Making a case for the Death Penalty

by Brianlamb on Aug 31, 2011 11:22 AM EDT

I know this is probably something we are all tired of hearing. Several national writers have made an argument that the NCAA should never administer the death penalty again. However, in my opinion, the Miami Hurricanes athletic program has gotten so far out of hand that I don't think there's another option. Would the death penalty really ruin the U?

First off, this isn't just a booster slipping an athlete a $100 with a handshake. This isn't an athlete being slipped a video game or iPod underneath his dormroom door. This is a situation in which a crook has weaseled his way into a football's program and hand out all kinds of benefits by way of a ponzi scheme. It's not just jewelry or drinks at a bar either. Reports have surfaced suggesting that Nevin Shapiro provided prostitutes, drugs, and yacht parties to student athletes. There's photos of Shapiro with high-level officials of The U. But the real question is "Whose to blame?"

Is it the NCAA's fault? Nevin Shapiro's? Kirby Hocutt, the former athletic director? Who had knowledge of the benefits these players were receiving?

Being from Texas, I'm all too familiar with the situation involving SMU. However, if you've watched ESPN's 30 for 30 "Pony Excess", I think we can agree that The U's compliance issues are different. Is there a comparison between Nevin Shapiro and Sherwood Blount? Of course. But I think this situation is worse. When SMU was administered the death penalty by David Berst, many argued that it was the death of the entire SMU athletic program forever. It certainly killed the now defunct Southwest Conference. Could this destroy the ACC? I don't believe so. The phrase "lack of institutional control" is often used when referencing the death penalty in the NCAA, and should be used here. This is a case where a school has continued to turn the other cheek on players receiving benefits. When does it stop? Will it ever stop? What big name program is next? Only time will tell.

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This is a case where a school has continued to turn the other cheek on players receiving benefits.

Says who? Nevin Shapiro? Maybe you should look a little further into yahoos report…

by philiafan14364 on Aug 31, 2011 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

"I think this situation is worse [than SMU]"

Really? an entire athletic program including the coaches literally paying players to come to their school versus a booster who gave kids some meals and drinks for kids THAT HAD ALREADY ENROLLED? (for the record I don’t believe that sensationalized abortion stuff and hooker stuff)

You couldn’t be more wrong.

"Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

by FrankWhyte on Aug 31, 2011 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

Funny joke

Let’s see a grown man cheats and steals almost a billion dollars from well off and educated adults, so ingratiating himself to a bunch of young kids must have been really hard. I’m no jacory fan, but please, suspended one game and took $140, not cash mind you but estimate as to what a few drinks and club cover charges would be.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. -- the dude

by my friend bob sacamano on Aug 31, 2011 8:24 PM EDT reply actions

Duuuuude

you took the Yahoo! story word for word. Shapiro did what he does best – mix a little truth in with the BS. It has been his MO – just ask any of the people he stole millions from. Just a dash of truth to string people along – possibly Charles Robinson from Yahoo! as well

by CGNC on Aug 31, 2011 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

And I rec you.

"Hold your mouth for the war. Use it for what it's for." - P. Anselmo
"Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign" - Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
thetwitter

by TheDutchWonder on Sep 1, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

P.S.

Now go do a rain dance for Texas before it dries up and blows away

by CGNC on Aug 31, 2011 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

i barely even feel like addressing this, but

this isn’t worse than SMU. nothing has come close to smu, except arguably the murder cover up at baylor. smu’s administration was systematically paying recruits to come to the school, was told to stop, didn’t stop, and continued on with the payments. they’re only barely comparable.

by rayrayrayrayrayrayrayray on Aug 31, 2011 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

i should note that not only were they told to stop, they told the ncaa that they would stop. the only way this could compare to smu is… if nevin shapiro continued to pay players from jail, with the knowledge of the UM athletic department. or something.

by rayrayrayrayrayrayrayray on Aug 31, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand what you guys are saying

But I completely disagree with you. Shapiro wasn’t just paying cover at a club or giving a kid a McRib. He wasn’t just an average guy. Nevin Shapiro was, and still is, a criminal. That’s something we can all agree on. And yes, while SMU’s administration was giving out cash or a vehicle, that’s where it stopped. In their defense, the entire Southwest Conference was doing this, SMU just got caught first. It doesn’t excuse what they did, but that should be noted.

I can also understand your argument that you don’t believe everything in the Yahoo! report. I haven’t read the full report, I’m just going from what I’ve heard on national reports and local radio. That being said, I’m sure there are several inaccuracies. But to what extent? I believe that The U allowed Shapiro to do this with their full knowledge. That makes it just as bad, if not worse, than SMU in my opinion. Instead of school officials handing out the benefits, they empowered an outside source to do so. I fully agree that SMU was told to stop and didn’t. That was confirmed by school officials immediately. But so was Miami. They too are a repeat offender. Maybe it’s not as bad as it was in the 80’s, but it’s damn close in my opinion

follow me on twitter @briandlambsr

i'm a sports fan at heart, looking to blog about my views.

by Brianlamb on Sep 1, 2011 9:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

empowered? how so – full knowledge? Not that I care, but if you are going to take to heart the national media, well then.

by CGNC on Sep 1, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I feel this needs to be emphasized

I haven’t read the full report, I’m just going from what I’ve heard on national reports and local radio.

Dude, just get out of here.

by philiafan14364 on Sep 1, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Exactly, philiafan

This guy is the exact proto-type of idiot fucking American that modern mass media appeals, too. Hyped-up bullshit with no substance. He has an opinion about something for which he is ill-informed.

GTFO.

"Hold your mouth for the war. Use it for what it's for." - P. Anselmo
"Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign" - Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
thetwitter

by TheDutchWonder on Sep 1, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

*appeals to

not “appeals, too”

"Hold your mouth for the war. Use it for what it's for." - P. Anselmo
"Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign" - Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
thetwitter

by TheDutchWonder on Sep 1, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Please inform me

What’s your inside information of what really happened?

follow me on twitter @briandlambsr

i'm a sports fan at heart, looking to blog about my views.

by Brianlamb on Sep 1, 2011 8:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Look, nobody in the media knows exactly what happened. ESPN, SI, yahoo etc. are just broadcasting what a person who made $930 million lying to other people, and, by his own admission, has a bone to pick with the U, is saying. I don’t think its too hard to see why the people on here aren’t taking what Shapiro said at its face value.

If you had read yahoo’s report, I think you’d come to the conclusion that, in some capacity, much of what Shapiro alleged is either a) highly exaggerated (as dictated by the fairly ‘lenient’ suspensions) or b) likely can’t be proved because yahoo’s corroboration job is spotty at best in most cases.

Furthermore, I really have to question your motivation for writing this fanpost in the first place (and even joining this blog). You can’t just come here and basically say “nah nah nah nah naaaaah nah, you’re getting the death penalty” and expect to not get ridiculed in some way. Especially when you clearly haven’t even done your homework. So please, just get out.

by philiafan14364 on Sep 2, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you that nobody in the media knows what really happened

And after reading the yahoo report, I think it’s clear that they truly investigated this to the best of their ability. I too don’t believe everything that Shapiro has alleged. However, I think that there is merit to much of what he’s claimed. I don’t think this was just benefits to athletes that were currently enrolled, but to recruits as well. In miami’s defense, I don’t think they are the only team doing so, just the highest profile to get caught or alleged in this manner.

I wouldn’t say that the suspensions are “lenient”. Granted the penslties aren’t stiff, but the NCAA has never investigated anything quickly and can announce future penalties at a later date. I wouldn’t say that yahoo’s corroboration job is spotty, although I would’ve liked to have seen the names and direct quotes of those interviewed. That is probably hurting their investigation at this point.

I wrote this to spark the debate. If you thought I didn’t know I would be torn apart after posting this, then you’re crazy. I knew I would be criticized for everything I’ve said and that I wouldn’t have anyone agree with me on one aspect of my post. I joined this blog simply to wrote this story, nothing more nothing less. I’m not a fan of Hurricane football. That being said, I’m not a fan of any schools in Texas either.

However, I am disappointed that you guys are so one-sided. Obviously you’re fans first and don’t want to accept that you got caught and some, if not most, of what was alleged really happened.

follow me on twitter @briandlambsr

i'm a sports fan at heart, looking to blog about my views.

by Brianlamb on Sep 3, 2011 2:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Because I haven't read the yahoo report?

It doesn’t mean that I haven’t read or heard about it from other places. I can see what you’re saying that I haven’t read the original report, but to tell me to leave based on that point alone is pretty sad.

follow me on twitter @briandlambsr

i'm a sports fan at heart, looking to blog about my views.

by Brianlamb on Sep 1, 2011 8:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yawn

your “other places” are the problem, slanted and hyped for attention. its like watching fox news, completely stupid

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. -- the dude

by my friend bob sacamano on Sep 1, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This.

"Hold your mouth for the war. Use it for what it's for." - P. Anselmo
"Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign" - Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
thetwitter

by TheDutchWonder on Sep 2, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

MDWM

DNR

Still, I noticed you forgot to include this vital piece in your post: TROLLOLOLOL

"Hold your mouth for the war. Use it for what it's for." - P. Anselmo
"Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign" - Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
thetwitter

by TheDutchWonder on Sep 1, 2011 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

by CGNC on Sep 1, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely not as bad as SMU

The most damning thing that has been reported and seemingly one of the easiest to prove is Shapiro’s connection to a sports agency. There have to be contracts with that stuff. If he was contractually connected to a representative agency and the U was taking donations from him that is really bad. That part of the story is perhaps what I think could get the U the death penalty. I doubt the DP is going to be used but I would put money on way worse sanctions than USC.

by Tractorr on Sep 6, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

I agree sanctions will be worse than USC

I think a big factor in the case is how long the NCAA takes to investigate. And depending on what the NCAA finds, I really do believe it can be worse than SMU. In my opinion, based on the yahoo report and photos that have surfaced, it looks like school officials were in full knowledge of what happened.

While I fully believe that the NCAA is largely inconsistent in their sanctions and depth of their investigations, I think you could make an argument that when something of this magnitude, which involves an entire program and not just a few students, they’re lengthy investigations. Therefore, I don’t see any ruling before the end of the season.

follow me on twitter @briandlambsr

i'm a sports fan at heart, looking to blog about my views.

by Brianlamb on Sep 7, 2011 11:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions