Miami quarterback Jacory Harris publicly apologized to the university and its fans for his role in an extra-benefits scandal and acknowledged making mistakes as a freshman.
“I apologise to the university, president Donna Shalala, starting with her first for everything that happened, everything that she had to go through during this time,” Harris said. “Then all the fans, I want to apologise for something that happened our freshman year. We were all young, but still no excuse for what happened. And apologize to this team for everything that’s been going down and putting them through things they had to go through during this hard time.”
It was the first time Harris had spoken out about the investigation since the National Collegiate Athletics Association ordered him and seven other players to sit out at least one game for taking gifts from former booster and convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro. In all, 12 players had to make charitable donations after an investigation by the university and NCAA found those players took money or gifts.
Harris will resume playing when Miami hosts Ohio State on 17 September. According to the NCAA, Harris accepted meals, entertainment, transportation and nightclub cover charges, all worth around $140. The enforcement investigation into Miami’s athletic department, including compliance, is expected to continue for at least several more weeks. Harris said it was not difficult to remain quiet while the initial wave of the investigation played itself out.
“It was something that was determining my future, so I wouldn’t want to say anything that was going to hurt me. That made it easier to keep in, but it was hard going through the things, knowing that a ruling can change the outcome of my future. That was the only thing that had me nervous, had me worried. But we’re over it now. We got past the one-game suspension and now we’ve just got to take care of business with our next opponent.”
Harris said he initially was relieved to learn he needed to sit only one game, then got progressively more upset as the Maryland game drew closer. Harris watched the 32-24 defeat from a friend’s home.
“I literally got sick. It was hard to watch. I wanted to be out there with them.”
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