Former University of Miami booster Shapiro: “I’m taking that program down”
Former University of Miami booster Nevin Shapiro is an angry man. The Miami Herald just published some of Shapiro’s emails that he’s been sending from a New Orleans prison. They show a man determined to destroy the Miami Hurricanes football program.
Here are some of Shapiro’s rants:
- “The public is going to hate me worse in the next coming months,” Shapiro wrote. “It’s going to be severe and catastrophic. My feelings are getting inflamed and I’m going to pop off pretty soon with regards to them and the NCAA. I’m coming for them both (the University of Miami and former players) and I’m going to be successful.”
- “I’m taking that program down to Chinatown and the former players and links to that program. Why? Because the U.S. government lined up 47 former players to testify against me in open court if I went to trial. That in itself is motivation to shove it up their collective (butts).”
Shapiro said that he provided thousands of impermissible benefits to more than 72 athletes from 2002-2010. Those benefits included cash, prostitutes, entertainment in his homes and on his yacht, paid trips to restaurants and nightclubs, jewelry, bounties for on-field play, travel and an abortion.
“We think the worst is behind us,” said Miami coach Al Golden. “The (current) coaches and 95 percent of the players weren’t here when that thing went on. There’s a shift by the NCAA to go after the perpetrators and that’s not us.”
Shapiro is currently in prison for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme. He pled guilty in September 2010 to one count of securities fraud and one count of money laundering. He’s expected to serve a total of 17 years behind bars.
Last season, the University of Miami barred its football team from bowl consideration since the NCAA is investigating the program. In addition, 12 players had to pay restitution and eight sat out one to six games. The Hurricanes had a 6-6 season.
The University of Miami doesn’t believe Shapiro’s claim that “UM is getting the death penalty or damn close to it,” although Miami officials told the newspaper that one or two bowl bans and scholarship losses are quite possible.
He is doing the right thing. Miami football has been corrupt for 25 years,,time to pay the piper.
Agreed Jon. The only thing he can do to former players is tarnish their reputation… maybe prevent them from being on the sideline of a Miami game, but that is about it. That said, it sounds like he wants to take down Miami football and maybe that will happen. Death Penalty anyone??