Beast talks about the NCAA dropping the hammer

The allCanesBlog.com folk offered me a mission and I’ve chosen to accept it. It’s not exactly “Mission Impossible,” although I wouldn’t mind the cool theme song.

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand, you realize the NCAA is on the warpath right now as some pretty big time programs are under heavy scrutiny.

It started with pretty severe punishment for Southern Cal, stemming from the Reggie Bush saga and now we’re seeing reports out of Chapel Hill, Gainesville and Tuscaloosa. Curious where the NCAA’s watchful eye will show up next.

As Canes, we know exactly what fans of these other programs are going through. I’ll never forget the mayhem that occurred on UM’s campus when the Pell Grant scandal broke. (Anxiously awaiting the issue where SI calls for the end of the Trojans’ football program.)

Miami self-imposed a bowl ban the year the scandal broke and there was a massive loss of scholarships; 31 over three seasons. As a result, the Canes went from being near the top of college football in 1994 (No.3 final ranking, 10-2, Orange Bowl loss to No. 1 Nebraska) to rock bottom with a 5-6 finish under third year coach Butch Davis.

It took a good five years before the Canes were back on their feet. WIth so much parity in 2010, USC should be so lucky.

One thing NCAA sanctions do is force you to learn your lesson and to start acting better from an institutional level. USC made their first move today, firing long-time athletic director Mike Jarrett, in favor of former quarterback (and board of trustees member Pat Haden).

I witnessed the change at The U back in the mid-90s.

During my QAM days, I remember dozens of occasions where the SID office wouldn’t give clearance for a special show or interview. We also needed the okay from Compliance and if there was any question, we were shot down. It happened much more often than you’d think.

It was frustrating, especially when talking to my counterparts at other universities. They laughed at the stuff UM was turning down, not understanding how deep that dark cloud of sanctions is cast.

It was vitally important from UM’s perspective, to enforce their institutional control. You didn’t just see the difference in Compliance. Fear of the NCAA made its way to all aspects of the athletic department. Academics, academics, academics.

When Donna Shalala took over as UM’s president, there was a visible increase in overall academic standards.

I can’t tell you how many times I’d walk into Larry Coker’s office and there would be players doing homework. Miss a study hall and next time around you’re doing study hall in coach’s office. (I would assume Randy Shannon has a similar philosophy.)

The biggest change these days is the enforcement of class attendance.

As a UM student, I skipped way too many classes. I can’t tell you how many times an episode of “Beavis & Butt-Head” sounded better than Ecology class. Other times I drove over to my Art History class, signed in and drove back to my dorm to take a nap.

My regimen would’ve had me kicked off a Shannon-led football team in about five minutes. These days, football players here have no ability to pull the stunts I did. It’s not uncommon for some of Randy’s “henchmen” to grab the composite class schedule for the entire team, making sure they are all in class.

Coach Shannon has a tight leash on his players. Outside of the much-discussed “no gun policy”, on the day-to-day these kids are expected to be in class. They have to go to study hall and they have to behave like upstanding citizens both on and off campus.

Trying to imagine over ninety 18 to 22 year olds getting their act together in the classroom, on the field and everywhere in between, it’s mindboggling. Somewhere, somehow you have to think that someone will get in trouble.

How have the Canes stayed off the front page and avoided controversy the past three seasons – one answer; Randy Shannon.

Mess up, you’re losing playing time – and with the depth returning, it’s old school Miami again with competition forcing everyone to up their game.

Don’t think for a second that Randy is hesitant to bench a superstar, a starter or any role player that messes up. If Jacory Harris doesn’t go to class, A.J. Highsmith is getting the start. Period.

Because of that, these players don’t stray often. These players believe in Coach Shannon.

I’m not saying other coaches across the country don’t have the respect of their players … but there aren’t too many college coaches who literally grew up on the same streets as their players. Both players and their head coach have gone through the same trials and tribulations.

When you hear Randy’s story, you’re amazed he’s made it this far. (For those who don’t know the whole story, check out this SI piece by Gary Smith from three years back).

I don’t know of another coach in the game who’s seen what he’s seen and had similar life experiences growing up. Unfortunately, many of these player have gone through far worse – so player and coach relate and have that bond.

When Randy sits down with a player that’s lost a sibling, one who became a father way too young or a situation most of us couldn’t fathom – that player knows his coach has experienced it all, so those words hold more meaning.

He’s not lecturing them; he’s listening, guiding and teaching. It’s this relationship that makes these kids want to stay out of trouble for him. They care about him just as much as he cares about them. It’s a rare dynamic in this day and age.

You hear a lot of college coaches talking about how they care for their players. Some do and others play it up for show. For many coaches out there, this is simply a business. Not Randy. He knows firsthand that without UM Football many of these kids could wind up in jail, dead at at minimum, not in school working towards a degree and better life.

I used to be skeptical regarding these kids actually doing the work required to graduate. Then I saw the UM academic services folks in action. (If I had this type of assistance I’d have graduated with honors. Okay, that’s a stretch.)

UM athletes from all sports are given all the tools they need to succeed. Is it fair? I think so.

When you consider the academic reputations of some of the high schools in South Florida, it’s no wonder some of the student athletes have to play catch-up once they get into college.

Want to know how Shannon was able to get some guys that Coker wasn’t? It’s not that academic standards have dropped. In fact, just the opposite. Randy takes personal responsibility for the academic success of his players. Same goes for Frank Haith, Jim Morris and every other coach on UM’s campus. There is a commitment that every player accepted at the University of Miami will graduate.

Going back to where this all started, the NCAA is on hunt for offenders. Bending and breaking rules is rampant in college football.

Do I think UM is completely innocent? I’d hope so, though it’s hard to believe anyone is absolutely perfect. Difference between other schools and Miami? The fact that this university has seen what happens when you get lax. A harsh lesson was learned and UM’s administrators will do everything in their power to not wind up back in that dark place.

If a report came out tomorrow that Miami was under investigation I’d be disappointed and surprised, though not completely shocked. No matter how hard you work as a head coach, a staff or an institution, it’s impossible to ensure that every player walks a straight like 24/7. They are college kids, after all (not to mention, “Beavis & Butt-Head” are set for a return to MTV.)

A side note. Call it poetic justice, irony or fate, but I find it interesting that the Chairman of the NCAA Committee On Infractions is none other than former UM athletic director Paul Dee.

Good luck to the rest of the college football world.

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