The powers-that-be at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say they are carefully investigating the unfolding scandal enveloping the school's football program.
Why? What else does anyone need to know?
Just the basic facts paint a sordid picture, a worst-case scenario of college athletics run amok.
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Comments
For you Tarheels fans who disagree with column
Read this link from one of your own.
http://www.tarheelfanblog.com/2010/09/hey-baddour-that-light-you-saw-was...
Errors aside
Interesting article.
Proofreading
Why should I bother reading the libelous opinions of a man who doesn't even bother to check on the spelling of Chancellor Thorp? There's no E at the end, Mooney.
And these allegations against the students have not been proven, so try not to injure their reputations until you have all the facts.
So why are students sitting out?
The NCAA already has sanctioned two students. Why do the other students continue to sit out if they did nothing wrong? Why did John Blake leave UNC if he did nothing wrong? So where is the libel here?
Lack of Institutional Control
Mooneyham is too easy on these criminals.
Agent Side:
- Former player (Hawkins) is a runner (for agents and drugs) and had open access to their program. Escorted players on multiple trips.
- Former Associate Head Coach (Blake) has ties an agent he worked for prior to taking UNC job. Was in NCAA crosshairs for years prior to UNC job.
- UGA problem caused by former UNC player (Hawkins). Alabama problem caused by current player (Austin). USC player tied to Austin/Blake.
- Secretary of State had to launch an investigation and has taken depositions of Austin and Blake.
- 13 players suspended for opening game. 12 for Game #2. 12 for Game #3. Looking like 11 for Games #4 & 5. 10 for Game #6.
- National sources site "rampant agent activity" at UNC over the summer.
- Agent infractions go back to at least prior 2009 season.
Academic Side:
- UNC admits player peer ACC institution could not admit due to academic standards (Dwight Jones - Clemson).
- Tutor terminated in Summer '09 for having "too close" of a relationship with players. UNC does not investigate potential academic fraud at the time.
- While interviewing a player (Greg Little) as part of the agent investigation, information slips out about tutor. UNC finally decides to investigate since NCAA is present.
- Press conference announcing academic fraud committed. Tutor worked for University as early as 2008.
- Revealed that tutor was employed by Butch Davis to help his son "put together a notebook; separate subjects". Clear conflict of interest. Worked for Davis until 2010.
- UNC stonewalls press and will not release any information. Faculty refuses to ask tough questions as this might further embarass University. As a result a behind-closed-doors investigation is launched into academics.
- Tutor will not speak to UNC/NCAA/Press. Name revealed.
UNC firmly sticks by Butch Davis asking the public to believe:
1) Although the tutor was employed by the Davis's, he was not aware of any academic fraud. Was also not aware that in 2009 the University released her from her contract because her relationship with his football players was "too close". This tutor has been described by national sources as being more of a "nanny" or "caretaker" to the Davis's and had a close relationship with the family.
2) Butch Davis was not aware of Hawkins. This despite his presence with fellow former player Willie Parker in their facilities. This despite Hawkins having been on trips with most of his high profile players to meet with agents.
3) Butch Davis unaware that his Associate Head Coach, John Blake worked for agent Gary Wichard prior to his employment at UNC. Unaware that Blake had a reputation that had earned him the nickname "Black Santa" during his time in the Big 12. Unaware that the NCAA had investigated Oklahoma regarding Blake's tenure. No shock to Davis that although late to the recruiting game by 2-3 years, Blake was able to secure the committments of several highly rated players (including Austin who was thought to be a FSU lock). Davis was once Blake's HS teacher and prior to the investigation their relationship was portrayed as close. After allegations break, Davis acts as though he hardly knew Blake.
What should be questioned:
- Why did UNC allow several tutors assigned to their football program to work directly for Butch Davis?
- Why didn't UNC open an investigation into the tutor program in 2009 when they let the tutor go? (After all they let her go b/c she had a personal relationship with the athletes. The reason tutors were not permitted to have a personal relationship is because it could leak into their professional work. Having witnessed the conflict of interest in place, why was this swept under the rug without a proper investigation?).
- How can a coach described as hands on and detailed in prior newspaper articles be so out of touch with the program? He literally gives the impression he has no idea what's going on with UNC's football program. Is claiming ignorance enough to save his job? If he didn't know these things, shouldn't he have? Tutor? No knowledge. Blake? No knowledge. Hawkins? No knowledge.
Where is the Board of Governors?
This column was spot on.
What is further puzzling is the apparent nonchalance of the UNC system Board of Governors. They are missing in action - as one of the highest profile institutions of the 16 campus system soils its reputation.
Is there no value placed on academic integrity by this board? Are they really naive enough to simply allow UNC to review itself?
It is time for the Board of Governors to do its job - open an INDEPENDENT investigation of the academic scandal at UNC. Clear out the rats and restore the reputation.
Unless they are comfortable with UNC gaining the reputation of a diploma mill. Because that is exactly what is occurring while they continue to sleep.
In the interest of full disclosure
For those who wonder why Mr. Mooneyham would write such a scathing article, a quick google search reveals his facebook profile with some not so shocking revelations regarding his school affiliation (NC State Grad '84), complete with comments that the "fall is shaping up quite nicely" around the time of the exposure of the academic prong of the UNC Investigation. Now I'm no editor, but the fact that this journalist (who is not even a sportswriter, just a Pack fan given a forum and an axe to grind) was allowed to spew his vitriol on this subject and someone actually found it fit to print is absurd. This is the sort of mentality that belongs on a message board, not in a paper meant to dispense the news. Disappointed in the editor's choice to give this clearly biased individual a soapbox to stand upon,especially he can't take the time to correctly research and spell the name of UNC's Chancellor, Mr. Thorp (no "e" on the end, but I guess you were too blinded by your outrage to look that on up, eh?). Mr. Mooneyham should be submitting comments for the opinion section of a newspaper, not writing for one.
A Proud Graduate of the UNC Class of '06
(Because I'm not afraid to show my bias)
If this is your stance
I'm sure you would say that Bill Leslie, WRAL's sports anchor, should be removed from covering this story as well. Mr. Leslie, an UNC grad like yourself, has gone on record asking members of the national media to go easy on his school. Should we remove all journalists that attended any universities in North Carolina from covering this story because of bias? The national media has been MUCH tougher on UNC than any of the local outlets up until this editorial.
Re: If this is your stance
It would only be fair, after all. LOL
Thank you Mr. Mooneyham!
It's great to see a respected state journalist reporting what many of us across NC already knew - the UNC Emperor has no clothes and stinks of athletic and academic corruption. For years these sheep bleated about the "Carolina Way" and now that they've been caught cheating they falsely claim that "everybody does it".
You're right: where is the outrage? It's not among those of us who've watched them boast and cheat for years, and it's certainly not in their delusional fanbase and administration.
Outrage over UNC Football
I was emailed a copy of your story yesterday by one of my NCSU friends and I decided to look for it online. I expected to find your comments on an editorial page and not as a news story. When I found it and it said you wrote for the Capitol Press Association, I was surprised. I thought it was a reporter's job to write about the news and not make the news.
We have yet to find out what has taken place at UNC. Obviously, you know the facts in order to make these comments concerning firing Davis, Baddour and/or Thorpe. You should at least print those "facts" in order for everyone to form their opinion (I know you must have them since you said UNC should clean house). Why else would UNC fire them?
Since you say UNC should fire everyone, let me pose this scenario to you. Suppose you were to plagiarize a portion of an article that is published with your name attached. Should your boss be fired for not firing you? Or should the owners of the Daily Reflector fire their editor for not firing you? People make mistakes (although we have yet to learn what if any have been made by the players, coaches and administrators) and should be able to correct those mistakes. If you think other schools aren't making changes to their athletic departments due to these charges, you are being naive.
Next time you want to express these opinions, do it on the editorial page. Or you could quote someone who expressed that opinion that may be in the UNC system. Otherwise, stick to politics or reporting the facts and not your opinions.
clinton80 wrote:I was emailed
We have yet to find out what has taken place at UNC. Obviously, you know the facts in order to make these comments concerning firing Davis, Baddour and/or Thorpe. You should at least print those "facts" in order for everyone to form their opinion (I know you must have them since you said UNC should clean house). Why else would UNC fire them?
Since you say UNC should fire everyone, let me pose this scenario to you. Suppose you were to plagiarize a portion of an article that is published with your name attached. Should your boss be fired for not firing you? Or should the owners of the Daily Reflector fire their editor for not firing you? People make mistakes (although we have yet to learn what if any have been made by the players, coaches and administrators) and should be able to correct those mistakes. If you think other schools aren't making changes to their athletic departments due to these charges, you are being naive.
Next time you want to express these opinions, do it on the editorial page. Or you could quote someone who expressed that opinion that may be in the UNC system. Otherwise, stick to politics or reporting the facts and not your opinions.
It really must be painful to be as dumb as you. Read carefully a certain word in the link for this article: http://www.reflector.com/opinion/mooneyham/scott-mooneyham-outrage-over-unc-football-missing-139224
Funny, I thought Carolina alumni (you did attend Carolina, right?) had a decent enough command of the English language to realize that the word "opinion" means just that.
Thank you
This is very well written and thoughtful. UNC-Chapel Hill makes any of the other UNC-XX locations cringe because of this SCANDAL and the refusal to clean it up. I cannot imagine another UNC System school being allowed to mess it up this bad and there not be an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION (review).
More "real people" need to stand up and be counted. Thanks again.
Keep your pants on, Junior...
More "real people" need to stand up and be counted. Thanks again.
First, I doubt very seriously UNC-Chapel Hill makes other system schools cringe when Arne Duncan and those of his ilk come calling on the UNC system. I'll bet you a pair of your purple and gold-colored underpants that they're just thankful to have a seat at such a table; a seat that, like as not, would be beyond their grasp were they not bound at the waist to their baby blue-sporting sister institution. No offense, but it's a rare day that you read about the academic or athletic prowess of a UNC-Pembroke. Same goes for all of the other UNC system schools (outside of NCSU). So, why the venom at UNC-CH? Why don't we all just recognize this for what it is - a breakdown in a system that needs greater internal controls.
Second, does this "scandal" really call for a fourth set of taxpayer-funded eyes? We've already got the NCAA (which is not directly publicly funded, I realize, but does glean large revenues off of membership and licensing fees paid by public universities, so close enough) and UNC Administration combing through these players' emails and phone records and interviewing them and their cohorts to bring the truth to light. We've even got a Secretary of State who sees a good opportunity to get her name recognition up in an election year sniffing around just enough to grab a headline or two a week. And now we should add a fourth "independent" investigator to that process? Sorry, but with tax revenues already depressed, I'd rather have a full compliment of teachers at my kids' school than know exactly what went down between a bunch of jocks and their pals.
Third, the inverse of your allusion to "real people" being supporters of institutions other than UNC-CH is to imply that those who do support UNC-CH are not "real people." While I don't know exactly how to categorize such an apparent insult, were I a UNC-CH supporter, I would find that offensive -- that is, if I could figure out what it meant; not since I last viewed "Pinocchio" have I had to consider the merits of what makes someone a "real" person. However, if the best idea or thought that these "real" people can come up with in respect of this issue is to throw more taxpayer dollars at the fact finding mission, I'm not sure I'd sign up to be a part of that camp.
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