For the first time since the alleged player payout scandal broke earlier this week, University of Miami football players are speaking out in public to say they're staying together and trying to focus on football.

"It's us against the world, that's all we can focus on," said senior offensive lineman and team captain Tyler Horn before practice Friday morning. "We cannot control what's going on off the field."

"We stay on course," said junior running back Mike James. "We're a team, we're a brotherhood."

The Canes are trying to carry on in the wake of claims by former UM booster and convicted Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro that he gave lavish gifts to 72 current and former football players in the past decade.

On Tuesday, Yahoo! Sports published a detailed report of Shapiro's run as a UM booster and the alleged benefits he provided players, which included trips to nightclubs and strip clubs, parties at his multimillion dollar mansion and yacht, cash payments, restaurant meals and in one case, an abortion for a woman impregnated by a player.

Shapiro is currently serving 20 years in a federal prison for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme.

Current Miami players named by Shapiro as receiving benefits included quarterback Jacory Harris, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston, Vaughn Telemaque, Dyron Dye, Aldarius Johnson, JoJo Nicolas and Olivier Vernon.

Horn and James are the first current Canes to speak about the scandal, though neither was named in the Yahoo! Sports report. And neither player would say whether he talked about the controversy with the players implicated.

Harris was on the field Friday morning, tossing passes in full pads. Head Coach Al Golden said he'll keep all his players practicing until it's determined somebody broke the rules.

On Thursday, Miami athletic director Shawn Eichorst issued a statement, saying he was upset and disappointed but that he school "will be stronger as a result" of the scandal.

"I know our family is hurting right now and that is what has made the past few days so difficult, upsetting and disappointing for me, as I am sure it has been for many proud Canes," Eichorst said. "But these are not times for pity and reflection. All of my efforts and energy are committed to ensuring the integrity of the NCAA investigation, demanding the full cooperation of our employees and student-athletes."