NCAA gives ultimatum to players in University of Miami investigation

The NCAA sent letters to players saying if they don't talk, they will consider those players guilty of violations. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

The NCAA issued letters to former University of Miami football players last week saying if they don't speak up by Friday, it will conclude the players committed violations, reports the Miami Herald.

The NCAA is alleging that former players accepted gifts from former booster Nevin Shapiro, a convicted felon who is in prison for running a $930 million Ponzi scheme. Those gifts included dinners, nightclub trips, cash, and prostitutes.

Shapiro, who claims the violations started in 2002, told NCAA investigators that 114 players committed various violations. Yahoo! Sports previously identified 72 of them. Players who were playing college football at the time the investigation was launched are required to speak to the NCAA.

"The purpose of this letter is to apprise you that the NCAA enforcement staff is requesting to schedule an interview with your clients regarding their knowledge of or involvement in possible NCAA violations concerning the University of Miami, Florida, football program," a letter to a former player's attorney states.

"Interviewing your clients is important in order for the enforcement staff to conduct a thorough investigation, and both the staff and the institution request you and your clients’ cooperation in this matter. However, at this time, all attempts to schedule and execute interviews with [blank] have been unsuccessful. As a result, this letter serves as a formal and final request by the NCAA enforcement staff for interviews with [blank] to be completed by Nov. 23, 2012.

“If we do not hear back from you or your clients by that time, the staff will consider the non-response as your client’s admission of involvement in NCAA violations. You may contact me at [blank] in order to arrange this interview. Your assistance in this matter is appreciated.”

The school recently imposed a bowl ban for the second straight season.