Oh boy, here we go.
Ken Tysiac at ACC Now is reporting that UNC has scheduled a press conference tonight at 7:30 “to update the media on the status of the NCAA investigation.” Coach Butch Davis, athletic director Dick Baddour, and Chancellor Holden Thorp will all speak at that time.[UPDATE]: Tysiac reports that Davis’ “scheduled pre-practice briefing with the media was suddenly canceled. The early portion of practice, which was scheduled to be open to the media, was closed.”
Meanwhile, Greg Barnes at Inside Carolina is reporting that an internal review of the football program has found academic infractions, and that those infractions have been self-reported to the NCAA. According to IC, “Sources report the various players involved were relegated to the scout team at practice on Wednesday.”
My gut reaction about the press conference is that this is the big announcement. Given Carolina’s reticence to speak publicly about the NCAA investigation for nearly two months, the fact that they are scheduling a big presser with the three big dogs, including the chancellor, means this is more than an “update”. [UPDATE] Upon further review, the presence of the chancellor may be more related to the academic issues. Either way we’ll know at 7:30.
As for the academic issues, it may be coincidental, or tangential, to the NCAA investigation. The fact that the academic infractions were self-discovered and self-reported may simply be the result of UNC taking a closer look into everything associated with the football program. At this point, anything else is speculation and hopefully answers will be forthcoming in a few hours.
[UPDATE 4:00 P.M.] ESPN’s Joe Schad tweeted that UNC is looking into whether or not as many as 9 players had papers written for them by a former tutor. With things coming fast and furious now, we will just have to wait until 7:30 to see what the verdict is.
[UPDATE X2. 4:30 P.M.] Now Schad is tweeting that Marvin Austin said second-year Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis helped finance some of his Florida trips. Davis, who played collegiately at Illinois, and Austin are old friends from Washington, D.C. Expect nuggets like this to start dropping as the big press conference approaches and the details start leaking.
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Greg Barnes of IC on 99.9….
Barnes said he heard 6-12 players were moved to the scout team, including multiple defensive starters.
SIGH.
***
do what you have to do, Chancellor. its an Honor Code violation. lets amputate what we need to.
I will say again what I said before…what has the Butch Davis era given us thus far? Three losses to NC State, three losses to UVA, no top 25 finishes, no bowl wins and the greatest embarrassment the University has faced in my lifetime. At this point UNC could disband the entire football program and it wouldn’t bother me one bit.
well, i dont know about that. but put me in that club of i’ll take a mediocre clean program to an elite somewhat smarmy one.
Good attitude
So — “had papers written for them” — this is the plot of the 1982 movie Grease 2! Otherwise unforgettable, except for one actress who was introduced to the world. This is the sort of thing that could be set to music – maybe they’ll play “Back To School” at the presser? “Gotta go back, back, back to school again.”
…be an athletic supporter.”
Permit me to interrupt this potentially dreadful news with some great news:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2010/08/ramshead_rathskeller_returns
I just hope they’re bringing back the old cast of waiters too. I’ve known some of them for 40 years, and I miss them.
^thats awesome. they need the cooks, too. i dont want lasagna that ISNT an impenetrable bowl of cheesy goodness.
so, go to Sutton’s tomorrow, go see the best soccer team in America, then volleyball, and come back Saturday for #1 field hockey.
“The roof, the roof is on fire. We don’t need any water let the mother f%%er burn……….”
^in the spirit of Marvin’s tweet…
“Authorities are investigating why scl11 deliberately set his house on fire.”
Questions about illegal benefits for players from agents are one thing, but when you talk about academic fraud then it is time to check the house for Roof Rot. Heads need to roll if this is true…..
The fact that ESPN employees are reporting this makes me a skeptical hippo. We’ll see in a few hours if this is true
^^^^^I am very excited to hear that the Ratt is coming back. That brings back memories of happier times in Chapel Hill. Of course, that was before I became a vegetarian so that complicates things…. but as long as they bring back the bottomless basket of butter (which was listed as “bread” on the menu) and bottomless pitcher of sugar (which was listed as “tea” on the menu) I’ll be a happy man… Oh, and the slice of apple pie with a square brick of ice cream on top of it… GOOD stuff!
the story has just gone all Inside Edition on us.
according to Joe Schad, the tutor, private tutor, in question, is or was also employed as…i cant even say it. i’ll let Joe’s tweet say it:
The tutor in the middle of UNC’s academic impropriety allegations was also Butch Davis’ nanny
22 minutes ago via txt
cue quizzical dog head look.
^Holy Mary Poppins Batman! … Unbelievable. Did you see the helicopter flyover on WTVD of Holden Thorpe speaking to the football team in the middle of the football field? This whole thing is surreal…
^ Yikes. This is shaping up to be a disaster. Let’s just get it all out now. It will only get worse with a dribble here and a dribble there.
WRAL didnt have that.
i’m guessing the heading on his speech was RIOT ACT, and he was reading it to them.
wowzers.
Way to go butch, can’t even beat state with a dirty team. I’ve been called a “hater” on this blog for my views of our mediocre football team, and now this adds more fuel to my hate. Butch should be fired, and UNC needs to start over, sorry fans the dream season is now a nightmare, and there is no end in sight. Sadly the players will still go pro, and the future kids will have to pay for the current players and coaches stupid and repeated mistakes.
Why keep a coach that has disgraced the program. Wake me up when Late Night is here, the nightmare continues.
ESPN is reporting that the players involved with Mary Poppins included Marvin Austin (shocking…) as well as Robert Quinn and Bruce Carter:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5501067
fire butch NOW! this is a disgrace. can’t even win with a dirty program, pitiful!
^^^may not turn out that bad. FSU had a similar issue and players were suspended 30% of the season.
the MAustin stuff can amount to nothing mindblowing and we can still get through this with our depth.
who knew Yates’ accuracy would be the least of our worries?
^^They’ll probably just give him another raise like they did after he won what? 5 games? Fire Butch AND Baddour.
I got ripped a new one, when I said fire Butch when the story first broke. Looks like people are joining my side. I can’t stand this, more fuel for the ABCers, and Robert Quinn to??!, man only one I had hope for. See ya Butch, glad the Heels spent all that money on Kenan renovations.
Butch first the whole navy blue crap, now this. Disgraceful