However, Harvard filed a stinging response two weeks ago, presenting signed affidavits from Murphy denying the allegations, along with affidavits from admissions officers saying Minuto was “very weak academically” and from the Tulane coaching staff saying that Minuto had misrepresented his football credentials to the Harvard staff.
“[Minuto’s] position is legally and factually without merit, [and] his conduct has been dishonest,” Harvard’s brief concluded.
McGrath-Lewis said she sees the dismissal as a vindication for the “careful” handling of athletic recruits by the athletic department and the admissions office.
“We cannot immunize ourselves from misrepresentation and lies, but…we feel that this is a resounding endorsement of the care with which the coaching staff and the admissions office handle these cases,” she said.
Minuto will be returning to Tulane this fall, according to his father Anthony Minuto.
—Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.