The "U"!

[Tugg Speedman]

Prostitutes, Cash, And On-Field Bounties: The Insane Details Of The Miami Football Scandal Are Out

http://www.businessinsider.com/miami-football-scandals-2011-8#ixzz1VEfJGHvF

esterday we told you about the ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro, who vowed to make the details of his dealings with the Miami football program known.

Today, he did exactly that in a wide-reaching, an 11-month Yahoo! Sports investigation.

From Charles Robinson:

At a cost that Shapiro estimates in the millions of dollars, he said his benefits to athletes included but were not limited to: cash, prostitutes, entertainment in his multimillion-dollar homes and yacht, paid trips to high-end restaurants and nightclubs, jewelry, bounties for on-field play (including bounties for injuring opposing players), travel and on one occasion, an abortion.

Shapiro, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, became a Miami booster in 2001. A year later, he says he started giving players gifts.

He says he paid some big names in his decade as a booster — Vince Wilfork, Jon Beason, Andre Johnson, Devin Hester, Kellen Winslow Jr., and Antrel Rolle.

Shapiro was originally going to write a tell-all book. But he scraped that idea last summer and began cooperating with Yahoo! Sports and NCAA investigators instead.

Robinson's article breaks Shapiro's improper conduct into several areas — NCAA rule-breaking with coaches/staffers, prostitution, cash payments/bounties, jewelry/clothing/travel/rims, house/yacht priviledges, strip clubs, meals, lodging, abortion, and Axcess Sports benefits.

To varify his claims, Yahoo! audited 20,000 pages of financial documents, 5,000 pages of cell phone records, and 500 photos.

If the NCAA finds this evidence as convincing as Yahoo! did, Miami is in big, big trouble.

The University of Miami says they are cooperating with NCAA investigators.

In all, Yahoo! investigated Shapiro's elicit dealings with 73 players, seven coaches, and three support staff members.

[Blackhat]

Yahoo! is exposing more dirty business than Eliot Ness.

[hdog1017]

This story is so great because it involves stripper abortions. 

[GOO]

Maybe muscoop can start a fund to buy the movie rights. It will be one heck of an HBO movie/series.

[MUMac]

Barry is involved.  I wonder if his relationship with Shallala put him in contact with Shapiro.  How deep into Miami will this go?  Other programs as well?

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/article_63221f0e-c852-11e0-9076-001cc4c002e0.html

[GGGG]

Barry's one time associate AD, Shawn Eichorst (MU law school alum) is now the AD at Miami. 

[MUMac]

Barry's one time associate AD, Shawn Eichorst (MU law school alum) is now the AD at Miami. 

True, but that is far too recent (April '11) to be the connection.  In fact, Barry's relationship to Shallala is thought to be a reason why he was seriously considered.

[GGGG]

Oh I know.  I was simply pointing out that the man responsible for digging them out of this mess is a Warrior.

[ATWizJr]

Thug U strikes again.  What will Donna do?

[GGGG]

I'm not sure Donna survives this.  I wouldn't be surprised if she announces her retirement...but is actually pushed out.

I also wonder if this would make Miami re-evaluate the role of athletics at their entire institution.  I doubt they will, but this kind of stuff makes you wonder if it is really worth the investment.

[MUMac]

Oh I know.  I was simply pointing out that the man responsible for digging them out of this mess is a Warrior.

He has an awfully difficult task.  Institutional control will be very difficult to achieve in Miami.  It has always been a challenge there.

I agree with your other comment.  I doubt Shallala survives this. 

[reinko]

One of the rare cases, where sports, actually bring down the academic reputation of the school rather than raising it.

[MerrittsMustache]

I'm not sure Donna survives this.  I wouldn't be surprised if she announces her retirement...but is actually pushed out.

I also wonder if this would make Miami re-evaluate the role of athletics at their entire institution.  I doubt they will, but this kind of stuff makes you wonder if it is really worth the investment.

If the football and basketball teams continues to generate ~$30M in profits every year (combined), then the administration will continue to think it's worth it.

[GGGG]

$30 million in *profit*???  Where the hell did you get that figure???

$5 million at most according to this site:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/sportsmoney/2011/02/24/acc-football-not-cash-cow-like-sec-and-big-ten/

And $5 M isn't that hard to replace.  But, the question they have to ask themselves is how much does athletics drive admissions and fund-raising.  And whether or not that figure is worth continued investment into the program. 

I seriously doubt they would drop athletics or de-emphasize it, but the football program has been out of control for a couple of decades now.

[MerrittsMustache]

$30 million in *profit*???  Where the hell did you get that figure???

$5 million at most according to this site:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/sportsmoney/2011/02/24/acc-football-not-cash-cow-like-sec-and-big-ten/

And $5 M isn't that hard to replace.  But, the question they have to ask themselves is how much does athletics drive admissions and fund-raising.  And whether or not that figure is worth continued investment into the program. 

I seriously doubt they would drop athletics or de-emphasize it, but the football program has been out of control for a couple of decades now.

My bad. I read the article quickly and took the football revenue instead of profit. At least you were a dick about it though so that was cool.