By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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“The public is going to hate me worse in the next coming months,” said Shapiro, who was in the spotlight last week on CNBC’s American Greed.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — It’s been anything but quiet on the Nevin Shapiro front.

The former University of Miami renegade booster, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for his role in a $930 million ponzi scheme, has been pretty vocal from a New Orleans prison.

Shapiro, who claims to have provided extra benefits to at least 72 athletes from 2002 through 2010, is spewing venom at UM through emails he has sent to the Miami Herald in the past few months.

“The public is going to hate me worse in the next coming months,” said Shapiro, who was in the spotlight last week on CNBC’s American Greed. “It’s going to be severe and catastrophic. My feelings are getting inflamed and I’m going to pop off pretty soon with regards to them and the NCAA.

“I’m coming for them both [UM and former players] and I’m going to be successful.”

Shapiro’s claims led the NCAA to begin an investigation in March last year and a visit to UM last August. The immediate impact was the suspension of eight players six days prior to the Hurricanes 2011 season opener at Maryland. In addition to the suspensions, each player was required to repay what they took as part of the reinstatement.

Defensive end Olivier Vernon (six games), safety Ray-Ray Armstrong (four games) and tight end Dyron Dye (four games) were suspended multiple games. Five players including quarterback Jacory Harris, defensive tackle Marcus Forston, linebacker Sean Spence, defensive end Adewale Ojomo and receiver Travis Benjamin served a one game suspension.

On top of that, the university decided to forgo an appearance in a post-season bowl.

“I’m taking the program down to Chinatown and the former players and links to that program,” he added. “Why? Because the U.S. government lined up 47 former players to testify against me in open court if I went to trial. That in itself is motivation to shove it up their collective [butts].”

Until this point, it’s unknown what punishment the NCAA will hand down to UM. Even though Shapiro still claims the Hurricanes will get the death penalty, which seems unlikely. But it didn’t deter head coach Al Golden and his staff from landing a surprising Top 10 2012 recruiting class. And most importantly, defending their home turf from poachers.

“We think the worst is behind us,” Golden said during his signing day press conference. “The [current] coaches and 95 percent of the players weren’t here when that thing went on. There’s a shift by the NCAA to go after the perpetrators and that’s not us.”

Shapiro’s allegations from last year even stirred up former ‘Canes head coach Jimmy Johnson.

“This little scumbag is in prison for bilking a billion dollars from a bunch of people and obviously he’s going to embellish the truth a little bit,” Johnson said on a radio show in August. “But I’m sure he took advantage of some of these kids and I hate it for the program.”

With Shapiro fixated on taking down the Miami program, the NCAA’s ruling will determine what penalties the Hurricanes face.