For the first time since the dismissal of two of his team's top defensive players over the weekend, Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt spoke publicly about the matter, calling it a "sad" situation and one he had little control over, especially since he said the probe began before he arrived in Coral Gables, Fla.
During the first of his weekly in-season appearances on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM-560 on Monday morning, Richt said that while he had a rough idea of what was happening during Miami's investigation into defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and linebacker Jermaine Grace's dealings with a local luxury car rental agency, he wasn't involved in the decision to remove the pair from the team.
Miami announced Saturday both players were dismissed from the program after committing NCAA violations. Richt on Monday said it was a decision made by school administrators, who consulted with both their own legal counsel and an outside source.
"It's sad that it happened, but there was something being investigated for a while," Richt said. "It got to the end of the line and a decision had to be made. Through some consultation with an outside source that is very tied into the NCAA and other universities across America _ it's kind of what he does for a living _ that was the decision that was made."
Now, Richt said, it's time for the Hurricanes to move forward, especially with their season opener against FAMU set for Saturday at 6 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.
When asked about how Miami will do that without Muhammad and Grace _ as well as linebacker Juwon Young, who was suspended by the school indefinitely in June for his role in the matter _ Richt said the Hurricanes will have to evaluate how often it uses two- and three-linebacker sets. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said on Friday the Hurricanes coaching staff had introduced its nickel package that day in practice and work on that would continue going forward.
Richt also said it's likely young players _ including freshmen linebackers Shaquille Quarterman, Michael Pinckney, and Zach McCloud, as well as freshman defensive end Joe Jackson _ will see increased playing time as the Hurricanes try to offset the losses of Muhammad and Grace.
"We can talk about this all we want, the bottom line is that I think we need to be talking about the rest of the team. That's who's going to show up Saturday night and play ball. It is what it is," Richt said. "It's something we have to deal with, but there's attrition in football. ... Everybody knows the next man's got to be ready to go and that's why you rep so many guys. Now it's time to go play our first game and we're really excited about that."
Entering the season, Miami remains on probation stemming from the NCAA's protracted investigations into the actions of a former booster. That probation is scheduled to end in October. In its statement released Saturday, Miami said that because no staff members or boosters were found to be involved in the investigation into Muhammad and Grace, the program was not subjected to further sanctions.
Meanwhile, in a statement given to the Associated Press, Juan Caballero _ the owner of the agency in question _ denied that any Miami player was given anything for free from his company.
Miami said it will honor Muhammad and Grace's scholarship while Young has already left the school and transferred to Marshall, where he is listed on the Thundering Herd's roster.
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