In the past couple of weeks, there have been rumors percolating just below the surface that Miami would self-impose a bowl ban ahead of the NCAA handing down penalties connected to the Nevin Shapiro impermissible benefits imbroglio.
Sunday afternoon, those rumors came to fruition.
In a press release, Miami announced that the university “has made the decision to withhold the UM football team from bowl consideration following the 2011 regular season.” The release went on to state that the decision to ban itself from a bowl game was made “in response to the ongoing NCAA inquiry and [UM has] informed both the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference of its decision.”
The players were informed of the school’s decision earlier today. Miami, which is bowl eligible at 6-5, will play their final game of the 2011 season at home Friday against Boston College.
“We understand and share the disappointment that our student-athletes, coaches, staff, supporters and fans are feeling,” the release read, “but after lengthy discussions among University leaders, athletic administrators and outside counsel, it is a necessary step for our University. The University of Miami has not self-imposed any other penalties.”
For the time being, this is the only self-imposed sanction the university has levied on its football program.
The NCAA began an investigation into allegations that Shapiro, a former UM athletics booster, had provided millions of dollars in impermissible benefits to current and former Hurricanes football and basketball players, benefits that would constitute major violations. Shapiro has been convicted of running a $930 million Ponzi scheme and was sentenced to 20 years in a federal prison this past June.
In late August, eight Hurricane football players were suspended for a varying amount of games this season after the NCAA found they had received impermissible benefits.
