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Eight Miami players must sit out games and repay benefits, NCAA rules
Starting quarterback Jacory Harris is one of five players who will sit for one game, while Olivier Vernon will miss six games. The suspensions are largely the result of allegations made by former booster Nevin Shapiro.
 Miami quarterback Jacory Harris is interviewed during team media day on Saturday. Harris will miss one game for breaking NCAA rules. (Al Diaz / MCT / August 27) |
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Associated Press
The NCAA ruled Tuesday that eight Miami players must sit out games and repay benefits in order to play for the Hurricanes again.
Starting quarterback Jacory Harris and four other players must sit out one game and make repayment.
Olivier Vernon will miss six games and repay $1,200. Ray Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye will sit out four games. Marcus Forston, Sean Spence, Adewale Ojomo and Travis Benjamin will sit out one game.
"They understand that their actions demand consequences," Miami Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst said.
The suspensions are largely the result of allegations made by former booster Nevin Shapiro to Yahoo Sports for a story published Aug. 16. Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi scheme architect, said he entertained players at his $6-million home, took them to dinners and handed out cash prizes at bowling tournaments.
He also said he took players to strip clubs, drove them around in his Mercedes and added that he gave a former Miami athletic department employee more than $2,000 to entertain a group on a recruiting visit.
Armstrong was ordered to repay $788, and Dye must pay $738. The NCAA said that Vernon, Armstrong and Dye "received substantial benefits as prospective student-athletes from Shapiro and athletics personnel to entice them to enroll at the university, which are considered some of the most serious recruiting violations."
Forston, the NCAA said, received more than $400 in things like "athletic equipment, meals, nightclub cover charges and entertainment at a gentleman's club." Spence received about $275 in benefits, Ojomo $240, Benjamin more than $150 and Harris more than $140.
The NCAA said five more Miami players received benefits while enrolled at Miami.
Brandon McGee, JoJo Nicholas, Micanor Regis and Vaughn Telemaque all must pay less than $100 for various impermissible benefits and will not miss any games. Marcus Robinson was cleared of all NCAA violations and will not face any penalties.
Separately, Miami Coach Al Golden said senior wide receiver Aldarius Johnson ? who was also implicated by Shapiro but not named in Tuesday's NCAA statement ? has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
The NCAA's investigation into Miami's enforcement practices is continuing.
Miami opens its season at Maryland on Monday night.
Big 12 considering options
The Big 12 board of directors has formed a committee to look at possible replacements for Texas A&M if the Aggies leave the league as expected.
Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton, who serves as the board chairman, said that the committee could also address the possibility of expanding the conference even if Texas A&M stays put. He said the committee is looking at expansion in the "broadest context" and will make a recommendation to the board concerning whether expanding the conference "by one or more members" is beneficial.
Deaton said the Big 12 board has not received notification that the Aggies plan to leave.
The Aggies have said they are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference and they received a letter from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe on Monday outlining the withdrawal procedure ? including "financial provisions," presumably exit fees ? if they go.
Texas A&M spokesman Jason Cook would not provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be. Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to the Big 12 last week formally telling Beebe the school is exploring its options.
There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league in July. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider how their departure would affect the future of the Big 12 before any decision is made.
Oklahoma State loses two
Starting free safety Johnny Thomas and receiver Michael Harrison have been ruled ineligible for No. 9 Oklahoma State's season opener against Louisiana Lafayette. Coach Mike Gundy said the Cowboys don't have a timetable for when Thomas and Harrison will be able to return. Other details were not disclosed.
UConn postpones game
Connecticut has postponed its season-opening game against Fordham because the stadium is being used as a distribution center for relief supplies for victims of Tropical Storm Irene. The teams had been scheduled to play Thursday night at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
Connecticut athletics spokesman Kyle Muncy said that no decisions have been made about when and where the game will be made up.
Etc.
Fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman will probably take the first snap when No. 18 Ohio State plays Akron on Saturday, interim Coach Luke Fickell said. ? South Carolina third-string quarterback Andrew Clifford is out for up to three weeks after he was knocked unconscious when he fell off his moped while carrying a pizza he bought as a late-night snack. Coach Steve Spurrier said that Clifford wasn't wearing a helmet and suffered a concussion and needed a few stitches. ? Paralyzed football player Eric LeGrand will work on the Rutgers Radio Network as an analyst. LeGrand suffered a spinal cord injury making a tackle on a kickoff return against Army on Oct. 16.
Starting quarterback Jacory Harris and four other players must sit out one game and make repayment.
Olivier Vernon will miss six games and repay $1,200. Ray Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye will sit out four games. Marcus Forston, Sean Spence, Adewale Ojomo and Travis Benjamin will sit out one game.
"They understand that their actions demand consequences," Miami Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst said.
The suspensions are largely the result of allegations made by former booster Nevin Shapiro to Yahoo Sports for a story published Aug. 16. Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi scheme architect, said he entertained players at his $6-million home, took them to dinners and handed out cash prizes at bowling tournaments.
He also said he took players to strip clubs, drove them around in his Mercedes and added that he gave a former Miami athletic department employee more than $2,000 to entertain a group on a recruiting visit.
Armstrong was ordered to repay $788, and Dye must pay $738. The NCAA said that Vernon, Armstrong and Dye "received substantial benefits as prospective student-athletes from Shapiro and athletics personnel to entice them to enroll at the university, which are considered some of the most serious recruiting violations."
Forston, the NCAA said, received more than $400 in things like "athletic equipment, meals, nightclub cover charges and entertainment at a gentleman's club." Spence received about $275 in benefits, Ojomo $240, Benjamin more than $150 and Harris more than $140.
The NCAA said five more Miami players received benefits while enrolled at Miami.
Brandon McGee, JoJo Nicholas, Micanor Regis and Vaughn Telemaque all must pay less than $100 for various impermissible benefits and will not miss any games. Marcus Robinson was cleared of all NCAA violations and will not face any penalties.
Separately, Miami Coach Al Golden said senior wide receiver Aldarius Johnson ? who was also implicated by Shapiro but not named in Tuesday's NCAA statement ? has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
The NCAA's investigation into Miami's enforcement practices is continuing.
Miami opens its season at Maryland on Monday night.
Big 12 considering options
The Big 12 board of directors has formed a committee to look at possible replacements for Texas A&M if the Aggies leave the league as expected.
Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton, who serves as the board chairman, said that the committee could also address the possibility of expanding the conference even if Texas A&M stays put. He said the committee is looking at expansion in the "broadest context" and will make a recommendation to the board concerning whether expanding the conference "by one or more members" is beneficial.
Deaton said the Big 12 board has not received notification that the Aggies plan to leave.
The Aggies have said they are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference and they received a letter from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe on Monday outlining the withdrawal procedure ? including "financial provisions," presumably exit fees ? if they go.
Texas A&M spokesman Jason Cook would not provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be. Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to the Big 12 last week formally telling Beebe the school is exploring its options.
There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league in July. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider how their departure would affect the future of the Big 12 before any decision is made.
Oklahoma State loses two
Starting free safety Johnny Thomas and receiver Michael Harrison have been ruled ineligible for No. 9 Oklahoma State's season opener against Louisiana Lafayette. Coach Mike Gundy said the Cowboys don't have a timetable for when Thomas and Harrison will be able to return. Other details were not disclosed.
UConn postpones game
Connecticut has postponed its season-opening game against Fordham because the stadium is being used as a distribution center for relief supplies for victims of Tropical Storm Irene. The teams had been scheduled to play Thursday night at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
Connecticut athletics spokesman Kyle Muncy said that no decisions have been made about when and where the game will be made up.
Etc.
Fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman will probably take the first snap when No. 18 Ohio State plays Akron on Saturday, interim Coach Luke Fickell said. ? South Carolina third-string quarterback Andrew Clifford is out for up to three weeks after he was knocked unconscious when he fell off his moped while carrying a pizza he bought as a late-night snack. Coach Steve Spurrier said that Clifford wasn't wearing a helmet and suffered a concussion and needed a few stitches. ? Paralyzed football player Eric LeGrand will work on the Rutgers Radio Network as an analyst. LeGrand suffered a spinal cord injury making a tackle on a kickoff return against Army on Oct. 16.
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