'Pony Excess' Fallout Led Directly To Miami Scandal

[HB Pony Dad]

"It's déjà vu all over again." -- Yogi Berra

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." -- Alphonse Karr, French novelist

The quotes seem appropriate considering the revelations coming out of the University of Miami from Yahoo! Sports' 11-month investigation.

Twenty-five years ago, a disgruntled linebacker from Southern Methodist University sat down with me on camera. David Stanley told me he received $25,000 cash for committing to SMU in 1983...

Reporter Who Broke SMU Scandal: 'Pony Excess' Fallout Led Directly To Miami Scandal

Hansen offered some great insight during "Pony Excess" - especially about how SMU bungled its interview with Ch. 8. I wouldn't mind listening to him talk about those days and tell some of the behind-the-scenes stories.

He didn't "make his career" because of the SMU scandal. He was already the No. 1 sportscaster in town, which is why David Stanley ran to him when he wanted to get revenge on SMU. The SMU story is merely the one journalistic highpoint of Hansen's career, which is really built on his oversized personality and opinions.

Stanley dumped the story in Ch. 8's lap. Producer John Sparks did the real legwork - Hansen was just the face for the story. If they hadn't uncovered it, someone else would have - David Stanley was out to get SMU.

The story linked here says it was a former Daily Campus member who tipped off Sparks about players receiving money under the table. It wasn't exactly the world's biggest secret that SMU was still paying players, but only one player talked to the media: David Stanley.

You want to be mad at someone, be mad at the whistle blower, not the guy who merely held the microphone.

[ThadFilms]

BEST. ARTICLE. EVER.

(Not really. BUT, AWESOME!)

I love that Starks is taking all of the credit now, which we all knew when we made the film. But he was so hesitant to be in the film. Hesitant to the point that he stopped returning phone calls.

Him and Sherwood.... just can't believe they refused to be in the film. Really weird.

[Comet]

Gosh Thad, way to ruin Miami's party.

[ThadFilms]

Gosh Thad, way to ruin Miami's party.

Sigh. I know. South Beach must be pissed.

Dirk and I will go there and party.

[well travelled pony]

Uh, I posted this already see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54081.

Go Ponies!

[Junior]

way to steal Thad's thunder...

[leopold]

BEST. ARTICLE. EVER.

(Not really. BUT, AWESOME!)

I love that Starks is taking all of the credit now, which we all knew when we made the film. But he was so hesitant to be in the film. Hesitant to the point that he stopped returning phone calls.

Him and Sherwood.... just can't believe they refused to be in the film. Really weird.

If you say it's acurate, then I believe you.

Considering the death threats Hanson got, I'm not surprised Starks stayed in the background, even to this day.

[ThadFilms]

BEST. ARTICLE. EVER.

(Not really. BUT, AWESOME!)

I love that Starks is taking all of the credit now, which we all knew when we made the film. But he was so hesitant to be in the film. Hesitant to the point that he stopped returning phone calls.

Him and Sherwood.... just can't believe they refused to be in the film. Really weird.

If you say it's acurate, then I believe you.

Considering the death threats Hanson got, I'm not surprised Starks stayed in the background, even to this day.

It was him an Hansen that broke the Stanley story. He was Hansen's producer on the thing whole thing. I think we even have his name in the doc. over some video.

[leopold]

You do. I can tell you without even looking at the video that his name is over the footage of ED in high school.

[ThadFilms]

You do. I can tell you without even looking at the video that his name is over the footage of ED in high school.

Actually now that you say it, it is in there but over footage of Stanley in high school.

(BTW - I typo'd it's Sparks not Starks. That was not meant as a slight at all, you know, not a bush league stunt of intentionally misspelling a person's name. Pure typo and/or brain cramp.)

[The PonyGrad]

And the leaker from the Daily Campus?