Miami Self-Imposes Bowl Ban For Second Straight Season

Miami announced today that it is self-imposing a bowl ban for the second consecutive year.

According to the Huffington Post, the school is currently being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly providing cash and gifts to new recruits. The school self-imposed the ban in the hopes of lessening any sanctions that the NCAA hands down at the end of the investigation.

The school said in a statement today:

“Considerable deliberation and discussion based on the status of the NCAA inquiry went into the decision-making process and, while acknowledging the impact that the decision will have on current student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans, a determination was made that voluntarily withholding the football team from a second postseason was not only a prudent step for the University to take but will also allow for the football program and University to move forward in the most expedited manner possible.”

The self-imposed bowl ban will keep Miami from playing in its first ACC title game. The Hurricanes would have likely earned a spot in the ACC title with a win over Duke this weekend. The bowl ban will also keep the team from finishing their season with a home game at Sun Life Stadium for the Orange Bowl.

Quarterback Stephen Morris said:

“We’re here as a family. We’ve faced a lot of adversity here at this university. Something that was done a couple years ago affects us right now, but that’s what men have got to do. We’ve got to step up and stay focused on the task at hand and stay together.”

Miami also banned itself from bowl games last year. According to the Associated Press, it will be the first time since 1982 that the Miami Hurricanes will go consecutive years with a bowl game.