Considering the NCAA took over two years to investigate Miami’s athletic program for allegations of improper benefits to athletes -- poorly, for that matter -- its response to the university’s motion to dismiss the case was completed in record time.
Miami submitted its motion at the end of March, in which a letter to the Committee on Infractions claims the NCAA is guilty of, among other things, “self-corroboration” and intentionally misleading the school during the investigation. Miami has asked that no other punishment be levied beyond what the school has self-imposed over the past two seasons.
In a 42-page response, the NCAA doesn’t sound as though it will give in so easily. To put that into context, it would have been a surprise if the NCAA did.
“From the enforcement’s staff perspective the motion to dismiss by the institution and involved individuals are attempts to deflect attention from the significant allegations that remain in the case,” the first line of the response reads, portions of which were obtained by CBSSports.
Though information in the Miami-NCAA case has been obtained and released in bits and pieces, all signs continue to point toward a hearing in front of the COI in June at the earliest. Had Miami’s motion received more consideration -- there were questions as to whether the COI could do anything about it to begin with -- that hearing could have been delayed or the case could have ultimately been thrown out, per Miami’s request.
Right or wrong, the NCAA still feels like it has something against UM and it appears there are plans to proceed with it.