Canes Self-Impose Bowl Ban

UM forgoes bowl consideration in 2011 in hopes of lessening future NCAA sanctions

The Miami Hurricanes announced Sunday that its football team will not participate in a bowl game at the end of the season. With possible NCAA sanctions looming in the wake of the Nevin Shapiro scandal, the school hopes to lessen the impact of whatever sanctions the NCAA hands down once its investigation ends.

On Sunday, players were informed that Friday's game against Boston College will be the last this season, even though the Hurricanes have enough wins to qualify for a postseason appearance.

"I'm clearly disappointed," said Miami coach Al Golden, who university officials said was not involved in the choice to go forward with the ban. "I believe it's the right decision and I'm 100 percent behind the decision."

Golden said athletic director Shawn Eichorst and university president Donna Shalala made the decision, although a statement from the university said it was done through consultation with "university leaders, athletic administrators and outside counsel." The NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference were informed.

"It is a necessary step for our university," read Miami's statement.

Miami is not self-imposing any other penalties at this time. Golden said he is not "privy to" any information that Shalala and Eichorst used during the process of trying to decide whether or not going to a bowl would be a wise move.

"Based on what I know, which is very little, I'm very positive about the direction we're going in," Golden said.

Golden said players took the news of the decision rather hard. Miami still may receive a bowl payout from the ACC, which pools revenue from postseason games and distributes to all 12 conference members whether they play in a bowl or not.

The move may seem premature, but the NCAA seems likely to impose at least one year of bowl ineligibility due to the Shapiro scandal. Better the Canes serve one of those bowl bans now, when the team is in a down year, than in the future, when Miami could theoretically be locked out of a more important bowl game than the Military of Independence Bowls.

That's where Miami was going bowling in 2011. Now instead of going to Shreveport or D.C. in December, the Canes will stay in South Florida. There are worse punishments than that.

Also Sunday, Golden once again addressed questions that he could leave Miami if the NCAA hands down stiff penalties for the school's role in the Shapiro scandal. "I don't have any decisions to make," he said.

"I'm just coaching the Miami Hurricanes and getting the team ready to go against Boston College and moving the program forward, as I've said a million times. We really enjoy living here, my family and I. I know just from speaking with the staff, they're enjoying it. And we have a great group of young kids."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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