Mom of Miami basketball player denies payment request

Nevin Shapiro

((ht: miamiherald.com))

Several of the people named in the Yahoo story about rogue University of Miami booster Nevin Shapiro are vehemently denying the allegations.

Among them, the mother and two coaches of UM basketball player DeQuan Jones.

The Miami Herald reached out to Jones's mother Irene Bell who tells them "The whole thing is such a lie".
 Bell says she did her homework and worked hard to provide for Jones and the thought of exploiting or taking money for her sons services would have made her walk away.

Jones's AAU coach and former high school coach added the timeline didn't add up either. They say the Yahoo story alleges the $10,000 payment request for him to come play there came after he was already committed and enrolled at the Coral Gables school.

Read more from the Miami Herald RIGHT HERE

We aren't sure who to believe here. Shapiro claims there is a witness, though Shaprio himself never met the kid and that then Miami assistant Jake Morton took care of the transaction.

The story also goes on to mention Irene Bell didn't need the money mentioned.

The quandry this poses is how do you prove all these allegations and who's story do you believe. And while the NCAA has been proactive thus far and obviously has something to work with as evidenced by the quick suspension of 8 current UM football players earlier this week, the older charges are going to be much harder to prove.

And as much as most Hurricane supporters and almost all journalists want this to be finished already, it's going to take a long time. We don't believe that every allegation made by Shapiro will be proven, quite honestly, we'll guess that maybe 50-percent get proven. But it will be enough to get the school in serious trouble or shut down as many writers have suggested? Well, that remains to be seen...

8 Hurricanes face various suspensions in 2011

Nevin Shapiro in the jersey

Well, the 1st ripple of the Nevin Shapiro/University of Miami saga has already played itself out.

8 Current Miami players are facing various forms of suspension and repayment penalties per a release issued by the NCAA their ownselves.

Olivier Vernon will get the stiffest penaly, 6 games and repayment of the $1200 worth of benefits the NCAA determined he received.

Aravious Armstrong and Dyron Dye: 4 games and over $730 in repayments each. Vernon, Dye and Armstrong allegedly got their benefits while being recruited.

5 players got benefits while already there according to the NCAA: Marcus Fortson, Sean Ryan Spence, Adwale Ojomo, Travis Benjamin and Jacory Harris. All 5 of these guys will miss a game and repay anywhere from $140 to $400.

Read the entire NCAA release RIGHT HERE

It's pretty obvious the NCAA has a detailed account of many of things alleged by former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro. And they seem to have a lot of it already documented.

Quite honestly, the current 'Canes are getting off fairly easy, though Mr. Vernon may have a challenge paying off the $1200.

The question is where do they go next. These infractions unto themselves, while serious, aren't nearly as deadly as many of the older allegations. And those allegations will be the hardest to prove.

This isn't the end of this story...and it probably isn't even the mid-point. So stay tuned, hold on, because there is much, much more to come.

Canes Make 8 Ineligible For Maryland

Including QB Jacory Harris and LB Sean Spence...

And what this action does, really, is force the NCAA into a more immediate investigation into the eligibility (or lack thereof) of the athletes involved in the current Nevin Shapiro entanglement...

The HQ gets this gambit completely...

Auburn did the same thing with Cam Newton and forced the NCAA's hand into declaring him eligible. Miami is hoping the same thing will happen with their ineligibilities...

Is that a word...??? It is now...

Susan Miller Degnan's piece in the Miami Herald detailing everything is hyah...

Another five players, all believed to be footballers, were not declared ineligible because the school believes the value of the gift was less than $100.

Here's Al Golden having to answer questions about stuff he shouldn't have to answer...
((HT: WFOR-TV Miami))


The only downside to the whole reinstatement process is that the NCAA looks at each case individually, so Miami will have to wait. Golden was set to name all of his eligible players Tuesday as preparation for the game against Maryland...

UPDATE:

Here's Miami head coach Al Golden Friday morning before practice. (Thanks Canes All Access)

No Depth Chart From Miami, Golden May Suspend At Least 12 Players

[HT; CBS Sports.com]

Miami head coach Al Golden has not released the Hurricanes depth chart for the season opener against Maryland Labor Day night.

According to CBS Sports.com Golden confirmed that at least 12 players will most likely be ruled ineligible by the university in hopes they will be cleared by the NCAA before the season opener.

Al Golden addressed the media Thursday morning before practice.

Shalala Admits 15 Under Investigation at UM

((HT: umcommunications))

Miami president Donna Shalala says university compliance officers are looking into the eligibility of 15 Hurricanes players who have been implicated by Nevin Shapiro's conversation with Charles Robinson.

In a video message released Monday, Shalala says the university "will move through the process thoroughly."

Here's her message to the community...


Five months ago, NCAA officials say that they started investigating Shapiro's claims. President Shalala says Miami has retained attorneys who specialize in NCAA investigations to assist with the process.

Of course, she has... she needs to keep an eye on her career dissipation light as well... remember the photo of her at the bowling alley...???

We all do now...

University of Miami parents getting pissed

Alonzo Highsmith

((ht: miamiherald))

They are pissed and they aren't going to take it anymore. Well, they really are pissed, but I don't know about the taking it part.

Anyway, the father of former Miami cornerback Sam Shields is not happy. And he doesn't believe his son did anything wrong.

The father of current Hurricanes safety A.J Highsmith, who wasn't implicated in any of this mess, has some issues with all the implications too. Former Hurricane Alonzo Highsmith says he's contemplating a lawsuit against the NCAA on behalf of parents with kids playing football.

Alonzo Highsmith told the Miami Herald that the kids are the ones suffering for the indiscretions of the adults. Or of a select few players. And he's not wrong.

Read the entire story from the Miami Herald RIGHT HERE

We kind of agree with Highsmith about this, but it won't change. We've, in the past, advocated punishing the adults in all of this and questioned why the current players have to suffer from the indiscretions of past players. And it is a legitimate question.

We know full well that Highsmith's lawsuit won't get anywhere, but we hope it at least will initiate some discussion. It goes back to the NCAA's desperate need to reevaluate the way they dole out punishment to rule breaking schools.

We spoke yesterday about the talk of a "Death Penalty" for the "U" because of all of this and NCAA president Mark Emmert didn't do anything to dissuade that talk by saying he is "Not against using it". But he won't here. It again would be a blatant case of the NCAA punishing the innocent people who didn't do anything.

If someone should be punished, it should be the compliance officials. It should be the coaches and boosters. It should be the guys like Nevin Shapiro. It's somewhat cliche', but really it is all about "Don't hate the player, hate the game"

Opinion: Will Miami survive the hoopla?

The "U"

Yes. By now, most of you are familiar with the current craziness going on at the University of Miami. You know about Nevin Shapiro. You know about the allegations he has made. And you also know about the lengthy report on the whole thing delivered by Yahoo sports.

But the questions are beginning to surface. If this is all true, what does the NCAA do? The list of high profile schools in trouble seems to grow every couple of months. Yes, the NCAA threw a pretty big penalty on USC, and they should have. They are still contemplating what to do with Ohio State and depending on who you listen to, it may or may not be serious.

This case....could be different. Miami is not without a past. They've skirted and in some cases crossed the line in the past. But it has never been this serious.

In that vein, many columnists and so-called-"In the know" sportswriters are saying they should get "The Death Penalty". You know, shutting down the program.

That ain't gonna happen.

Yes, they will be penalized. And a lot of people have already convicted the school. And convicted them on the word of a guy about to spend a long time in prison after stealing hundreds of millions from people. There is no guarantee everything he said was true.

There's talk that if Miami gets a version of the "Death Penalty", they'll be shunned by everybody. Really. Would the ACC say bye-bye to a football program that couldn't compete? Could they? Where would they go? And actually, a weakened Miami, wouldn't be much worse than any other of the mediocre teams in that conference.

No, we don't think that will happen. Why? Because the program isn't going to say "bye-bye". And the ACC would be crazy to get rid of them. The conference is already a prime candidate to be raided, they are in danger of not surviving the "Mega-Conference" scenario even if they do nothing.

Yes, this story deserves to be played out and we really think this may be the case that forces the NCAA to change the way things are done. It should.

In the meantime, though it is early, here is what we think will happen. Miami will be put on "Double Secret Probation for a long time--say 10 years. There will be a bowl ban. They won't be on TV for a long, long time. There will be scholarship reductions. There will be a revamped compliance department. Some people, administrators will lose their jobs. And the once vaunted program will not be what it was for at least a generation.

This is only fitting:

Nevin Shapiro Speaks...

((HT: WFOR-TV Miami))

Sports Director Jim Berry caught up with wannabe-mogul and currently-busted Miami booster and Ponzi scheme accusee Nevin Shapiro to get his opinions on the explosive Yahoo!Sports article- which details "Little Luke" being in touch with six doxen athletes and/or coaches...

Here's the conversation...


Now, we all know that Shapiro has an axe-and-a-half to grind since he received no assistance from the guys he helped out when they were coming out at Da U...

But, we all know that if the death penalty isn't in play here, something is definitely wrong with the NCAA...

More when we know more...

Remember the Name Nevin Shapiro...**UPDATED**

**UPDATED AT THE BOTTOM**

Since he may bring all sorts of fun, allegations, and infractions to the University of Miami before it's all said and done...

Shapiro has a relationship with Da U that goes back almost ten years or so. He claimed that he had players on his yacht and gave a handful of players, what the NCAA would consider, illegal benefits. Some of the alleged incidents occurred in the past four years, which would be within the NCAA's statute of limitations regarding violations.

Miami officials said that when Shapiro first made his allegations nearly a year ago, he and his attorneys refused to provide any facts to the school.

"The university notified the NCAA enforcement officials of these allegations," the school said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with the NCAA and are conducting a joint investigation. The University of Miami takes these matters very seriously."

Miami head coach Al Golden knows that some things may have gone wrong, but he obviously wouldn't have any idea on what since he wasn't around then...

He addressed the matter before practice...
((HT: WFOR-TV))


Why is Shapiro coming out with all of this now...???
He's coming up on Ponzi scheme charges and has a book coming out as well...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
**UPDATE 5:45 p.m**---Holy crap! Yahoo Sports just published an in-depth investigation that the incredibly awesome Charles Robinson has been working on since December.

To say this is incredible stuff would be underselling incredible--

Read the story RIGHT HERE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey, did you know we wrote a book that has nothing to do with Miami...???

Former star recruit Willie Williams resurfaces...in jail

Willie Williams/Courtesy: Kenton County Jail

((ht:local12.com))

If you have been a regular OSG Sports reader than you are probably familiar with the case of former prize football recruit Willie Williams.

You can read previous OSG Sports stories on Williams that we've done by clicking HERE and HERE

Williams was a very highly sought after recruit from Miami who ended up at the University of Miami before he started his downward spiral.

After a brief stay at Louisville and a stint in the NAIA at Union (KY) College, Williams has re-surfaced.

He's suspected of burglary in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He was caught trying to break into a woman's house on July 1st.

More from WKRC-TV in Cincinnati RIGHT HERE

It truly is sad to see someone who has crashed like Williams has. He's been offered every opportunity in the world to clean up his act and get things straight. And he would for a short period of time.

He's right now being held in the Kenton County, Kentucky jail and will be in court sometime later in the week.

Did ACC Schools Screw Up Leaving For Big East...?

((HT: Canespundit))

The question was posed considering that when the new Pac-10/11/12 deal was put on the table... with their $21-million to go with the Big 10/11/12's $18-million plus and the Ess-E-Cee's $17-million plus...

Currently, the ACC's deal is in the neighborhood of $13-million and the Big East's will be up for renewal in 2013.

So, then what...???

Remember, Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech all left the Big Least for the Atlantic shores and, allegedly, richer times and pastures.

Who's kicking who's own ass and asking if they could have had a V8, now...???


UConn head men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun has even hinted to an idea that was a long time in coming- splitting the 37-member conference into football-playing and non-football-playing members. And there was also the talk of those two groups being so split up that the non's would have their own conference and the footballers would splinter off on their own and create another one ((just to create another Bee-Cee-Ess headache down the line when it comes to AQ's and non-AQ's in other sports))...

2010 Football ((without the soon-to-be added TCU))

West Virginia 5 - 2 .714 9 - 4 .692
Connecticut 5 - 2 .714 8 - 5 .615
Pittsburgh 5 - 2 .714 8 - 5 .615
Syracuse 4 - 3 .571 8 - 5 .615
USF 3 - 4 .429 8 - 5 .615
Louisville 3 - 4 .429 7 - 6 .538
Cincinnati 2 - 5 .286 4 - 8 .333
Rutgers 1 - 6 .143 4 - 8 .333

The addition of TCU makes this group slightly more attractive to suitors with the addition of the Dallas DMA...

2010 Men's Hoops Final Standings

Pittsburgh 15 - 3 .833 28 - 6 .824
Notre Dame 14 - 4 .778 27 - 7 .794
Syracuse 12 - 6 .667 27 - 8 .788
Louisville 12 - 6 .667 25 - 10 .714
St. John's 12 - 6 .667 21 - 12 .636
Cincinnati 11 - 7 .611 26 - 9 .743
West Virginia 11 - 7 .611 21 - 12 .636
Georgetown 10 - 8 .556 21 - 11 .656
Connecticut 9 - 9 .500 32 - 9 .780
Villanova 9 - 9 .500 21 - 12 .636
Marquette 9 - 9 .500 22 - 14 .611
Seton Hall 7 - 11 .389 13 - 18 .420
Rutgers 5 - 13 .278 15 - 17 .468
Providence 4 - 14 .222 15 - 17 .468
USF 3 - 15 .167 10 - 23 .303
DePaul 1 - 17 .056 7 - 24 .225

And the 16-team conference here...??? St. John's, Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, Seton Hall, Providence, and DePaul won't get football money...

How do you think they like that notion already...???
Food for thought around your lunchtime...

Ladies & Gentlemen, Michael Irvin

That's how new Miami head coach Al Golden introduced Michael Irvin as he addressed the 2011 Hurricanes before the "U's" spring football game. The message, don't let the "U" down.

(Thanks Canes All Access/Youtube.com)

Does Jim Larranaga Like South Beach?

[HT: Sun Sentinel.com]

It appears the vacant men's basketball coaching position at the University of Miami is worthy of a coach with Final Four credentials.

Several media outlets are reporting that George Mason's Jim Larranaga is being wined and dined by the Hurricanes. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/sfl-jim-larranaga-miami-hurricanes-coach-042111,0,4867843.story?track=rss

Miami has received permission to speak to Larranaga from George Mason athletic director Tom O'Connor according to GMU media relations.

Larranaga has coached GMU for 14 seasons leading the Patriots to five NCAA tournaments including a Final Four trip in 2006. Larranaga is considered one of the premier mid-major coaches in college basketball.

Larranaga has been wooed before. Three years ago his alma mater Providence tried to hire Larranaga but he decided to stay at George Mason after receiving a contract extension.

Larranaga is not a stranger to the ACC, he was an assistant coach at Virginia from 1979-86.

Those of us at the OSG HQ like this development. While in the ACC Miami is one of the toughest jobs in college basketball simply because no one cares (Unless Duke & North Carolina come to town, then fans show up.)

Larranaga is a good sound bite though and entertaining. Plus he can coach some basketball too. Might be a good hire in Miami.

DEVELOPING: So Much For That Idea... Amaker Stays At Harvard

Which, really, says volumes about the Miami job at the moment...

Reps from Miami went to Boston to talk. Amaker listened, then he declined...


"I am appreciative of and flattered by the interest shown in me by other fine universities, but I am proud and honored to represent Harvard," Amaker said in a statement released by the school. "I look forward to continuing my efforts to teach, lead and serve at this great institution."

Greg Cote's random ramblings of a blog at the Miami Herald are imploring the school to pick up Frank Martin...

The poll Cote has on his page has Martin at 75-percent of the vote in a six-coach poll. Tell you something...???

More when we know more...

Frank Haith to go from UM to MU

Frank Haith/Courtesy: msn.foxsports.com

Interesting. Not the pick that we would've expected. Reports started trickling out late Sunday that Missouri is set to hire the University of Miami's Frank Haith to be their next basketball coach.

Haith has had some success in Coral Gables with an NCAA and NIT Tourney bids under his belt. He's a somewhat middling 126-94 at Miami, a lower tier ACC School.

You can read the report from the Kansas City Star RIGHT HERE

The Miami Herald reports a shorter version of the same story RIGHT HERE

Haith, for his part is a fairly well respected guy who has stabilized things in Miami, a program with barely a pulse before his arrival. They aren't a dominant team, and Haith never really came across as a rising coaching star.

It also speaks a bit to baskeball in the ACC if an ACC coach is willing to bolt for the greener(?) pastures of the Big 12/10.

After being spurned by now former coach Mike Anderson and used by Matt Painter to enhance his situation at Purdue, the options for Missouri were minimal. All-in-all, they probably did the best they were able to, knowing that a Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens would not be in their futures.

According to the KC Star newspaper, the only stumbling block is logistical. Any new contract with Haith must be signed off on by the Missouri Board of Curators. The Board called an emergency meeting for Monday night. It’s expected they will approve Haith becoming the next head coach.

Now, it's Miami's turn. Early returns have them chasing after K-State's Frank Martin.

1600 UPDATE: The University of Miami has released the following statements from important personnel

Tony Hernandez, Acting Director of Athletics
“Frank Haith has been a steady leader and made a positive impact on the University of Miami men’s basketball program. We want to wish him well at Missouri and will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.”

Donna E. Shalala, University of Miami President
“Coach Haith has been an outstanding member of our community. His integrity, leadership ability and commitment to young adults are exceptional. I will personally miss him and wish the entire Haith family the best in the years to come.”

TUESDAY UPDATE: Here's two more pieces of video work on the Haith hire...
((HT: NBCActionNews.com))


And, then, NBC41's Jack Harry is none too positive on the new guy...


The Curators guaranteed five years and $7.5-million plus $100,000 in deferred annual compensation, with a one-year automatic extension that would kick in on May 1, 2012.

Not popular at all...

Tate Forcier heading to Miami

Tate Forcier/Courtesy: annarbor.com

Now former Michigan quarterback and one-time savior of the program, Tate Forcier will be taking his talents to South Beach.

Forcier, and the University of Miami announced today that the current sophomore will request financial aid so he can enroll at the the "U" immediately. He'll have to sit out in 2011, but will still have two years of eligibility come 2012.

Read more from the Miami Herald RIGHT HERE

Forcier, at one point was thought to be the guy who would resuscitate the sinking Michigan football program. He started all 12-games as a freshman, leading the Wolverines to a 5-7 record. He was beaten out last year by freshman phenom Denard Robinson.

The 'Canes, for their part can use the help. New coach Al Golden faces a rebuilding process as well, the "U" hasn't lived up to their self-imposed lofty reputation much of late either. Maybe Forcier can be part of that rebuilding program.

Here's a highlight reel from 2009, back when the Michigan faithful thought Forcier was their guy. How quickly things change:

TWTW Bowling: Catholics Overtake Convicts In Sun Bowl- 20 Years Later

Tommy Rees passed for 201 yards and two TD's- both to a very tall Michael Floyd- and Notre Dame beat Miami 33-17 in the Sun Bowl. Brian Kelly becomes the first Irish coach to win a bowl game in his first season at the helm.

Notre Dame (now 8-5) scored on three of its first four possessions. Rees tossed TD passes of 3 and 34 yards to Floyd. Cierre Wood scored on a 34-yard run. David Ruffer added field goals from 40, 50 and 19 yards.

The Hurricanes (now 7-6) trailed 30-3 going into the fourth and the game wasn't really THAT close... and Jacory Harris threw three first-half interceptions to reinforce the idea that he, probably, shouldn't have started- eventhough no one else was able to start at QB.

Here's your highlights...
((HT: CBS/Youtube))

A Shot Worth $25,000

[HT: Sun Sentinel]

Keith Collier of Boynton Beach, Florida sank a half court shot at halftime of the Miami - UCF game and left with a big fat check. (Thanks Sun Sentinel.com/Youtube.com)



That swish-a-roo was worth $25,000. Easy Money.

DEVEOPING: Al Turning Miami Into Golden Hurricanes...

((HT: WFOR-TV))

Temple University's Al Golden has accepted an offer to be the Miami Hurricanes' new head football coach.

"From the beginning of this process, one candidate stood above the rest as the right fit for the University of Miami," said Miami AD Kirby Hocutt. He is introducing Golden at a 6PM Monday press conference.

"We are proud to welcome Al Golden to The U. His desire, leadership, communications skills and preparedness stood above the rest and he is the right man to meet the championship expectations of this program."

Golden met twice with Hocutt, once in New York and once in Philadephia before accepting. Temple was 0-11 with a three-year record of 3-31 in the three seasons before Golden was hired in 2005. In 2009, he led the Owls to a 9-3 season and a bowl game, their best showing since 1979.

Golden also led the biggest academic jump in the NCAA's APR era at Temple. Miami President Donna Shalala is huge on that...

Jim Berry stands in front of a monitor to deliver the news...

Bo Pelini talks to Miami, Nebraska folks not happy about it....

Bo Pelini/Courtesy: Lincoln Star-Journal

The accepted rule in college football, a place where not many rules apply, is that if you want to talk to another schools coach for your job opening...and that coach is still under contract, you need to ask for permission.

According to a couple of reports, Bo Pelini and Miami broke that rule. No, there aren't any "Sanctions" that go with it, but it is really bad mojo/PR.

Apparently, University of Miami's athletic director Kirby Horcutt has discussed his coaching vacancy with Nebraska coach Bo Pelini. The problem...according to Pelini's boss, nobody asked him for permission.

More from Sun-Sentinel.com RIGHT HERE

For their part, the Nebraska folks have stayed quiet about all of this, though according to the Lincoln Star-Journal, Pelini's contract requires him to notify his boss if he discusses another job with anyone before his contract expires in 2014.

Realistically, we don't think that Pelini is a serious candidate for the job. While he's done a very good job at Nebraska, why would he give it up to come to Coral Gables? We do believe he spoke to Horcutt and the silence from Nebraska indicates they are aware of it and not very happy about it.

We've gone on record, multiple times saying that Tommy Tuberville will be the favorite for this job. We still believe that. We also will go out on a limb and throw out another name, Mario Cristobal. It would, in the mind of UM alumni, be a settling move, but realistically, face the facts Hurricane fans, your coaching job isn't the "Plum" that is was back in your "Glory Days" of the '80's and early 90's.