The Canes in a world o'hurt 

By WDBO Sports Director Scott Anez

The U is known for its swagger.

But right now, the Hurricanes are staggered.

A convict by the name of Nevin Shapiro is singing like a canary. 

Shapiro is currently serving a 20 year prison term for masterminding a $930 million ponzi scheme.  But, over the last year, he's provided interviews to Yahoo! Sports, interviews detailing money and benefits he provided University of Miami football players.

From 2002-2011, he says he gave money, cars, yacht trips, jewelry and TV's to over 70 Cane players.  He also claims he paid for strip club outings, sex parties, meals and in one case---an abortion for the girlfriend of one Hurricane player.

...One former Miami player, Tyrone Moss, says he accepted $1,000 from Shapiro.

...Shapiro also says he paid for prostitute visits for 39 different players.

...He also claimed to have offered a $ 5,000 bounty to any player who could knock FSU QB Chris Rix out of a game.

Why is Shapiro outing the U? 

Well, he says he's angry with several of the players he claimed to have helped---angry that they did not come to his defense in the ponzi scheme scandal.

Question is....Where was the system of checks and balances at Miami?  Everyone seemed to be looking the other way. 

The NCAA will, undoubtedly, be asking the same question over the next several months.

This is just another example how the world of big time college football is outta control.

In the past year and a half, some of college football's most powerful institutions have either been sanctioned or investigated by the NCAA.  USC, Ohio State, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and LSU--to name a few.

Let's be honest here.  This kinda stuff has been going on for a long, long time.  Big time boosters have always been a blessing and a burden for big time athletic programs.  On one hand, these boosters provide much needed funds and backing.  On another, some of these overzealous boosters have the ability and the wherewithal to operate covertly, out of sight of the administration.  But, it certainly looks to me in this UM case that the administration was conveniently looking the other way.

What's the answer?  Stiffer penalties?  Higher academic standards?  Frankly, I don't know what the answer is.

With all the hundreds of millions of dollars now being thrown around by the television networks--with schools like Texas even starting their own TV network--it's gotten to the point where the NCAA is faced with shooting fish in a barrel.

Nevin Shapiro says that he expects Miami to receive the 'death penalty' for its transgressions.

I don't know about that.

But there's no doubt that these are very serious allegations--allegations which, according to this Yahoo! Sports, have more than an ounce of credence.