While the University of Miami and president Donna Shalala have campaigned to have the NCAA throw out its controversial investigation, the NCAA has now lashed back and claims that UM is "grasping at straws."
Earlier this month, UM filed a motion to have the case dismissed. According to CBS Sports, Jonathan Duncan, the Interim Vice President of Enforcement, in response sent a 42-page document to Britton Banowsky, the chairman of the Committee on Infractions, on the case.
"In the enforcement staff's view, the motions to dismiss are largely based on assumptions, false accusations, misleading statements and meritless claims about the enforcement staff and its investigation. For the reasons set forth below, the enforcement staff requests that the Committee on Infractions deny the motions," wrote Duncan.
"Overall, the enforcement staff believes that the institution is again grasping at straws in an attempt to disqualify members of the enforcement team with the most knowledge about the case," he continued.
Duncan claims that he believes investigators properly dealt with the issue relating to paying Nevin Shapiro's attorney, Maria Elene Perez, and gaining information from Shapiro's bankruptcy case. He further takes issues with Shalala's anger over the school not interviewing former Athletics Director Paul Dee by claiming that Dee's death was unpredictable, and that interviews had been scheduled.
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.
