As many of you may have already seen, the University of Miami is under some serious heat from the NCAA after news surfaced from Yahoo! that a UM booster and convicted felon had given many impermissible benefits to Hurricane players over the years. This can only mean that Miami will be suffering greatly in the very near future (unless the NCAA decides to go all Ohio State on them and do nothing).
So what exactly does this mean for USF? Maybe nothing. But it will at least result in some recruits shunning UM's uncertain future and going to another state school, meaning USF possibly winning some big recruiting battles in the south part of the state. Players like Anthony Chickillo chose to play for the Canes instead of the Bulls this past season, but news of these allegations and their repercussions are likely to cause players to shy away from the prestigious "Big 3" school and spread out the recruits.
Last year before the USF-Miami game on Thanksgiving weekend, UM made it clear that after their current contract expires they would not be pursuing an extension of the series. Maybe they were afraid of being beaten by a "non-big 3" school. Maybe they just didn't see any benefit in keeping the Bulls around. Whatever the reason, it appears now things may be a bit different. In order to save their name, they may reconsider allowing the contract to expire and continue this potential rivalry.
In the wake of the recent conference realignment scare, many people have suggested that this could perhaps mean that USF will get an invitation to the ACC in an attempt to preserve their reputation. I don't personally see this happening, but there is always a possibility. So USF fans, don't get your hopes too high. This Miami stuff may mean some big recruits will be coming to Tampa in the near future, and maybe renewing the rivalry contract, but that's probably about it.
this is sad, and shows how corrupt big time sports are. But, isn't it really juicy gossip that is impossible to resist. This may be the biggest college sports scandal of all time. Perhaps some of those 24 Miami trcruits will change their mind.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, but the problem for USF is that we won't have a whole lot of scholarships until at least 2013 or 2014
ReplyDeleteAnd to add a little more intrigue to this unfolding melodrama, Nevin Shapiro, the booster that is "spilling the beans" over his contributions to the Hurricane program is a USF grad. I believe he may have graduated in the late 80's.
ReplyDeleteHe is a grad, but graduated long before football was even a thought around here.
ReplyDeleteIt ticks me off to no end that we still have alumni out there that donate to one of the other 3 traditional Fl football powers. I don't care that these folks graduated pre-football, that diploma hanging in their offices is from USF. Our compliance department would have likely snagged a cat like Shapiro in the early stages of impropriety, if something like this were to happen here.
ReplyDeleteExactly. USF compliance seems to do their job, but the fact of an alum giving money (booster-wise) to another Florida program is sad. I work with a person who is 3-years older than I am, went to USF, and has Gaytor banners in her office and won't go to USF games, complete joke and slap in the face.
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