Reaction the morning after

UNC Scandal103

 

Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated

For all the tawdry scandals that have tarnished college football over the past 12 months — from USC to Tennessee, from Cam Newton to Jim Tressel — one can easily argue that the nine major violations levied against Butch Davis’ program Tuesday contain more filth and more blatant disregard for the rule book than any of them.

…

That task could get a whole lot harder once the Committee gets done nuking his program sometime after its October hearing, and perhaps by then the school will be shamed into making a change. As of today, however, the official stance, as articulated by Chancellor Holden Thorp, is: “We made mistakes, and we have to face that.”

Heather Dinich, ESPN

There were, however, allegations that the “institution” failed to properly monitor the conduct of Chris Hawkins, who was allowed access to the facilities and participated in one-on-one drills with the players. And the “institution” failed to monitor the social networking of the players in 2010. And here’s the kicker … the “institution” did not follow up on information that “indicated a risk of improper benefits being provided when reported by [a student athlete] to administrators within the football program.”

Somebody knew something was going on and “the institution” let it continue.

Dr. Saturday, Rivals

Thus concludes what appears to be the perfect storm of NCAA death: Players got paid, agents were everywhere, players committed academic fraud, coaches, players and tutors alike misled or stonewalled investigators — and there was direct institutional knowledge via Blake, who (according to the NCAA) not only knew but was actively participating in flouting the rules in a way that the last guy the NCAA accused of being a rogue assistant coach, USC scapegoat Todd McNair, never dreamed.

If you’ve been following this case from the beginning, none of those charges are new. But it is eye-opening to see all of them exhaustively detailed in one place for the first time, and there is no escaping the conclusion that the Tar Heels are going to feel the maximum, USC-level pain in response — up to and including a postseason ban and heavy scholarship losses. Institutionally, North Carolina worked hard to distance itself from the worst offenders ingratiate itself as a collaborator in justice when it became aware of the violations, but if the NCAA can’t throw the book at a school that employed an assistant coach it accuses of acting as a runner for an NFL agent, it might as well ditch the rulebook and badges and rename itself the “Basketball Tournament Deposit Association.”

Andrew Jones, Fox Sports

The culture and perception of UNC football certainly have changed, and Davis has failed in how he’s operated the ship. It seems suspect that he would be so grossly let down by the judgment of a close friend of 30 years and by a tutor he paid out of his own pocket.

This isn’t to nail Davis with a guilty stamp. However, it’s hard to look past those situations and relationships while accepting that the most meticulous coach in the ACC, one who is obsessed with the striping on his team’s pants, would be so far out in left field when it came to what Blake and Wiley were doing, not to mention the other charges levied by the NCAA.

And now Chancellor Holden Thorp must ask himself: If Davis didn’t know what was going on, should he have?

 

After a year of telling us how in control they are over at the Flagship, since last Thursday Thorp and Baddour haven’t had much to say, but now they just want us all to know how sorry they are (J.P. Giglio, Charlotte Observer):

UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, athletics director Dick Baddour and football coach Butch Davis were requested by the NCAA to attend the meeting.

Baddour said the next step for UNC is to prepare a response.

“We’ll go through it in absolute detail,” Baddour said. “Then we’ll make decisions about what we agree with and what we don’t agree with and how we’re going to move forward.”

UNC has gone almost 50 years, spanning to a point-shaving scandal with the men’s basketball program in the 1950s, without incurring what the NCAA defines as a major violation.

“I deeply regret that Carolina is in this position,” Thorp said in a statement released by the school. “We made mistakes, and we have to face that.”

Updates to follow.

UNC Scandal

103 Responses to Reaction the morning after

  1. wolfpacker 06/22/2011 at 9:44 AM #

    Let them keep butch the sorry ___ can’t win when they’re cheating…how do you think he’s going to win if they aren’t. There will be a LOT more pressure on this university…they will come to their knees in all regards.

    It’s so funny how until this week, the alumni had been believing the leadership (if that’s what you want to call it) on the hill. Are these people really that stupid? I believe they are.

    The leadership sold out the integrity and academic standards of the university to pull in some thugs that probably can’t spell university to win on Saturday. They couldn’t win and they got caught. This university system is corrupt from the top down and unx really blew it when they hired thorpe. You call this guy a leader?

    The entire unx system is turning out to be a JOKE!
    The bog is a complete joke!
    The acc commissioner is a joke!
    holden thorpe is a joke, baddour is a joke, and butch davis is a liar.

  2. Wulfpack 06/22/2011 at 9:47 AM #

    “ESPN doesn’t even have it on the front page of their College FB section (instead they are covering this ridiculous series about CFB programs in PFB cities)…”

    Check again. It’s on the front page of ESPN. Let’s stop all the claims of media conspiracy, etc. There are FOUR articles in the Charlotte Observer/News Observer alone. It is being very well covered now that the notice is out.

  3. BJD95 06/22/2011 at 9:48 AM #

    This song has been in my head all day and best expresses my blissful emotional state:

  4. Old MacDonald 06/22/2011 at 9:52 AM #

    “The UNC Football program is dirtier than the Tattaglia family”

    Tattaglias is a pimp. He never could have outfoxed Santino. I didn’t know until today that it was Barzini all along.

  5. Old MacDonald 06/22/2011 at 9:53 AM #

    “The UNC Football program is dirtier than the Tattaglia family”

    Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfoxed Santino. I didn’t know until today that it was Barzini all along.

  6. TruthBKnown Returns 06/22/2011 at 10:00 AM #

    I want to believe they’re going to get nuked. But as soon as I read one post saying that, I read another post saying no to expect much.

    I’d like to think that Butch will be a bargaining chip when they are negotiating a punishment. He’s a dirty, lying dog. He knew a lot more than he admits to knowing (hopefully his personal phone records will be released and will reveal that beyond debate).

    I just don’t feel like they’re going to get the hammer of Thor. I think they SHOULD. I just think they won’t. Also, some say LOIC would have been in the NOA, other say it comes later. Who is right? Posts here (and at other sites, too) seem to be all over the board on this. There is no consensus on the matter of LOIC.

  7. blpack 06/22/2011 at 10:04 AM #

    I can’t wait for Swofford’s comments condemning UNC-cheat football now that it is official the program is dirty. I think wolfpacker is correct in saying the entire system is a joke. BOG, their BOT, the ACC Commish, chancellor, AD and coach. All in bed together. One big lie.

  8. ryebread 06/22/2011 at 10:07 AM #

    This is clearly a lack of institutional control type of case. Unfortunately like Gene, I think UNC might still slither away — especially given Swofford and the board of governors.

    I’ll believe that the hammer gets dropped when it actually happens. Until then, I just hope there’s USC like mud at a national level.

    I’m afraid though that between Auburn, Oregon, Ohio State and now this, that this may just be viewed as a broken system and not cheating programs. What people are failing to see is that outside of UNC, the cheaters are clearly benefiting. The NCAA really can’t afford to look the other way.

  9. BloggerEsquire 06/22/2011 at 10:13 AM #

    What is so special about Butch? I just don’t get why the UNC brass has chained the university to Davis. It’s not like he’s Dean, or Roy, much less that he has won championships.

    As for football coaches, Davis clearly hasn’t achieved the same things (at least in his time at UNC) as Urban Meyer, Frank Beamer, Pete Carroll, or Tressel. Or heck, even Jim Grobe. Those guys I could see fighting for, based on what they actually accomplished. And in the case of say Meyer, Grobe, and Beamer, their integrity and built-up good will.

    On top of that, the violations under Butch’s watch could (however unlikely) even spread to basketball? Don’t the UNC folks who care most about basketball start to take notice and tell the University that football isn’t worth that risk? If you were Roy, wouldn’t you be calling for Butch’s head to keep your program intact?

    I guess the answer is just greed and/or arrogance. I’m not saying that UNC should “know its place” as a basketball-only school. But I am surprised that no one has pressured UNC to fire Butch with the simple argument that “We’re UNC. We can do better.”

  10. Bowlpack 06/22/2011 at 10:14 AM #

    I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what the NCAA doles out at justice. I’m in the harsh penalty camp which appears to be gaining a majority based on the comments here and the very negative national media attention which is often very telling as journalists often have the tendency to align themselves with the popular opinion. What I find interesting is that we are now hearing cries from the Tarholes about “media conspiracy, etc”.

    In regards to Butch’s tenure at UNC, we have a few variables to consider including the renovations to Kenan Stadium. It is true that if he is gone then that money may dry up. However, a huge black eye was given to UNC under his watch. He’s the man ultimately responsible and it appears fairly obvious now (and is gaining media attention) that he should be held accountable. Also, if you think that this is over then we still have some 216 phone records to probe. The NCAA can always come back and institute further penalties if UNC doesn’t get it’s house in order.

    The offenses were egregious and many. The best is yet to come.

  11. old13 06/22/2011 at 10:24 AM #

    Exactly, blpack! But the corruption goes much farther than that IMO. Where’s the press asking questions! Where’s the state legislature and law enforcement asking questions! Where’s the righteous indignation of the UNC-CHeat alumni, the citizens of N.C., and, yes, the other member institutions of the UNC System! Today I’m utterly ashamed of the UNC System, my home state, and the ACC, of which UNC-CHeat was a founding school and supposed to be a leader in the pursuit of competitive athletics while maintaining high academic standards. The fact that the “three numnutz” are still employed by the school says it all about how far and wide the corruption goes. At a minimum, they are all incompetent to perform their jobs while maintaining the stated standards of the school. At most, they are complicit in all this dirty dealing. And my beliefs lean toward the latter!

  12. NCSt8_05 06/22/2011 at 10:28 AM #

    Greg Barnes said there would be 9 infractions and that is how many there were. Is it possible that he is correct in that they will only be looking at a few years probation and a loss of a couple scholarships? He was off on the timing, but the violations are pretty much what he said they would be.

  13. JEOH2 06/22/2011 at 10:28 AM #

    My point wasn’t that there is a media conspiracy (I don’t believe that in the least)…but that there is varying coverage of the particular story…SI clearly believes it is more important than ESPN…even during a slow news period (no NBA, NFL, NHL early part of MLB season)

  14. 61Packer 06/22/2011 at 10:30 AM #

    UNC will NOT get major reprimands or punishment from all this. Why? Because they’re UNC and we’re NOT.

  15. highstick 06/22/2011 at 10:31 AM #

    If the penalties are light, I would expect, and certainly HOPE, that 11 other university Presidents, AD’s, coaches, and fans from the rest of the ACC are paying very close attention to how Swofford reacts.

    If he tries to help them shuffle it under the rug, then the ax should fall very quickly on his neck!

    But, as Alpha says, I just one of those “Hatefannation” lunatics! What do I know?

  16. TAEdisonHokie 06/22/2011 at 10:31 AM #

    TBKR – Posts here, or on any other message board, have absolutely no bearing on whether or not UNC gets hit with the NCAA’s loss of institutional control. It’s up to the NCAA to make that decision during the punishment phase, not message board consensus or lack thereof.

    Read the NOA – there are nine allegations of major misconduct, none of which are specifically noted by the NCAA as secondary violations. These aren’t simple charging fouls where you get a pat on the back by your teammates and coaches and told “Way to be aggressive! Keep up the pressure!”. No, these are blatantly flagrant fouls that can result in being kicked out of the game…and maybe the next several games. Every single one of these allegations points to a loss of institutional control. UNC could survive one or two….but nine? I don’t think so.

    On page 3 of the NOA is a very important statement from Julie Roe Lach, Vice President of Enforcement for the NCAA:

    “As indicated in my June 7 letter, the Committee on Infractions reviews information concerning possible major violations either through the summary disposition process or an in-person hearing. It is my understanding that the enforcement staff has discussed the possibility of processing this case through the summary disposition process and that currently this process does not appear appropriate.”

    In plain English, that means there will be no “settlement out of court”…this case is going to trial.

    Additionally, more allegations may surface over the next 90 days involving Butch Davis’ 216 phone records, and recruiting violations to include getting parents jobs in the Chapel Hill area. I know for a fact several ACC head coaches have come forward over the past year with various complaints about UNC’s recruitment practices.

    So, instead of constantly, and consistently, waving the white flag, might I suggest sitting tight until the NCAA announces the appropriate punishments for UNC?

  17. Bowlpack 06/22/2011 at 10:36 AM #

    Old 13,

    You’re dead. This goes way beyond a football program’s corruption and is symptomatic of a system that needs to crawl out from under it’s rock. Where has John Swofford been through all of this? He’s the biggest UNC homer there is! Why hasn’t the BOG demanded and independent investigation?!

    It is my sincere hope that an increase in negative publicity for UNC will demand some sort of action out of the governing bodies. The reputation of (I hate to say this) a once great institution hangs in the balance. That begs the question; what is the tipping point? What else has to happen in order to force these people to act. This is the “good old boy” network at it’s absolute worst.

  18. GAWolf 06/22/2011 at 10:36 AM #

    You mean Swofford is alive and well? I figured he must have gone missing… or worse.

  19. triadwolf 06/22/2011 at 10:37 AM #

    UNC will most likely get the maximum penalty for whatever violations they’ve committed. I also expect that there will be additions to this list by the time October rolls around. The new NCAA leadership has been talking way too tough about cleaning up sports (football in particular); they can’t let this slide as the message to other schools will be that they do whatever they want and not have to worry about the implications.

    I don’t really wish them the death penalty, but I hope they feel enough pain to be embarrassed and to clean house. At the end of the day I want UNC to be good, solid program (It’s better for us and the ACC if they are), I just want us to be better and be able to compete with them on an even playing field. Unfortunately this will be turn out to be an embarrassment to the ACC; hopefully it will be enough for the ACC leadership to reevaluate the obvious, mostly unspoken UNC bias that has hindered this conference for so long.

    As a side note, I really don’t understand why UNC would be so arrogant/ignorant as to try to stonewall the NCAA investigation. They have a golden child in the basketball program and why would you want to give investigators any incentive to dig deeper?

  20. tann84 06/22/2011 at 10:39 AM #

    The UNC faithful stick by butch because they see all the stars by the recruits coming in and they just assume that means they are on their way to being a big time college football program. Thats why, its that blind faith that just because these guys are going to the NFL then eventually we’ll be a powerhouse.

    But there is no I and team and you have to break up the team to get ‘me’. Just because they are good individuals doesn’t mean they make a great team. Hence is why Butch’s record is only 3 games better than ours is in his tenure.

    Why John Swofford has been so silent on this is pretty telling. He could at least come out and condemn the actions of his alma mater and make it seem like he wasn’t a big homer. But this is the same guy that fined the FSU team for sitting their starters in the ACC tourney in soccer. Yet he can’t even raise a finger to object to the UNC scandal? It doesn’t add up.

    I don’t care what kind of punishment UNC get, they have already suffered the worst, that is the tarnish on their name. UNC has cling to over the years the idea that they are above it all. Well that is certainly disputed now and forever will be.

    The question is even if Butch is never implicated in these allegations and they do turn into a big time football program, will it be worth it having everyone know you sold your soul to get there?

  21. Bowlpack 06/22/2011 at 10:49 AM #

    Old 13,

    I meant “dead on” and not “dead”. I can see how that might have come across as menacing, but the edit function didn’t work. Gave me a chuckle, though.

  22. VaWolf82 06/22/2011 at 10:51 AM #

    Alot of people have spent alot of time speculating on penalties without bothering to look at what the NCAA has handed out recently. There has never been any reason to think that UNC’s penalities would be harsher than those handed out to USC for violations found in three separate sports.

    You can classify those penalities as harsh or a mere slap on the wrist as you choose. But they are what they are and it’s unlikely that the NCAA will deviate from recent history.

  23. nseast8 06/22/2011 at 10:57 AM #

    I noticed a few VT posters on PP mentioning that there will be a 2nd investigation involving recruiting, Hargrave, and jobs. Has anyone else heard similiar rumors?

  24. highstick 06/22/2011 at 11:02 AM #

    “But nowhere is Davis strongly linked to any sort of smoking gun. And that being the case, the fifth-year coach can be expected to have the opportunity to win enough games to help erase the embarrassment of the investigation.

    That Davis was at the wheel when things went awry is obvious. His action – or inaction – in the trouble will be debated long past the 2011 season.

    But he’s long had the enthusiastic support of the school’s fans and administration. Both groups stood by Davis even when the implications of the investigation seemed foreboding.

    “I feel terrible that these allegations occurred under my watch,” the coach said in a statement released by the school. “I especially regret that the university has had to endure this scrutiny because of the football program. The responsibility for correcting any problems that put us in this position is mine, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

    Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/06/22/1291899/davis-likely-to-keep-his-job-despite.html#ixzz1Q1CNgWe5”

    Part of Tutor’s commentary today in the N&O just does not make sense..How he can imply there is “no smoking gun” when the entire NOA is an indictment of the ENTIRE administration and coaching staff for “failing to monitor”?

    Does he really believe what he wrote or is someone at the N&O prodding him to write this type fluff?

    Good points you guys are making though because this story is far from being over and a ton of other things can come to the surface between now and October. Heck, it may not even be over in October.

  25. Wolfman 9806 06/22/2011 at 11:10 AM #

    Wow. The gift that keeps on giving. Excellent post!

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