Now that Yahoo! Sports has officially put the University of Miami’s football program on the NCAA clock, we’re starting to get the fallout and reactions of the allegations made by former UM booster Nevin Shapiro — denials, personal attacks, eligibility questions and the like — as the media, NCAA and the university alike try to figure out exactly who was involved.
One name who hasn’t been mentioned in such a negative light is former coach Randy Shannon, who coached the Hurricanes through four seasons from 2007-10. It’s already been circulating around the rumor mill that Shannon, upon becoming the head coach for The U, made it abundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with Shapiro, and there’s a new report that reinforces that notion.
CaneSport.com — Miami’s Rivals.com affiliate — writes that Shannon threatened his coaching staff with their jobs if they were associated in any way with Shapiro. Likewise, multiple sources told CaneSport that Shannon told his players on more than one occasion to disassociate themselves from Shapiro in every imaginable way.
From the story:
“When asked by CaneSport to confirm the details provided by another source in attendance for Shannon’s talks at the team meetings, a former Miami football staffer no longer employed by the school responded “Absolutely” when asked if he remembered Shannon specifically telling Miami players to stay away from Shapiro.“
Of course, now we know through allegations made by Shapiro that Shannon’s reported pleas may have fallen on deaf ears. Twelve current players on Miami’s roster have been connected to Shapiro through impermissible benefits, and former assistant coaches Clint Hurtt, Jeff Stoutland and Aubrey Hill — all of whom were on Shannon’s staff — allegedly assisted with, or had knowledge of, the activity.
From the sound of it, Shannon was fighting an uphill battle against Shapiro.
“A source close to Shannon also told CaneSport that Shannon had “spies” around town who warned him that Shapiro was getting into problems throughout South Florida and was a booster that he needed to keep away from his players.
“Shannon’s rejection of Shapiro was a touchy issue for former athletic director Kirby Hocutt and individuals responsible for fund raising because Shannon refused to even talk to Shapiro, who for some time could be counted on to write big checks to the department.
“Shapiro would constantly call anybody in the athletic department that would listen and launch into blistering, profanity-laced and racially-charged tirades at the perceived lack of respect he was being shown by the head coach.
If this Rivals story has any merit, Shannon was showing more respect for the program than anyone in the admin’s office.
Shannon tried to turn that program around and for a while, it looked like he had.
I hope that program gets the death penalty.
Good for Coach Shannon, it shows that the “U” and administration had confirmation of the ongoings of Shapiro and turned a blinds eye. The fact that Shapiro was calling the athletic department making derogatory racial comments about the head coach ???!!!!! (I mean Really ?)
Who empowered this NutBall ?
What a mess. No wonder Shannon had a struggle at UM – his own staff and Athletic Department ignored him..
This would be the same Randy Shannon who was the bagman in Miami’s pell grant scandal. I totally trust the dude.
Good for Shannon. Atleast one person at Miami has a slight semblence of morals.
I understand universities like (ok LOVE) donations, but the first time Nevin called up and started using choice insults at my head coach, he’d be done. Completely cut off from the program. There is NO excuse.
(White guy saying this) The racial component to this story is undeniable.
@trbowman- you are an idiot. So let me get this straight. Randy swore him off. Threatened to fire coaches, warned players repeatedly and did not acknowledge the guy but the football program should get the death penalty? Hocutt let this guy run all over the program. Then suprisingly, Hocutt leaves the program for TT this spring? HMmmmmm. Do you realize that you are taking a sociopath’s word for it? You are a joke .
I can see this. For one thing, it certainly fits in with Shapiro’s outburst at the team’s final game at the Orange Bowl.
That would be the one where he took a swing at the school’s compliance director in the press box over the strict rules imposed on booster involvement with the program.
If all this is true, I’d hope the NCAA makes a point to single out Shannon and talk up how he made a valiant attempt to do the right thing and keep things from happening, as opposed to coaches at other programs who would just plead ignorance.
It apparently didn’t help much because guys did it anyway, but at least the blame shouldn’t be put at his feet.
I wish people would stop pushing the “12 current players” B.S. as Gospel. It only comes from the mouth of this Shapiro guy.
It may be true, probably not….but as of now it is CERTAINLY NOT FACT, the way it is being pushed.
Unfortunately the tremendous expenses of a major college program makes this possible. Every program should take a close look at all their donors.
Someone needs to hire Coach Shannon as their head coach. Wish he was coaching my school. Class Act!
@cubano76 says:
Any how many children does he have out of wedlock?
Wanting to save your football program from a crook is a far cry from being a “class act.”
@kls05v
C’mon man. Don’t go there. Because if you knew what you were talking about, you’d also know the dispair he went through with the drug abuse, HIV and legal issues he made it out of with his family.
You’re ignorance is amazing.
Randy knew. Thats all you need to know about this situation. If Randy, as clueless as he was, knew about Shapiro, you know the University knew for a long time, and condoned it.
Administration, staff, boosters, and especially fans……all willing to look the other way while it was happening. Miami peeps love their thugs.
UM gets what it deserves.
I think the 1st person that needs to go is Donna Shalala. The rest of the admin during this time is already gone. I also think that the NCAA should look into Louisville recruiting. They now have Clint Hurtt as the recruiting coordinator and seemed to have some big time recruits all of the sudden jump there. just a little fishy
I wonder if the U or players are responsible for paying back money given to them by Shapiro. By this I mean the money he illegally stole during his Ponzi scheme. Look at Madoff’s victims, they are suing left and right people or organizations who received funds. Just curious. That could open up a legal proceeding that might showcase a number of new individuals……just sayin