U Of Miami Limits Booster Access To Sidelines

September 13, 2011 /

Boosters beware. You’re no longer welcome on the sidelines during Miami Hurricanes football games.

Chris Freet, Miami’s associate athletic director for communications, confirmed Monday night that the new policy will be instituted for the first time Saturday at Sun Life Stadium for the 7:30 p.m. game against No. 17 Ohio State.

The new policy, made after the exposure of the recent NCAA scandal involving former UM booster and convicted Ponzi schemer Nevi Shapiro, was first reported by The Associated Press. Changes will ensure that anyone not specifically working the game, including administrators, trustees and deans, will be unable to get field-access passes.

There will be a designated area, however, on the visiting sideline to which certain guests will be permitted to go with an authorized university employee, as long as they are escorted there and leave before kickoff. Recruits and their guests also will be allowed on the field before kickoff, and they, too must be accompanied by an employee and must leave 22 minutes before the game begins.

Former UM football players will sometimes be approved for sideline passes on the home side, but will not be able to go in the team’s bench area.

UM president Donna Shalala and new athletic director Shawn Eichorst will have to approve any exceptions to the updated policy.


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