NCAA docks Miami football nine scholarships; no additional bowl ban

It’s finally over. Miami football can play the rest of the season without an NCAA cloud over its head.

Miami, 6-0 and No. 7 in the first BCS standings, can also play for this year’s national title.

In a case that has taken years to process, the NCAA on Tuesday levied major sanctions on the program but fell far short of those levied on USC or Penn State.

The NCAA docked Miami football nine scholarships over the next three years but added no further bowl sanctions. The school had self-imposed a two-year bowl ban in advance of the ruling and also took other measures to mitigate the NCAA damage.

The NCAA stated in a release: “The University of Miami lacked institutional control when it did not monitor the activities of a major booster, the men’s basketball and football coaching staffs, student-athletes and prospects for a decade, according to findings by the Division I Committee on Infractions.”

Here is the complete NCAA report.

The Miami case involved booster Nevin Shapiro lavishing at least $170,000 of gifts and perks on Hurricane athletes.

USC received a two-year bowl ban and the loss of the 30 scholarships for violations incurred by former star back Reggie Bush.

Miami is expected to respond to the NCAA report later Tuesday morning.

ALSO:

Tennessee Titans’ owner Bud Adams dies at 90

Nevada man pleads guilty to shooting golfer over errant shot

New Zealand vows to protect gay athletes, fans at 2014 Olympics