Sports Agenda For Wednesday (8/31/11)
Big Story:
The Hurricanes program looks to be in deep, deep trouble, in my humble opinion, and it all comes down to two words "athletic personnel." Plus, the Fins prepare for a game no one locally can watch live, and the Marlins won?
Let's hit this harder than UM players hit a strip club.
Firsties/UM:
Depending on your point of view, the U either got away with quite a bit yesterday, or got a just punishment.
Here's the breakdown of what you need to know about it.
The current UM team didn't get hit that hard honestly.
Yes, they will be missing some good players for the opening game, but that's against a rebuilding Maryland team, so it'll at least make the game even.
For Al Golden's 2011 Hurricanes, the suspensions announced Tuesday were rough, but not a season killer.
But, three of the players accepted benefits from what the NCAA called "athletic personnel."
That phrase right there is the killer when it comes to the NCAA.
The NCAA will hit a school for players taking benefits, but not severely.
Once you start involving athletic personnel, that's when the hammer will be dropped on a program.
It's part of what nailed SMU to the wall in the mid 1980's.
Now, is it enough to warrant the death penalty?
Honestly, it's too early to say right now because we don't know how many personnel were involved.
Until then, it's pure speculation.
But, since I can speculate with the best of them, here's my early guess.
Over 40 scholarships lost over 4 years probation; 2-year bowl ban; 2-year TV ban
That's about as close to the death penalty as you can get, without getting it.
Now that UM, players, and the NCAA are acknowledging just how dirty this program has been, the hammer is coming.
When it hits, we may not know for another year.
So, while Golden and UM got decent news for 2011, the eye of the storm is still coming, and when it hits, it could be a Category 5.
Dolphins: (Thursday – vs. Cowboys, 7:30 p.m., on CBS4 at 11:30 p.m.) [on the radio live]
The Dolphins are preparing their second and third string players for their final shot at making the 53-man roster on Thursday.
The Fins probably have about 3-6 open positions on the roster for week one; and about 15 players vying for those spots.
The depth chart is set at QB, WR, OL, DL, LB, CB, SS, but questions remain as to the depth at RB, TE, and FS.
My best guess with the running backs is they will have Reggie Bush as the starter, Daniel Thomas/Larry Johnson as backups, and keeping Lousaka Polite.
I also think Reshad Jones will start at FS, but I've been wrong before.
And alas, Stone Hands Fasano will be back as the starting tight end.
Seriously, sometimes I wonder if the Dolphins could find water if they fell out of a boat.
But, they can always "suck for (andrew) luck!"
Marlins: (@ New York Mets, 7:10 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
Here's your philosophical question of the day….
If the Florida Marlins win, and no one is there to see, did they really win?
Probably the better question is if the Florida Marlins are playing, do any of their dozens of fans really care?
Good news Marlins fans, the team only has 12 more games at Sun Life Stadium before they move into a brand new stadium to stink up.
