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Side note Miami Hurricanes

Posted on August 18, 2011 at 12:17 AM.

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The Death Penalty for University of Miami

By Chris Plummer

The death penalty, what comes to mind is the execution of a felon issued by a state for that individual�s crimes. But in the world of college athletics, the term �Death Penalty� is a phrase used by the media to describe the harshest of NCAA penalties handed down to a university for its repeated serious violations within a five year period. In light of Yahoo Sports investigative report into University of Miami booster, Nevin Shapiro, does UM deserve the �Death Penalty�?

Let us look at how the NCAA outlines the �Death Penalty�. It is used to describe the actions taken by the NCAA against a university that is a repeat violator; which breaks down to a university that has a second major violation with a five year period from their first major violation. The punishment handed down by the NCAA includes eliminating the involved sport for a minimum of one year, eliminating athletic aid in the involved sport for two years and the forfeiting of the Association voting privileges for four years. Throughout its history, the NCAA has enacted the �Death Penalty� five times, only three times since its revision to include the repeat violator rule. Of those three times only once has the death penalty been enacted on a major program, the Sothern Methodist University football program in 1986. In 1985, SMU was on a three year probation for its major recruiting violation and in 1986 SMU player, Sean Stopperich, blew the whistle that players were still be paid. An investigation revealed that twenty one players had received money from a slush fund provided by a SMU booster. The death penalty left SMU in ruins, seeing them scrape together only two winning seasons and only one bowl win in 2009. It also saw the collapse of the Southwestern Conference in 1996, which has led members of the NCAA committee fearful of imposing another death penalty on a major athletic program.

So will Nevin Shaprio�s decade long reign with the University of Miami�s football program lead to its death penalty? Miami�s situation is unique because not technically a repeat violator, Shapiro�s actions and implications over the last decade may carry much weight, particularly if they are found to be true because they will show a breach in multiple parts of four major NCAA bylaws. It may prove difficult to show Miami�s knowledge of these alleged violations over the last ten years. Likewise, it is hard to turn a blind eye or feign ignorance when a booster is showering star players with lavish parties and fancy dinners and photographed handing over a $50,000 check to school president Donna Shalala and men�s basketball coach, Frank Haith.
Since SMU, the NCAA has only considered to give the death penalty to one other program, the 1988 University of Kentucky men�s basketball program. Already on probation for previous violations, at the end of the 1988-89 season the basketball program had once again been found in violation of multiple NCAA policies. What saved Kentucky from the death penalty was then school president, David Roselle forcing head coach Eddie Sutton and athletic director Cliff Hagen to resign. If found to be in violation of NCAA policies, it may be too little too late for University of Miami president, Donna Shalala, to take the actions needed to save UM from the death penalty.

Comments

# 1 nolan273 @ Aug 19

Very good article. For the past few days, my brother and I have been discussing the possible death penalty for Miami. Your post says all the very same things we've been talking about as far as the repeat offender rule to implement the death penalty. But in my opinion, I don't think it will happen.

Miami's going to get hammered on this, no doubt. Allegedly, there a are coaches and scores of players involved over a period of nearly 10 years. And the charges are as egregious as it can get. The penalties are going to be harsh, but not to the point of shutting down the program.

After the SMU scandal, I don't think the NCAA will ever impose the death penalty again. Looking at the impact that decision had not only on the football program, but the entire athletic department, the university, the Southwest Conference, and the city of Dallas, I don't think the NCAA wants to impose that penalty ever again.

Also, I don't think they're willing to break their own rule. By definition, Miami is clearly not a repeat violator and thus is eliminated from consideration for the death penalty. To impose the penultimate punishment without regard to their own rule could draw ire from the other member institutions. It sets the precedent that you can and will invoke the penalty at will, even on a first time violator.

In my opinion, Miami's going to get punishment like we've never seen before. I think it's going to be a long time before The U is a contender again. But in no way do I feel like they're going to be shut down.

But, then again, stranger things have happened with NCAA rulings and punishment. I mean, Cam Newton's dad was soliciting money for his son's services and Cam didn't miss a play, so you never know...