Al Golden accuses Miami of ‘gross negligence’ and fabricating quote in email, per report
A federal trial over Al Golden’s buyout from the Miami Hurricanes is less than two months away, and the former coach is now accusing Miami of libel and gross negligence.
Golden alleges the Hurricanes used a false quote in their press release announcing the coach’s firing in 2015, and he claims the university practiced “gross negligence” with regards to the condition of the practice fields in Coral Gables, according to an email obtained by WMEN.
Andy Slater, a host on the Royal Palm Beach Fox Sports Radio affiliate, shared a copy of the email Friday on Twitter.
“I wanted to take the high road upon my departure,” Golden wrote before diving in a series of previously untold allegations.
Golden, who is now the Detroit Lions’ linebackers coach, said his wife, who resides in New Jersey, has been receiving regular checks for 24 cents from the university, which is at the root of Golden’s lawsuit. Last year, Miami filed documentation asserting it agreed to pay him a total of $2 million across the next 51 months, which meant Golden was initially being paid $39,215.69 per month. When he began working as the Lions’ tight ends coach in 2016, the Hurricanes’ payments dropped to $7,965.69 per month because the contract stated payments would be reduced by the amount Golden was paid in a football job. The lawsuit claims Golden is owed an additional $3 million separation pay.
In the email, Golden claims he and Miami agreed to a restructuring of his buyout in 2013 after the Wisconsin Badgers inquired about interviewing the former coach for their vacancy. When athletic director Blake James asked whether he would be interested in speaking with Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, Golden recalled saying,” How can I not be? ... [B]ased on my contract I’m like George Bailey from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life!’ I’m better off dead [insurance] to my family than alive based on severance protection that exists in my current contract.”
Golden claims he was due $2 million with an offset for 2016 and $1 million with an offset for 2017-2020.
“No one, I mean no one, got screwed like my family and I did,” Golden said. “They should pay heavily for this [expletive].”
Additionally, Golden in the email alleges misrepresentation by the Hurricanes and negligence leading to former quarterback Ryan Williams’ career-ending knee injury.
Golden said a quote attributed to him in the press release after he was fired was fabricated and James “ordered the public press release of a false quotation attributed to me. ... [I]t did not provide me the platform to thank our student-athletes and their families.”
The quote attributed to Golden from the press release: “On behalf of my family I want to thank the University of Miami for a tremendous opportunity. I believe in what we are doing and how we are doing it and we have some outstanding young men in our football program. Though this moment is difficult, we wish the Canes the best of luck going forward.”
Golden also claims the Hurricanes acted negligently with regard to conditions at Greentree Practice Fields and those conditions led to Williams’ career-ending knee injury in 2014.
“I did not encourage Ryan Williams to sue the University for gross negligence for a career ending knee injury on an innocuous non-contact play in the Spring of 2014,” Golden said. “The field we were playing was a danger to all involved Football student-athletes dating back to 2012 and the fact that it was attempted to be fixed unsuccessfully 3 consecutive Spring/Summer’s [sic] in a row ... clearly establish that the University did not provide a safe environment.”
The federal trial is set to begin next year, the day after Super Bowl 54 is played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the home of the Hurricanes (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast) and the location of Golden’s final game as coach.
