It’s been a couple of days since there’s been anything in the way of real news regarding the scandal-plagued Miami football program, but there could be a development forthcoming that’s significant while at the same time expected.
According to the Miami Herald, and citing a source close to the investigation, Miami is expected to declare at least 12 football players* ineligible ahead of the Hurricanes’ season opener Sept. 5. The dozen or more players are currently under investigation by the NCAA regarding allegations that they received impermissible benefits from former UM booster Nevin Shapiro.
The move to declare the players ineligible would be a procedural one; the school is responsible for declaring a student-athlete ineligible, then seeks reinstatement from the NCAA. The Association would then determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis, whether an immediate reinstatement is in order -- as was the highly-controversial case with Cam Newton -- or whether game suspensions are warranted, which occurred with Ohio State, Georgia and North Carolina among others in the last year.
UM could decide to allow the players to remain eligible, but would face much stiffer sanctions if the NCAA ultimately proves the allegations levied against them by Shapiro.
“If those players aren’t first declared ineligible, then reinstated, before they participate and they’re found to have violated rules, the school will be in much deeper trouble,” the source told the Herald.
Stacey Osburn, the NCAA’s associate director of public and media relations, further explained the decision facing the school, telling the paper that "[t]he reinstatement decision regarding the student-athlete’s eligibility is completely independent of the investigative process that determines the school’s responsibility,” adding that “as soon as the facts are determined regarding the student-athlete’s involvement, then the reinstatement process can begin. The reinstatement process is likely to conclude well before the close of an investigation.”
In other words, if UM holds out any hope of the 12 players -- including nine projected starters -- being cleared in time for the opener against Maryland, they need to declare them ineligible and seek reinstatement much, much sooner rather than later.
(*those 12 players are quarterback Jacory Harris; defensive tackle Marcus Forston; receivers Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson; safeties Ray-Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque; defensive ends Adewale Ojomo and Olivier Vernon; linebackers Sean Spence and Marcus Robinson; cornerback JoJo Nicolas; and tight end Dyron Dye.)