Now that Yahoo! Sports has officially put the University of Miami’s football program on the NCAA clock, we’re starting to get the fallout and reactions of the allegations made by former UM booster Nevin Shapiro -- denials, personal attacks, eligibility questions and the like -- as the media, NCAA and the university alike try to figure out exactly who was involved.
One name who hasn’t been mentioned in such a negative light is former coach Randy Shannon, who coached the Hurricanes through four seasons from 2007-10. It’s already been circulating around the rumor mill that Shannon, upon becoming the head coach for The U, made it abundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with Shapiro, and there’s a new report that reinforces that notion.
CaneSport.com -- Miami’s Rivals.com affiliate -- writes that Shannon threatened his coaching staff with their jobs if they were associated in any way with Shapiro. Likewise, multiple sources told CaneSport that Shannon told his players on more than one occasion to disassociate themselves from Shapiro in every imaginable way.
From the story:
“When asked by CaneSport to confirm the details provided by another source in attendance for Shannon’s talks at the team meetings, a former Miami football staffer no longer employed by the school responded “Absolutely” when asked if he remembered Shannon specifically telling Miami players to stay away from Shapiro.”
Of course, now we know through allegations made by Shapiro that Shannon’s reported pleas may have fallen on deaf ears. Twelve current players on Miami’s roster have been connected to Shapiro through impermissible benefits, and former assistant coaches Clint Hurtt, Jeff Stoutland and Aubrey Hill -- all of whom were on Shannon’s staff -- allegedly assisted with, or had knowledge of, the activity.
From the sound of it, Shannon was fighting an uphill battle against Shapiro.
“A source close to Shannon also told CaneSport that Shannon had “spies” around town who warned him that Shapiro was getting into problems throughout South Florida and was a booster that he needed to keep away from his players.
“Shannon’s rejection of Shapiro was a touchy issue for former athletic director Kirby Hocutt and individuals responsible for fund raising because Shannon refused to even talk to Shapiro, who for some time could be counted on to write big checks to the department.
“Shapiro would constantly call anybody in the athletic department that would listen and launch into blistering, profanity-laced and racially-charged tirades at the perceived lack of respect he was being shown by the head coach.
If this Rivals story has any merit, Shannon was showing more respect for the program than anyone in the admin’s office.
