NCAA acknowledges ‘missteps’ in Miami investigation, and Hurricanes demand swift end to probe

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Calling the NCAA’s investigation “unprofessional and unethical,” Miami President Donna Shalala lashed out at the governing body for college athletics Monday, insisting that their long probe of the Hurricanes not only come to a swift end but result in no other penalties against her school.

“We have been wronged,” Shalala said.

Her statement came shortly after the embattled NCAA said it was pressing on with the case against Miami, even after the acknowledgment Monday of “missteps” that led to the replacement of its enforcement department and the throwing out of all ill-gotten information gleaned from two depositions that could have been very damaging for the Hurricanes.

The NCAA said it paid Maria Elena Perez, the attorney for former booster Nevin Shapiro, more than $19,000 for work she performed, primarily using subpoena power to ask questions on the association’s behalf and doing so under the guise of a bankruptcy case. The NCAA does not have subpoena power and was not involved in Shapiro’s bankruptcy proceedings.

And this all comes with Miami expecting to finally receive its notice of allegations — the list of wrongs that the NCAA will claim it found — as early as today, a long-awaited step that will usher in the start of the sanction phase of the process.

“Sadly the NCAA has not lived up to their own core principles,” Shalala wrote. “The lengthy and already flawed investigation has demonstrated a disappointing pattern of unprofessional and unethical behavior. By the NCAA leadership’s own admission, the University of Miami has suffered from inappropriate practices by NCAA staff.”

Perez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Florida Bar said last week that it has opened a file to see if Perez broke any rules through her involvement in the Miami-NCAA matter.

Earlier Monday, speaking on a teleconference to announce the findings of a review into his association’s ties with the attorney of the former Miami booster at the center of this scandal, NCAA President Mark Emmert insisted the case will not be settled.

“This is going to go forward to the committee on infractions,” Emmert said.

It’s believed that committee has a meeting sometime in the next few days, though it would be an incredibly rare step for Miami to get in front of that group so quickly. The next scheduled session comes in April — and it usually takes two to three months for penalties to be announced after schools appear before that committee.

“There must be a strong sense of urgency to bring this to closure,” Shalala wrote. “Our dedicated staff and coaches, our outstanding student-athletes, and our supporters deserve nothing less.”

Already, Miami’s football program has voluntarily forfeited the right to appear in two bowl games, along with one trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, up to 30 practices and an undisclosed number of scholarships in response to the investigation. Earlier this month, coach Al Golden told The Associated Press that he believes the Hurricanes have already paid “a huge penalty.”

Others, on the NCAA level, are also paying a price.

Julie Roe Lach, who was the NCAA’s vice president for enforcement — basically, its top cop — since 2010, was ousted and has been replaced on a temporary basis by Jonathan Duncan, a lawyer with extensive experience working with the association.

“Obviously, this is an outcome that nobody wants to see on their watch or anyone else’s,” Emmert said. “This is something that’s an embarrassment to the association and our staff.”

Lach was part of the chain that approved payments to Perez.