Reports are that The University of Miami football program has been implicated in an improper-benefits scandal allegedly involving dozens of players over much of the past decade. A former Miami booster, Nevin Shapiro (currently serving a 20 year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million Ponzi scheme) told Yahoo Sports that he provide benefits to as much as 72 of the university’s football players and other athletes between 2002 and 2010. In the interview, Shapiro stated he gave money, cars, yacht trips, jewelry, televisions, and other gifts to a number of players. He also claims that then-Miami football and basketball coaches had full knowledge that he was braking NCAA rules. Shapiro said he once paid $10,000 to help secure the commitment of a basketball recruit, and that Frank Haith (then-Miami basketball coach) acknowledged the transaction in a conversation.

The NCAA is investigating the matter, which could lead to significant sanctions for the accomplished program. The University of Miami often refered to as ‘The U’, is known for being a football factory giving us players like: Jim Kelly, Warren Sapp, Sean Taylor, Jim Otto, Michael Irvin, Frank Gore, Ray Lewis, Devin Hester, Ed Reed, and Andre Johnson to name just a few. Miami has won five national titles since their program began in 1926, their last coming in 2001. But the program has struggled in recent years, it has also been found guilty of major violations on five occasions, most recently in 2003. This investigation could lead to the demise of a program that many of us witness dominate and produce hall of fame and pro bowl football players for most of the decade. With schools like USC and Ohio State currently on the hot seat, outsiders are beginning to notice the length at which these schools are willing to go to stay on top. Even if they have to break the rules of the NCAA.