“I think this leads to a whole new initiative. What that change is it’s tough to say.”

As for UM shifting gears, attacking and seeking a settlement or retribution from the NCAA like Muhammad and McNair did, Infante doesn’t see that happening. But Hurricanes great Alonzo Highsmith thinks Miami should apply pressure.

“I’ve been adamant about suing the NCAA from the beginning,” Highsmith said. “Unless you fight these guys back, the NCAA is the big, bad wolf. When they come around, you are supposed to cower and lay down and they make all the rules, make all the decisions. Until you fight them back and win, they will continue to do what they want to do.”

Infante said it’s more complicated than that.

“It’s tricky for all the parties involved because you are still down to the cooperative principal,” Infante said. “You still have to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation. For Miami [to sue], that’s a very high-risk maneuver. Everything in this case has suggested that up until now, they’re not really putting up a fight and they might be exhausting their options to defend themselves.

“I think the more likely scenario is Miami lets this play out and if the sanctions or the findings that come out of the Committee on Infractions’ final report are excessive, I think that’s the point Miami picks up on this and uses this as grounds for a lawsuit. [UM] is also more likely to appeal anything now. But in terms of suing the NCAA, that’s always a drastic step. Very few schools have done it. It’s generally individuals.”

Infante said he doesn’t think many of the former UM coaches facing charges — Clint Hurtt, Aubrey Hill and Frank Haith — will fight the NCAA because most of them are still employed.

“If they had been fired or [were] not working, I think they would be much more likely to pounce on this and try to get themselves detached and the case thrown out,” Infante said. “But since they’re working, I think it’s going to be more of a wait and see what their penalties are and if it harms their career, I can almost guarantee there will be a couple lawsuits against the NCAA trying to say this whole thing, none of it is proper.”