Miami Football: Why Hurricanes Shouldn't Fret over Impending Investigation

When news broke last August that some Miami Hurricane football players took money and gifts from ex-Hurricane booster Nevin Shapiro, the first thing that crossed my mind was "Death Penalty."

Not because of what they took, but because of how many current and previous players took gifts over an eight year span.  According to Yahoo!'s article there were "thousands of impermissible benefits to at least 72 athletes from 2002 through 2010."

Now according to the NCAA's Statute of Limitations, they can only investigate the past four years. But this doesn't mean the NCAA has to follow those rules, as there are exceptions.  If the NCAA decides that violations occurred outside the four year time span, they can certainly go back to prior years.

Regardless if it was one or 72 that took gifts, if what happened is true, Miami could be in very deep water. If there is one thing you do not want to do as a student athlete, it is taking gifts, bribes or money from anyone.  The problem here is the proof is simply a collection of receipts.

According to the article, Shapiro has receipts and pictures with him posing with the players.  That is fine. But since when is taking a picture with players against the rules and since when is a receipt, without the players names on them, true evidence that those receipts were purchases made for players?

In fact, many of the receipts show "Food/Beverages" or "Fuel" purchases.  To me, that isn't even remotely close to being any proof whatsoever that Shapiro bought items for players. The only thing I see is that he bought stuff, period.

When it is all said and done, I am not really worried about what is going to happen.  Most of the infractions came before the current players even arrived at Miami.

The Hurricane players that are on the team this season that did accept gifts have already been reprimanded or are no longer with the team. 

Now, did some players make mistakes by taking gifts against NCAA rules? Absolutely. 

Should they be punished? Absolutely.

Am I worried that the program will hurt because of what happened in the past?  Not really. I mean why should I, or anyone else, take the word of a man who is currently serving a 20 year prison term for lying.