about outing players or prosecuting, its whole purpose was to show baseball had a problem.

I am not saying that Mitchell saw and ignored say, Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols, I just think he chose not to investigate them, the same way he investigated lesser players, and guys who were no longer a big asset to the league.  

He investigated sources.  His sources gave him the names and when he achieved his goal (see my quote above) he stopped looking.  Since there was nothing baseball was going to do to anyone identified int he report there was absolutely no reason to investigate past what he did.

It's a great strategy, and it is very effective, because most people's first thought is "wow, they wouldn't throw a big star like Roger Clemens under the bus if they didn't have to"...but in reality, they had no problem with that, because it saved them from having to investigate the stars who were still selling tickets.

You have confused the purpose of the Mitchell Report.  It was just about showing there was a problem to get the players to agree to more stringent testing and to satisfy congress that baseball looked into it.  It wasn't about outing anyone.

[BballTim]

100 dollar handshakes here and there occur everywhere, but I suspect there aren't 50k payments being tossed around like candy at most places.

  I remember reading somewhere that Isiah Thomas was allegedly offered a new house for his family if he attended a college (that he didn't end up going to).