Updated 9:58 p.m. ET:In response to Robinson’s story, Al Golden has released the following statement:
“I have been a college football coach for more than 18 years and I am proud of--and I stand by--my record of compliance over that span. As my colleagues and players on all of my teams can attest, I believe strongly in doing things the right way with the best of intentions. The inferences and suggestions in the Yahoo! Sports story that my conduct was anything but ethical are simply false. I, like all of us at UM, have cooperated fully with the joint NCAA-UM inquiry and will continue to do so, so that our program and our University can move forward.
“Because the process is on-going, I am unable to address any specifics or answer questions on the matter.”
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In a shorter but nevertheless astounding investigation, Robinson goes for The U’s jugular by reporting that members of coach Al Golden‘s staff actively used a man by the name of Sean “Pee Wee” Allen, a former equipment manager described as a “onetime right-hand man of convicted Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro”, to secretly violate NCAA recruiting rules from December, 2010 (shortly after Golden was hired), to summer, 2011.
Below is a piece of the report, which you can read in its entirety HERE:The latest issues involving Allen are twofold – his having provided improper benefits to players dating back to early in his career at Miami; and his continued improper contact with Miami recruits, which allegedly lasted through his final days working for the Hurricanes in the summer of 2011.
One former Hurricanes staffer told Yahoo! Sports that Allen was used specifically by members of Golden’s staff as an “off-the-books” recruiter. As part of those duties, the staffer said Allen kept tabs on Miami-area kids, including making calls about their recruitment, and on some occasions, supplying improper transportation to and from campus that aided Miami in its efforts to gain a commitment from some prospects.
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NCAA rules stipulate that anyone who improperly “assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families” triggers the association’s booster clause under bylaw 13.02.14. Allen said in federal testimony in connection with Shapiro’s bankruptcy case that he provided improper benefits to players as far back as the mid-2000s. The NCAA’s rules also state that equipment managers such as Allen cannot engage in recruiting calls or assist in off-campus recruiting unless they are designated and counted as an assistant coach under Bylaw 11.7.
What’s more is that Golden reportedly knew about Allen’s improper contact with area recruits, which included Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and Florida State running back Devonta Freeman. In fact, Robinson’s newest report points out that Allen was aided by former assistant Aubrey Hill, and current assistant coach Micheal Barrow.
Allen left Miami in August of last year after being named in Robinson’s original report on Miami. He has since been a focal point for the NCAA.
That same month, Golden told reporters he was only recently made aware of the NCAA’s interest in the program. He signed an extension with the school last November.
Shapiro, a former UM booster, was the cornerstone of Robinson’s report in 2011. Shapiro claimed he provided millions of dollars in impermissible benefits to Hurricane athletes. As of earlier this month, the NCAA was still visiting Miami to check up on compliance practices.
ACC media days begin on Sunday too. I would bet a large portion of my savings -- which, thankfully, isn’t much -- that Golden will be asked about Robinson’s report.
Double or nothing: he says something to the degree of “no comment.”