In typical arrogant-elitist fashion — this behavior long ago stopped being “stunning” — UNC AD Bubba Cunningham, aka “Flagship Bubba” (TM), actually attempted a passive-aggressive chastising of Duke AD Kevin White for White’s handling of the extensive $27,170.44 spray paint defacement done by Carolina football players — keep in mind this damage was done under the supervision of at least part of the UNC football staff — to Duke’s facilities last fall.
After the University of North Carolina defeated Duke in football on Nov. 24, the Tar Heels spray-painted the Victory Bell—and the Blue Devils’ practice facility turf and visitor’s locker room. And Duke billed UNC $27,170.44 for the damages, according to information obtained in a public records request.
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In a formal apology letter to Duke athletics director Kevin White on Feb. 3, 2015, Cunningham said he was disappointed that Duke football coach David Cutcliffe never returned UNC coach Larry Fedora’s apology call, which came the Friday following the game.
Additionally, each of the Tar Heels’ players had their per diem to cover meals taken away for the following game “in an effort to learn from this experience and to hold ourselves accountable to the ideals that we teach and try to instill in our students.” The team also completed a community service project in the Chapel Hill neighborhood of Heritage Hills, helping to rake leaves and beautify the neighborhood for the Charles House communities for the elderly. The team then attended a decision-making seminar held after the fall semester finals.
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“While I may not understand the charges assessed, we take complete responsibility for our students and our programs,” Cunningham wrote to White.
To close his letter, Cunningham included a photo of spray paint damage to UNC’s South Building on campus—four pillars were tagged with the letters D-U-K-E on Feb. 19, 2014, before the Duke-UNC basketball game.
“The University of North Carolina bore the cost of sandblasting these pillars and did not make public comments of the transgression. I acknowledge we have no idea who did this, but I simply included it to demonstrate that all fans, teams, coaches, students, etc. need to appreciate and respect the rivalry.”
Two personal checks from Cunningham and Fedora—each for $13,585.22—were sent to Duke in January to cover the costs.
This response is The Carolina Way in a nutshell.
