Trouble Looming for Miami

This is not the Miami from Will Smith's "Welcome to Miami" this is Dexter's Miami. Prostitutes, abortions and bounties for injuring opposing players are just some of the allegations that the University of Miami's basketball and football teams have been accused of in this Yahoo!Sports article. The allegations are based on a former booster and his financial records in which he claims to have paid over $1 million over almost a ten-year span to over 72 players for housing, prostitutes, abortions and several other activities. This could very easily be the biggest thing the NCAA has ever faced.

The NCAA has been stepping up the past few years and trying to have a little more control over collegiate sports. It started at USC with Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo, then moved to the University of North Carolina and their players. Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Auburn and Georgia Tech have all been or are currently being investigated. None of those seem to compare with what Miami is accused of and it should be noted that this is just an accusation at this point. An accusation made by a man that is serving 20 years in prison for creating a Ponzi scheme. He does not seem to be the most credible witness but he has financial records. Those financial records are exactly what could bring Miami down.

I hope these allegations are not true but if they are, Miami should be punished in a way we haven't seen over the past few years. I don't know if they deserve the SMU death penalty but I have a hard time believing the ACC is going to feel comfortable being associated with Miami. Miami isn't an original ACC team and I don't believe the ACC would have a huge problem disassociating themselves with the University. I don't think expulsion from the league is likely but it very well could happen if the allegations are proven true. There will be forfeited wins, loss of scholarships, post-season bans and fines levied on Miami if any of these allegations stick but the level of things being accused probably deserves much more in punishment. Hold on for the next few months, this thing in Miami is going to get real ugly.