"The U" refers to the University of Miami Hurricanes or "The 'Canes" football team. The scandals were:
- Brian Pata was found dead as a result of a homicide in November 2006. In 2021, a fellow teammate Rashaun Jones was arrested for said murder.
- Various teammates were arrested for guns, drugs, and other violations.
- In 2015, Nevin Shapiro, a former Miami businessman and Booster who is currently doing a 20-year stint in federal prison for fraud, has alleged that he showered dozens of Miami players with improper gifts, from prostitutes to jewelry, over a period of eight years. Other benefits included: cash, jewelry, prostitutes, parties in his mansions and on his yacht, elaborate meals and nights out at expensive nightclubs and strip bars, bonuses for athlete's play on the field, special bonuses for injuring players on another team, and, in one instance, an abortion for a stripper a player had impregnated.
- Due to the number of players and other participants involved and the repeated and frequent nature of said offenses, there was talk of the regulating body, The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association), imposing the "Death Penalty", which would shut down Miami's football program entirely for at least one year, something it has only done once before, with Southern Methodist University in 1987.
Aaron was asked by his English teacher to interpret a quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "No man, for any considerable period can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude without getting bewildered as to which may be true". It seems like he struggles with the question of "Identity" (who he is ?), and the open embracement of his true identity, seems to a running theme in his life.
The players who participate in the NFL Combine are draft-eligible players who are selected by the Player Selection Committee. The committee bases their decisions on input given by the 32 NFL teams, NFL executives from the player personnel departments, as well as the Directors of the National and BLESTO scouting services. The athletes who receive enough votes by position will be given an invitation. The committee's goal is to invite every player who will be drafted in the upcoming NFL Draft. To qualify for the NFL Combine, players should have: a high school diploma, completed three years after high school, played college football, developed movement mechanics, and declared for the draft. The committee typically invites 300-335 players each year, with 250 invitations going to players who have completed their college eligibility. The remaining 50 invitations are given to underclassmen and players who have expressed interest in entering the draft before completing their college eligibility.
Barring any trades between clubs, each round of the NFL Draft starts with the team that finished with the worst record of the last season and ends with the final round with the Super Bowl champions. Teams that didn't qualify for the playoffs are assigned draft slots 1-20. The purpose of this Draft format, is to keep the clubs, competitive especially the ones that suffer greater losses by giving them a better chance to acquire first class players.
College homecoming is an annual celebration that takes place at a college or university to welcome back former students and alumni. It's usually celebrated in late September or early October and typically includes a variety of events and activities. The term "homecoming" implies a return or reunion, and the tradition often serves as an opportunity for alumni to come back to their alma mater. Generally, college homecoming events are centered around the athletic programs, particularly football, and are more focused on alumni returning to campus, reconnecting with old friends, and participating in various activities organized by the institution. In this installment, the booster club, stated that they raise more money in those three days, than anytime of the year.