Monday is the day some have been told to be available to speak to NCAA representatives regarding their alleged NCAA violations. The so-called notice of allegations, which describes the case and outlines the rules that are alleged to have been broken, is expected to be received by UM sometime this week.
UM President Donna Shalala, who has made it clear to university personnel that they are not to discuss the investigation, told The Miami Herald on Sunday night regarding the NCAA’s notification: “I have no timetable.”
Individuals embroiled in the case, some of them now employed at other universities, will receive their own notices of alleged wrongdoings.
But the thing UM has most going for it, according to those on the inside and the periphery, is how cooperative Shalala, her administration and lawyers have been with the NCAA.
“In my experience with the case, it appears the university has gone out of its way to be transparent and cooperative with the joint investigation, not only to facilitate some sort of good will with the NCAA, but to avoid any additional sanctions that might occur,’’ said Miami-based attorney Jason Setchen, who received his bachelor’s and law degrees from UM.
WORKING TOGETHER
Setchen represented former UM basketball player DeQuan Jones when he was originally prevented from competing in games last season. Shapiro claimed that former UM assistant Jake Morton asked Shapiro for $10,000 to secure Jones, then a recruit. Jones was allowed to return to action after the NCAA couldn’t find evidence against him.
“Miami’s position from Day 1 was to work together, as opposed to being adversarial,’’ Setchen said. “These guys from the NCAA are judge and jury. Once you tick them off, if you’re not cooperative and don’t handle yourself in a way that is acceptable to them, they’re ultimately the ones that define your fate.’’
John Infante, a former compliance officer at NCAA Division I schools, formerly wrote The Bylaw Blog for the NCAA. He now writes it for Athnet, an informational website for recruits. On Sunday, Infante wrote that if UM receives its notice of allegations this week, he believes the NCAA hearing — UM has 90 days to respond to the allegations — would most likely be in June.
“After the hearing,’’ Infante wrote, “the Committee on Infractions tries to release the public report [with the penalties] within six weeks, but often takes longer. Given the complexity of the Miami case and the attention it has attracted, two months is probably a minimum. August or September seems more likely than not.’’
Infante added that “given Miami’s self-imposed postseason bans and apparent excellent cooperation, an appeal seems unlikely’’ – that is, unless the NCAA imposes severe sanctions, he indicated.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/13/3181321_p2/miami-hurricanes-ncaa-pressing.html#storylink=cpy
