Former U Of Miami A.D. Hocutt Speaks Out About Scandal

August 19, 2011 /

Miami Herald, Susan Miller Degnan

The past and present athletic directors at the University of Miami finally spoke this week — one saying he had “nothing to hide’ and the other asserting that the university had “tough times ahead, challenges to overcome and serious decisions to be made,” but would be “left standing.”

Kirby Hocutt, who announced in February that he was leaving Miami for Texas Tech after a little more than three years, told reporters Thursday in Lubbock that convicted felon Nevin Shapiro “was a rogue booster, someone who was determined to go around the system.”

But what Hocutt didn’t say to Texas Tech during the interview process — or to UM football coach Al Golden when he hired him in December — is that Miami had contacted the NCAA in August 2010 to warn that Shapiro was making allegations of improprieties within the Hurricanes’ program.

“It wasn’t on my radar screen because seven months had elapsed from the allegations to the time that I came to Texas Tech, and there were no further allegations made or questions to come forward relating to this situation,” Hocutt told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Wednesday. “It was accusations from a convicted felon that stole $930 million that was being made from jail. It wasn’t an active case. It wasn’t an open case.”

At what point, he was asked, did he become aware Shapiro was operating “outside the boundaries, so to speak?”

Said Hocutt: “[Tuesday,] about 5 o’clock when I read the [Yahoo! Sports] story.’

Hocutt said he left for Texas Tech because he wanted to return to his home state, not because he was worried that the NCAA would come calling.

“I’m sick to my stomach about what is going on at Miami,” he told the Avalanche-Journal. “It’s frustrating and sad. I know they have good people and good young men in that program. … Compliance is a shared commitment, and we’re dealing with human beings and humans make mistakes, and when young people make mistakes, you learn from it, you get better and you move forward.”

Added Hocutt: “I have personally nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.’

The man who replaced Hocutt in April — Shawn Eichorst — issued a written statement released Thursday. “I know our family is hurting 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,” he said. “But these are not times for pity and reflection. All my efforts and energy are committed to ensuring the integrity of the NCAA investigation, demanding the full cooperation of our employees and student-athletes and providing unwavering support. …

“…The community, the coaches, the student-athletes and the University have my unconditional support as we move towards a better day. And there will be a better day.’

Across town, another athletic director who previously worked at UM was asked if he could shed light on Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi schemer. Asked if he knew Shapiro, FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said, “I’ll only talk about what’s happening at FIU.”

About 45 miles north in Boca Raton, FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger — who led the Hurricanes to their first national title in 1983 — acknowledged that he couldn’t help but pay attention to UM’s misery.

“It’s all-encompassing,” he said. “It’s all going to come down like a never-ending snowstorm.’

Miami Herald sportswriters David J. Neal and Sandra Harwitt contributed to this report.