In an offseason filled with excitement thus far for the Louisville football team, it took a potential negative turn on Monday night.
As reported by multiple sources close to the situation but best explained by Bruce Feldman here, Louisville defensive line and associate head coach Clint Hurtt could be facing serious NCAA sanctions that ultimately leads to his dismissal from the University of Louisville.
In the wake of the Shapiro Ponzi-scheme involving the University of Miami, Shapiro had named tons of names throughout the Hurricanes' sports programs. It was announced officially on Monday that the NCAA was bringing the hammer down on former Miami basketball coach Frank Haith, now at the University of Missouri. It was reported that the sanctions are the severest - the dreaded "unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance" with NCAA rules. Reportedly, Missouri is faced with the challenge of potentially having to replace Haith in the midst of the team's active season, ranked in the top 25, or have to face the sanctions levied against Haith for themselves.
According to reports, sources say that a number of football assistants from Miami during the alleged Shapiro days are set to also be handed the unethical conduct/failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance sanctions - chief amongst them, former Miami assistant Clint Hurtt.
Hurtt has been a crucial part of Louisville's quick rebuild under Charlie Strong, as his recruiting prowess is second to none in the nation. Hurtt had helped Strong bring in perpetually strong classes, even being named recruiter of the year during his tenure at Louisville.
It is unclear as of yet exactly what sanctions will be brought against Hurtt (if any, after all, we're still technically dealing in innuendo via sources and no official word just yet; but where there is smoke, in this case, you can very much expect fire), and how it will affect his ability to continue in an active role as part of the Louisville coaching staff. But if the charges levied against Hurtt by the NCAA are anywhere near the level of what is being slapped on Frank Haith, then it definitely leaves Hurtt's job status up in the air.
Louisville has one final year in the Big East with AQ status still existing, and they're certainly hoping to make as big of a push toward the top of the polls and potentially into the BCS National Championship game as possible. The one thing that's certain is that in what could be Louisville's last year in the talent depleted Big East, and the potential last year of Teddy Bridgewater and many of his comrades (juniors are draft eligible one that third year finishes), the last thing the school will want is sanctions or a postseason ban based on University of Miami allegations.
Things aren't looking pretty for one of Louisville's top recruiters; here's hoping Hurtt doesn't receive nearly as much of a smack from the NCAA as is being projected right now - but more importantly, that Louisville's resurgence under Charlie Strong and Teddy Bridgewater doesn't get hampered by the situation.
GO CARDS!
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