For the first time in the NIL-era, the NCAA offers Miami probation for an infraction

Coral Gables, Fla. (AP) – Miami was placed on one-year probation Friday after the school and NCAA women’s basketball coaches inadvertently helped arrange impermissible contact between a booster and two players signed with the Hurricanes.

It’s the first time the NCAA has announced a penalty related to an investigation into name, likeness and similar deals — NILs, as they’re called.

The NCAA investigated the actions of booster John Ruiz, who signed several Miami athletes to NIL contracts. Among them were women’s basketball players Haley and Hannah Cavinder, who transferred to Miami after meeting Ruiz — though the Cavinders said the NCAA had nothing to do with their decision to play for the Hurricanes.

The NCAA and Miami worked through a “negotiated resolution” to end the saga, but the NCAA wanted the Hurricanes to agree to more sanctions than what was ultimately issued — saying it was “problematic” because of the lack of waivers by those involved. Booster.” The NCAA said Miami coach Katie Meyer helped facilitate the meeting between Cavinders and Ruiz, not knowing she was the cheerleader.

“Boosters engage with prospects and student-athletes in ways that NCAA membership has never seen or experienced before,” the NCAA said. “In that respect, it is critical to address impermissible encouraging behavior, and a dissuasive penalty provides effective punishment (for the group on violations).”

Mayer won’t miss any more games; He received a three-game suspension The season will begin pending the NCAA’s ruling.

The NCAA did not name Ruiz in its ruling Friday, but did refer to a tweet posted by a booster on April 13 that included a photo of him and two recruits. On that date, Ruiz posted his photo Cavinder with the twins after dinner at his house.

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“These girls decided where they wanted to go, no one else did it for them.” Ruiz tweeted Friday.

Cavendish with huge social media following and several NIL contracts signed their letter of intent. A week after dinner. They are not subject to any restrictions. Both are in their first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Fresno State.

“Although the parties insist that a deviation penalty based on impermissible food and impermissible contact is inappropriate, today’s new NIL-related context marks a new day,” the NCAA said.

The mayor said Friday in a statement issued by the university that it led the program with “integrity” and was “a collaborative partner with the NCAA.”

“College athletics is in transition, and any inadvertent mistake I made was prior to a full understanding of the safeguards implemented and the clarification provided by the NCAA in May,” Meyer said.

The NCAA said it opened an investigation in May and interviewed Ruiz in June. But the NCAA can’t order Miami to cut itself from Ruiz based on an encounter that happened before the rules were changed last year.

“The (Committee on Infractions) will strongly consider deviance penalties in future cases involving near-NIL conduct,” the NCAA said.

Miami agreed to a small fine — $5,000 and 1% of the women’s basketball budget, which the school does not disclose as a private entity — and a slight reduction in recruiting eligibility.

“The sanctions we have finally agreed upon to bring this to an end are not (consistent with) the breach or its intent,” Miami said in a statement. “Coach Meyer is a great coach, role model, teacher … and we stand behind him, his program and our ongoing departmental compliance efforts.”

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The Cavinders have become the stars of the NIL event as they become an option for college athletes on July 1, 2021. Boost Mobile immediately signed on, heralding the move with a giant ad in New York’s Times Square. Many other contracts soon followed.

Not including the three games the Hurricanes won without her this season, Meyer is Miami’s all-time leader in women’s basketball victories with 338 – according to the NCAA. He is a past Associated Press Coach of the Year and past USA Basketball Coach of the Year and is a member of the Miami Sports Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor at his alma mater, Duke.

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