The University of Miami, in the midst of the NCAA investigation into the Nevin Shapiro booster scandal, has taken extra measures to distance Hurricanes boosters from student-athletes.
The school’s athletic department compliance office on Monday emailed its biannual newsletter to boosters, and in it was a headline that read: Change in Occasional Meal Policy. Underneath, it said: “Effective immediately, boosters are no longer permitted to entertain student-athletes with an occasional meal and boosters are prohibited from hosting current University of Miami student-athletes in their homes or other locations.’’
It goes on to explain that UM boosters should not provide any type of food, drink, transportation or other extra benefit to student-athletes. Among the items listed as “extra benefits” are discounts, credit, transportation (car or ride), tickets, cash and clothing.
The new UM rule is stricter than the NCAA rule, which allows athletes to receive “an occasional meal from a representative of athletics interests on infrequent and special occasions.” In the past, UM boosters were allowed to host athletes for occasional meals so long as they called the compliance office to clear it first.
Hurricane Club member Harry Rothwell, a longtime booster who manages the AllCanes sporting goods store near campus, was disappointed with the new rule.
“Most of us follow the rules and have had great experiences getting to know these student-athletes over the years, and I think it’s sad that by restricting our interaction so much now it will dehumanize the athletes, and they’ll just become helmets running across the field and basketball jerseys shooting jumpers,” Rot
hwell said. “There will be less reason for boosters to pay money to come out if they don’t get to know the athletes personally and learn their stories.”
Rothwell said he has hosted athletes for occasional meals during the past 20 years. The last one was former basketball and football player Jimmy Graham, now with the New Orleans Saints.
“Part of being a booster is building relationships with athletes, mentoring them, making them feel at home in our community, helping them network so they can get jobs when they graduate,” he said. “As long as we follow the rules, I don’t see why we have to have rules other schools don’t have. It will hurt the athletes and hurt the fans. If someone wants to break a rule, they’re going to break it anyway.”
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The school’s athletic department compliance office on Monday emailed its biannual newsletter to boosters, and in it was a headline that read: Change in Occasional Meal Policy. Underneath, it said: “Effective immediately, boosters are no longer permitted to entertain student-athletes with an occasional meal and boosters are prohibited from hosting current University of Miami student-athletes in their homes or other locations.’’
It goes on to explain that UM boosters should not provide any type of food, drink, transportation or other extra benefit to student-athletes. Among the items listed as “extra benefits” are discounts, credit, transportation (car or ride), tickets, cash and clothing.
The new UM rule is stricter than the NCAA rule, which allows athletes to receive “an occasional meal from a representative of athletics interests on infrequent and special occasions.” In the past, UM boosters were allowed to host athletes for occasional meals so long as they called the compliance office to clear it first.
Hurricane Club member Harry Rothwell, a longtime booster who manages the AllCanes sporting goods store near campus, was disappointed with the new rule.
“Most of us follow the rules and have had great experiences getting to know these student-athletes over the years, and I think it’s sad that by restricting our interaction so much now it will dehumanize the athletes, and they’ll just become helmets running across the field and basketball jerseys shooting jumpers,” Rot
hwell said. “There will be less reason for boosters to pay money to come out if they don’t get to know the athletes personally and learn their stories.”Rothwell said he has hosted athletes for occasional meals during the past 20 years. The last one was former basketball and football player Jimmy Graham, now with the New Orleans Saints.
“Part of being a booster is building relationships with athletes, mentoring them, making them feel at home in our community, helping them network so they can get jobs when they graduate,” he said. “As long as we follow the rules, I don’t see why we have to have rules other schools don’t have. It will hurt the athletes and hurt the fans. If someone wants to break a rule, they’re going to break it anyway.”
Diamond Earrings
Read more
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