Yahoo Sports Allegations: Graig Cooper
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Nevin Shapiro on Cooper: Play audio
Miami booster Nevin Shapiro alleges he provided multiple extra benefits to Graig Cooper during his career with the Hurricanes. Among the benefits he claimed to have provided:
- Graig Cooper
Position: Running back
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Rivals recruiting rank: Ranked as the No. 27 running back in the Class of 2006.
Miami career: A promising start as a freshman and sophomore was derailed when Cooper was forced to split carries as a junior, then suffered a knee injury at the end of the season. Fell into a platoon situation as a senior but still managed to finish third all-time on the Hurricanes’ all-purpose yardage list. He is currently a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Lodging on Shapiro's $1.6 million yacht for four days in January 2007.
• Food, drinks and entertainment at Lucky Strike Lanes in January 2007.
• Transportation in Shapiro's car in January 2007.
In Shapiro's words
• "Graig Cooper stayed on my boat for the first four days he was in Miami. When he came to Miami, he didn't have anywhere to live. I let him stay on my boat. We went to Lucky Strike I remember with my dad. I drove him around. I think I had Pee Wee [Sean Allen] come pick him up and bring him back to the University of Miami campus. I needed him off my boat."
Nevin Shapiro's cell phone providers condensed his calling records from 2002 to 2008 and deleted the booster's text messaging records prior to 2009. Despite a significant portion of his records being expunged, Yahoo! Sports was able to identify at least six calls between Shapiro and Graig Cooper in February and March of 2007. This is a page showing communication between the booster and a phone number linked to Cooper. PDF file
Cooper did not respond to messages left on his cell phone and on his Facebook page.
