AUGUST 6, 2011
WOLFPACK FOOTBALL
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
K’Hadree Hooker Commits To NC State
Hooker is a 6-2, 280 pound defensive tackle and a longtime NC State lean. He made his college choice official tonight:
GoPack.com
Opening STATEment: Episode 2
DAY 3
Thursday saw the Wolfpack don shoulder pads for the first time this season, lending the practice some added intensity. Oppressive heat ruled the day, however, as each break in the action sent players scrambling to the shade, the ice buckets, and elsewhere.
For most players, the rust from summer break has been shaken off as attention turns to the Pack’s first scrimmage scheduled for Monday.
Heather Dinich (ESPN)
Friday Mailblog
Ryan in Devine writes: Heather, I saw in the chat that you said NCST has a chance at beating FSU at Doak this year if Glennon plays well. I think you’re severely underestimating FSU’s home field advantage this year. As of Wednesday the 3rd, FSU has sold all 40,000 season tickets and the Oklahoma game is already sold out. There’s a pulse in Tallahassee this year, and when there’s a pulse in Tally, Doak comes alive.
HD: You make a great point, Ryan, and I expect the Noles to win that game — especially considering how disappointing the end of that game in Raleigh last year was for them. However, another intangible is involved. I counter your home-field advantage with momentum. As shocking as it might seem, NC State has a decent chance of heading into that game undefeated. Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech and Virginia are their toughest opponents heading into that game. You mean to tell me that if NC State goes into Tally undefeated that game isn’t going down to the fourth quarter again? Either way, gonna be a good one.
CharlotteObserver.com
Video: Russell Wilson helps Wisconsin gets high preseason ranking
The Sports Network
Samford adds N.C. State transfer
Former North Carolina State linebacker Hans Rice has transferred to Samford, Bulldogs head coach Pat Sullivan announced Thursday.
WOLFPACK BASKETBALL
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Mark Gottfried Invested In Jim Donnan’s Alleged Ponzi Scheme
Jim Donnan has been accused of running a Ponzi scheme at the expense of a company called Global Liquidation Center Ltd, and the company recently filed a suit against Donnan alleging “fiduciary fraud, embezzlement, and larceny.” Sports by Brooks obtained some documents from the filing.
UNC FALLOUT
JAN BOXILL AND JIM KETCH (N&O):
Point of View: The faculty backs Thorp
We appreciate that Thorp did not rush to judgment; that he allowed time for information to be gathered and carefully examined. While the administration and athletics program must await the outcome of the October meeting with the NCAA, the faculty is ready to engage actively in reviewing the Honor Code and the Honor Court. We have always held academic integrity as a priority, and we will use recent events to consider improvements in already strong academic integrity policies and systems.
We also must recommit ourselves to emphasizing academic honesty when students arrive at Carolina and again in every one of our classes. Academic integrity and the ethics of scholarship speak directly to the mission of our university. We must be sure that faculty and students have the resources and support to understand and uphold the Honor Code.
Lorenzo Perez (N&O):
UNC chancellor self-reports violation for discussing Davis’ son’s recruitment
University of North Carolina chancellor Holden Thorp apologized today for expressing his disappointment over former football coach Butch Davis offering a team scholarship to his son, acknowledging that discussing a specific recruit is an NCAA violation.
Brett Friedlander (WilmingtonStar)
Advice to Holden Thorp: ‘Just say no’ … comment
The violation isn’t anything to be concerned about, especially by comparison to the nine major infractions of which the Tar Heels had previously been accused of by the NCAA.
But it further illustrates the haphazard manner with which Thorp continues to handle the scandal involving his school’s football program.
Erin Summers (WRALSportsfan.com)
Thorp walking a fine line
On Thursday North Carolina chancellor Holden Thorp commented on a scholarship offer given to former head coach Butch Davis’ son, East Chapel Hill High quarterback Drew Davis.
Thorp told the News and Observer that he did not know about the offer, but by talking about the offer at all did Thorp throw more wood on an already blazing fire?
Robbi Pickeral (N&O):
Two Tar Heels out, three others awarded football scholarships
Erin Hartness, Aaron Schoonmaker (WRAL)
Task force: UNC System must improve academic oversight of student-athletes
A report released Friday by the University of North Carolina Task Force on Athletics and Academics defined specific prohibited behaviors such as lying, cheating, plagiarism and bribery and outlined ethical standards for student-athletes across the UNC System.
The 13-member task force, which has been at work since March, will present its findings to the Board of Governors next Thursday.
JOHN DRESCHER – Executive Editor N&O
Drescher: N&O hits hard but fair
“Because of the unfairly speculative and one-sided coverage of UNC’s recent football issues,” wrote one UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, “I will not read your paper or visit your website again.”
Some N.C. State fans have a different view: The News & Observer has not been aggressive enough in reporting about the NCAA investigation into UNC football. “It seems (and I am an NC State alum) … that the hard questions have stopped,” one reader wrote.
Tar Heel Fan (Tarheelfanblog.com)
UNC Football At The Crossroads
As we look to the opening of the 2011 football season, UNC faces a similar path as the one ultimately taken by NC State. The head football coach has been fired, a new athletic director will be hired and the unfinished business of NCAA penalties due UNC still needs to be resolved. This moment constitutes the critical juncture during which UNC will decide what direction to take the football program. Does the administration turn back the clock to John Bunting and surrender to the notion that winning is not important as long as the program is clean? I am sure that sentiment is filling Chancellor Holden Thorp’s ear more and more. In some respects you might call that the easy road since it is the one involving the least risk. On the flip side you have furthering the ambition for football success.
