Miami Hurricanes AD says “I don’t think there’s a bias (against Miami) in any way

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday at the Miami Hurricanes Media Day for Baseball, Athletic Director Blake James said: “I don’t think there’s a bias in any way (against Miami).”

There has long been a conspiracy theory by many Miami Hurricanes fans and some in the media that the NCAA goes out of its way to punish Miami for their indiscretions. The same idea is that the National Media also hates Miami.

Virtually every fanbase thinks the same. West Coast fans believe there is an East Coast bias and almost every fanbase believes the NCAA favors Duke in basketball and Alabama in football.

James’ latest discussion was related to Tate Martell’s attempt to get an eligibility waiver to play in 2019. Martell’s former school Ohio State had their new quarterback Justin Fields be granted the waiver of not having to sit out this season after transferring from Georgia.

The Miami conspiracy theorists will claim that past transgressions and subsequent punishments against Miami prove that the NCAA has it out for the Hurricanes Athletic Department.

The Pell Grant Scandal in the 1990s, the Nevin Shapiro Ponzi scheme that led to the loss of a plethora of scholarships each season in football and Dewan Hernandez’s ineligibility in basketball are examples that would be used in a debate to show that the NCAA is biased against Miami.

James discussed the subject and referenced Hernandez and Martell’s battles against the NCAA in regards to their eligibility in the Miami Herald earlier this week.

"” I don’t think there’s a bias in any way…I think the NCAA looks at the rules that are in place and they apply them as they see…I didn’t feel that the Dewan Hernandez case was fairly evaluated in terms of what their decision was, but respect the decision that was made. And I believe they’ll be fair in evaluating Tate’s case and respect the process.”"

James is put in a tough position to answer that question. The fans and media will praise him for saying there is a bias against Miami from the NCAA. James also cannot answer to the point that he pissed off the NCAA.

Overall the NCAA is becoming more lenient when it comes to transfers. Fields being granted his waiver is a good example. James discussed the potential for Martell being granted eligibility to play this season.

"“That’s an NCAA decision, so I know we’re in the process of filing the waiver the getting the results back and whatever they decide, obviously we’ll address that situation when we have the decision from them.Until then, really, it’s speculation, so I guess I’m only optimistic in that I know we’re going to get a decision soon and then we’ll deal with whatever decision the NCAA gives us, and we’ll move forward as a program.”"

No matter what the decision is or how the media reports on the Miami Hurricanes there is still going to be a section of the fan base that feels like everyone is against the U. That can work for the players on the field. It’s meaningless for the fans or anyone in the media to feel that way.

A lot of what has happened to Miami over the last three decades plus was self-inflicted. The aforementioned scandals, the fatigues in Phoenix, the Luther Campbell era in the early nineties of paying the players and even the beloved, harmless turnover chain have created enemies against Miami.

When you win, especially at the rate the Miami Hurricanes did in past generations, there is going to be a segment of that sport’s fanbase against you. It’s part of the competition.