Carolina Football In Trouble?

• ironman02

  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5384232
  
  http://twitter.com/schadjoe
  
  Looks like the Carolina football program is the subject of an investigation by the NCAA. Personally, I hope this isn't too big of a deal. The Heels have been steadily improving under Butch Davis, and they've been doing pretty well on the recruiting trail lately. I was looking forward to seeing them be competitive on the national stage in the near future.
• swamisez

  

  apparently the twitter account of marvin austin tipped off NCAA watchdogs, when they read some interesting news after his unexpected return to Carolina. The theory is that there were four players who were set to declare for the NFL draft, but some sort of improper benefits were paid to them by outside sources, and they all returned to school.
  
  NCAA has interviewed at least 13 players, some say there will be many more interviewed.
  
  As a Duke fan,
  as an ACC fan
• ironman02

  swami,
  
  Were the alleged improper benefits supposed to have been given to them by the Carolina staff or boosters? I've been reading that the individual players, if this is proven to be true, may be in more trouble than the football program itself. Since there haven't been many facts released, I have no idea if that's even remotely true though. Just curious what you may have heard.
• sportchampps

  What I heard on sports talk radio in Kansas City is that their looking into Agents hanging around the team.
• swamisez

  

  its been widely known that agents have infiltrated the program since Butch arrived in CH, however this case is one where a booster or someone close to the program has worked to keep valuable players from going pro.
  
  Kenan renovations demand quality on the field, we will see how this shakes out.
• swamisez

  

  Here is some of the transcript from an interview on WRAL last week. Dick Baddour (UNC AD) went on to clarify.
  

  the NCAA investigation centers on possible improper benefits provided to the NFL Draft prospects that elected to come back for the 2010 season. The NCAA inquired about benefits coming from non-University influences that included rent, jewelry and travel.

  The investigation, according to InsideCarolina.com, includes seniors Marvin Austin, a defensive tackle, and Greg Little, a wide receiver, but is not limited to them. The NFL Draft prospects in question weren’t the only ones interviewed by the NCAA representatives.

  Barnes also said that none of what is known has come from the UNC coaching staff and they are not involved in any of the possible violations.

  all players that were projected as NFL draftees were interviewed by the NCAA. Schad said that because of how many prospects decided to come back to play for the 2010 season, agents, runners and handlers have flooded the UNC campus.

• ironman02

  Should be interesting to see what happens. Carolina has always had a pretty clean athletic program. Hopefully this ordeal doesn't tarnish that reputation too much, but no matter what the truth ends up being, the mere possibility of impropriety will not look good.
• Little Danny

  

  Looks like Butch Davis will be coaching in the NFL again by next year. LOL!
• ironman02

  Not sure how true it is, but supposedly there's another ACC school and as many as three SEC schools that are going to be investigated soon. The only actual school name that I have heard mentioned is South Carolina. If this is actually true, it looks like the NCAA is really playing hard ball right now. Joe Schad reported recently that the NCAA was talking to SEC athletes, in addition to those at Carolina, so this might have some legs.
• From the Hills

  

  Doesn't surprise me at all that a Paul Davis' program is being investigated. The man can coach, but when he is involved with personnel decisions there are going to be problems
• osudarby08

  

  From the Hills;426449 wrote:Doesn't surprise me at all that a Paul Davis' program is being investigated. The man can coach, but when he is involved with personnel decisions there are going to be problems

  
  Its Butch Davis. Fail
• swamisez

  

  Marvin Austin will be suspended. TBD how many games.
• ironman02

  swamisez;427620 wrote:Marvin Austin will be suspended. TBD how many games.

  
  Is that going to be the extent of it? No punishment for UNC?
  
  By the way, where did you hear this? Earlier today I read that Austin was definitely in trouble, but now I'm seeing that he might not be. I don't know what to believe.
• swamisez

  

  that is not the extent of it, this is so far reaching it will be a while before any details come out and the NCAA can make rulings. As far as Austin goes, what I read was that he is looking at at least a couple games. WRALsportsfan.com has info, and inside carolina had a few threads. Dick Baddour will be on 99.9 tomorrow and will talk about it apparently.
• swamisez

  

  Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, who first broke the story that sources close to the investigation and the UNC athletic department believe that Austin will indeed be suspended, joined Adam and Joe on 99.9 The Fan and he clarified several things in his report. Wilson admitted that the story was mostly speculation. Wilson said, "I don't definitively report that a suspension has been decided on, all I'm saying is that, from what I have been told (sources close to the situation) expect a suspension." Wilson went on to detail that "There is grave concern from the coaching staff and athletic department that Marvin Austin will be ruled ineligible."

  this is from an article I read today
  
  hints at a full season of ineligibility for Austin
  
  http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/story/7991943/
• swamisez

  

  Tar Heel fans: check out @schadjoe 's last 10 or so tweets. And/or read this: http://tinyurl.com/26og774
  Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:57:34 PM via web
  
  # UNC DL Marvin Austin was asked why he was seen driving the vehicle of 49er Kentwan Balmer and if he stayed at Balmer's apartment Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:16:57 PM via web
  
  # Two sources described the amount of agent activity in Chapel Hill this offseason as "hectic." Thursday, July 15, 2010 9:01:34 PM via web
  
  # UNC players were asked by the NCAA who was paying for their rent. Thursday, July 15, 2010 9:01:01 PM via web
  
  # Marvin Austin was asked by the NCAA who paid for his recent trip to Miami. And players were asked about travel. Thursday, July 15, 2010 9:00:06 PM via web
  
  # UNC football players were asked by the NCAA to provide phone records to prove which agents they had spoken with. Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:59:31 PM via web
  
  # One person said UNC's star football players such as Marvin Austin were among those interviewed by the NCAA Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:22:16 PM via web
  
  # One person said the questions from the NCAA to UNC players were intended to "make sure no Reggie Bush stuff is going on." Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:21:17 PM via web
  
  # The NCAA asked UNC players this week about agents and possible gifts or extra benefits 8:51 PM Jul 15th via txt
  
  Joe Schaad apparently is saying Death Penalty for UNC if the details shake out the way its looking
• ironman02

  I've seen a few people on IC, who claim to be "insiders", say that everything is gonna be fine.
  
  IC just posted a new story that basically says the focus of the investigation is Austin, Greg Little, and a few other players. From everything I've read, it looks like Little may be okay and Austin is still in doubt. Too much speculation for my liking, so I'm just gonna sit back and see what happens.
  
  One last thing. Does a suspension actually make sense? If any player received money from an agent, wouldn't they just be completely ineligible? I'm thinking that a suspension, if it occurs, may come from the UNC athletic program or the football staff just because they don't want to risk playing an ineligible player.
  
  http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/984996.html
• ironman02

  swamisez;427637 wrote:Joe Schaad apparently is saying Death Penalty for UNC if the details shake out the way its looking

  I think that may be getting a little carried away. I think this thing was originally blown out of proportion. Players may end up ineligible, and some sanctions may occur, but I don't see any "Death Penalty" or even anything as serious as what USC just got.
• KnightRyder

  

  why does this not surprise me. butch davis has no integrity. how can anyone forget how butch threw foge fazio under the bus then fired him.
• Little Danny

  

  I think for the time being the NCAA is going to come down hard on people. They just nailed USC with a stiff penalty and USC has already begun the appeals process and has declared the penatly too harsh. The NCAA will have to be harsh with others to show they were not being punitive agaisnt the Trojans.
• Early Cuyler

  

  osudarby08;426576 wrote:Its Butch Davis. Fail

  Yea. Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis Jr.
  
  Retard.
• swamisez

  

  Marvin Austin was tweeting some of the swag he was buying on South Beach. This tipped off the NCAA
  
  Here is a tweet photo that some found interesting
  
  
  http://www.wralsportsfan.com/voices/blogpost/7997931/
• ironman02

  ...And now Alabama is being investigated. Looks pretty similar to Austin's situation.
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5396236
  
  Not sure how true it is, but I read today on IC that all ACC and SEC schools may get a visit from the NCAA, especially those where a certain agent(s) has recently visited. This agent stuff is spiraling out of control.
• ironman02

  Now Georgia is involved. Also, I heard on ESPN that Bama's Dareus has said that Marvin Austin invited him to this agent's party. If Austin was helping bring in guys for this party, that's certainly not gonna be good for him. Looking more and more like individual players are going to be more affected by this than the entire programs themselves. UNC, Bama, UGA, S. Caro, UF, USC all in the news lately, and apparently more to come. The NCAA is really going after some high-profile programs.
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5399476
• From the Hills

  

  Early Cuyler;428129 wrote:Yea. Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis Jr.
  
  Retard.

  
  Thanks