July 20, 2012

CaneSport.com Staff

Now we know why the NCAA Investigation at the University of Miami is taking so long.

A shocking series of new allegations, this time against new Head Coach Al Golden and assistant Michael Barrow in sworn Federal testimony by former equipment room staffer Sean "Pee Wee" Allen, were revealed Friday by Yahoo Sports, which also reported the original set of charges against UM that has affected the athletic department and football program for more than a year now. In those charges, Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro claimed violations that involved more than 70 former and current UM athletes.

Allen, in his testimony in the Shapiro bankruptcy case, contended that Golden had direct knowledge of his own improper involvement with recruits shortly after Golden's arrival at UM in December of 2010. Allen was a central figure in many of the violations and charges involving Shapiro, a former UM booster, which form the core of Miami's problems with the NCAA. He worked at UM until the summer of 2011, shortly before the Shapiro saga became public.

Yahoo Sports also utilized a former athletic department staffer as a source in the story revealing the new charges.

A statement from Golden, crafted in tandem with the Athletic Department, seemed to suggest that UM is contesting the majority if not all of the allegations in the new charges.

"I have been a college football coach for more than 18 years and I am proud of--and I stand by--my record of compliance over that span," Golden said. "As my colleagues and players on all of my teams can attest, I believe strongly in doing things the right way with the best of intentions.

"The inferences and suggestions in the Yahoo! Sports story that my conduct was anything but ethical are simply false. I, like all of us at UM, have cooperated fully with the joint NCAA-UM inquiry and will continue to do so, so that our program and our University can move forward."

Because the process is on-going, I am unable to address any specifics or answer questions on the matter."

The new allegations, and other possible new charges that have resulted from the NCAA investigation, are the reason why no resolution to the issue is expected soon.

Allen testified and told Yahoo that he was used by two Um coaches -- former receivers coach Aubrey Hill (now at Florida) and current linebackers coach Micheal Barrow -- to help recruit players. That would be an NCAA violation because Allen was not a coach and was not allowed to recruit under NCAA bylaws. Allen said he kept tabs on Miami-area kids, including making calls about their recruitment, and on some occasions, supplying improper transportation to and from campus that aided Miami in its efforts to gain a commitment from some prospects.

Among the prospects mentioned are current UM players Anthony Chickillo, a sophomore defensive end, cornerback Thomas Finnie, freshman receiver Herb Waters and freshman running back Duke Johnson. Several recruits who didn't attend UM were also mentioned in the testimony and allegations.