Marvin Austin, the former UNC defensive tackle who missed the 2010 college season when the university dismissed him for his role in prompting an NCAA investigation of the Tar Heels program, played Saturday night for the New York Giants in their 20-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Afterwards, the Giants’ rookie answered questions from a small group of reporters, including The Charlotte Observer’s Scott Fowler.
Q: Thoughts on the game.
Austin: Some of the guys I play with are my former teammates. The Panthers have got a guy, [former UNC defensive back] Kendric Burney, who was my teammate. So it was just good to go out there, get out there and get to work and also talk a little trash (smiles).
Q: Was it what you expected on the field?
Austin: It was fun. It was like playing in the backyard. It made me remember how much I really do love the game of football.
Q: What now for you?
Austin: Just working on my technique, trying to get better and more consistent in my play.
Q: What do you think about Butch [Davis] being fired at North Carolina?
Austin: I try not to get into what happened in the past at North Carolina. I don’t have too much to say about the whole situation with coach Davis. The school felt like it had to make a decision and it made a decision.
Q: Do you have any regrets about your time at North Carolina?
Austin: Nah, I had a great time at North Carolina. Met a lot of great people. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Things happen. I’ve learned from the situation. Now I’m in New York, trying to help represent their football team.
Q: How much did you miss being on the field?
Austin: Oh, I missed it so much. You don’t understand how much you miss it until you actually get a chance to get back and play. Just being out there with the guys, just being around the team… it was definitely fun.
Q: What have you learned in the past year or so?
Austin: You know, just take every day one day at a time. I don’t try to look too much ahead. But also just enjoy life. Enjoy the people around you. You never know when they’re going to be there… Do for others, don’t just do for yourself. Be unselfish.
Q: Do you think you were selfish at all [at UNC was the implication]?
Austin: Uh, I mean, everybody has a tendency at times to do selfish things. I made mistakes with some things that I’ve done. Obviously they were selfish. But at the same time, I didn’t intend to hurt anybody. Let’s move forward. I’ve learned a lot and can’t wait to get to my next contest with the NY Giants.
Q: You said from the get-go that coach John Blake was who you wanted to be like. Is that still the case?
Austin: Coach Blake is a great person, a great man. I don’t feel any different about him…. He’s a good coach.
Q: When the McAdoo stuff was happening, you were venting on Twitter…. Discuss that situation. [Former UNC defensive lineman Michael McAdoo, who was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA, was denied a court injunction that would have allowed him to play this fall for the Tar Heels as his lawsuit against the NCAA and the University of North Carolina continued.]
Austin: I just feel like the McAdoo situation was just unfortunate that he wasn’t able to finish his career as a football player at UNC because it was something that he loves. In my opinion, the punishment didn’t fit the crime. But I’m not on the NCAA committee of anything.
Q: So you’re not mad at the school?
Austin: I’m over it, man. I had a little venting about it…. ‘Mac’ needs to find out what he wants to do. I’m going to be there for him.
Q: Do you feel for the players who have to go through this transition?
Austin: I feel for some of the guys who have to go through it. At the same time, I talk to a lot of the guys there and tell them to go out there and perform.
Q: How did you play tonight?
Austin: I felt like I played half-decent. I haven’t played in awhile, so I’m getting used to the speed of the game. I’ve got a lot to work on though.
Q: You’re not bitter about UNC?
Austin: I love the University of North Carolina. I went there when nobody was interested in me and had a lot of great times there, met a lot of great people. Unfortunately things happened and some of the things that happened, of course all of us were saddened by it.
The biggest thing is I hate to see some of the things the fans have to go through with this whole thing. Because they are the people who I went out there every Saturday and busted my butt for. I was loved by the fans like, like anybody.
I love the fans also. I just wanted to say that, because the hardest thing is to see how some of my actions have hurt a lot of people who love the university and put a lot of money into the university. Rebuilding the stadium…. I just want to move on…. Be stronger… Be a professional.
Q: So you’re not going to “spill the beans” as you said that one time on Twitter following the McAdoo decision?
Austin: That was just…. That was so hard. When you look at the man’s case [he was referring to McAdoo here], when you really sit down and look at it, you’re like, ‘C’mon. Are you really serious?’ But at the end of the day, you know, those people made their decisions and you have to live with it.
Q: When the school goes in front of the committee on infractions, what do you hope happens?
Austin: I don’t even think about that. I don’t have any thoughts about it. Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen. They will handle it however they see fit.
Q: Has it been hard to keep your focus on here and now?
Austin: No it hasn’t. That’s all I’ve been doing, worrying about the things I can control. The things I can’t control, whatever happens is going to happen. I try to do the things I do to the best of my ability.
Assistant sports editor Lorenzo Perez has bounced back-and-forth between The News & Observer's news and sports department several times since joining the newspaper in 1999. His latest assignment has him working with The N&O's ACC writers and online news. E-mail
Comments
"Hm, why would he admit to
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 10:29 — danofnc"Hm, why would he admit to wrongdoing while still denying a cover-up?"
Hmm...because if he just didn't fully investigate, then he did a bad job and he may actually get a job in law enforcement in the future, but if he didn't fully investigate because he was at an accident involving UNC football players he needs a new line of work.
Ha
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 10:43 — Heels20So he lied, despite admitting to screwing up?
Speculate away.
gator...
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 00:03 — danofncI will hold my breath while I wait for you to talk about the UNC DWI cover-up in the same manner that you used to talk about the NCSU College Inn arrests.
Instead of getting a search warrant and listing everything under the sun in it, like the officer at NCSU did, the officer at UNC looked at the nasty crash, smelled the alcohol on the driver's breath, and decided "Hmmmm...nothing to see here."
While you're explaining how everything in that situation was exactly by the book, be sure and explain the Miami players listed in the Yahoo! piece that were recruited and/or played for Butch.
No idea what you are talking about
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 11:32 — gvillegatrBut if 20 says the guy wasn't even a Tar Heel, I believe him. All 20 does is toss out truth and fairness to this board. You, on the other hand, are like the Marvel comic guy, Stretch. All you do is stretch everything you say to the brink. Hardly any of it is fact.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/s
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:00 — danofnchttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/abc11_investigates&id=8310178
Dan...
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 00:38 — Heels20Don't bother posting if you're not going to use facts. Butch left Miami after the 2000 season. Shapiro wasn't even a booster at Miami until 2001, and didn't start providing all the illegal benefits until 2002. Why do you bother commenting when it's so easy to call you out?
All we hear is that Butch
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 08:12 — danofncAll we hear is that Butch "cleaned up the U". That fallacy is one of the biggest defenses of Butch regarding the UNC scandal.
The facts are that some of the upstanding, all-around good citizens that Butch recruited are on the list of players who took benefits from this guy.
It is funny that you ignored the other part of the post.
Your post
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 10:17 — Heels20It doesn't matter what Butch's recruits did 2 years after he left. The fact of the matter is that this guy was not around during Butch Davis' time at Miami. Nothing dirty was going on under him, so Shapiro's involvement is irrelevant to the Davis era.
I chose to ignore the rest of your post seeing as it was almost 1 in the morning and I didn't feel like wasting a bunch of time addressing another one of your ignorant posts. The most humerous part is that you call it a "UNC DWI cover-up." Herman Davidson didn't even play for UNC when this accident occurred. Not only that, but the officer admits to resigning because of a "self-inflicted wound," but still claims that this was not a cover-up. Hm, why would he admit to wrongdoing while still denying a cover-up?
Speculate away, Dan. Dig hard into this conspiracy of a non-UNC player driving a car.
Did I just hear a Tarheel
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 09:32 — awdracerDid I just hear a Tarheel say something about graduation rates? Did another Heel say something about UNC-CHeat conducting their own investigation?
The only paper that we have available from a UNC football player only had 65 words of original work in it. The rest was plagiarized. He got an 'A' until the NCAA came to town and found the paper. UNC was not able to find the cheating. Your own chancellor practically thumped his fist on his podium swearing that "this was his own work". No one even looked to see if McAdoof was cheating and UNC-CHeat does not have the will to investigate itself and produce the truth on this issue. UNC's graduation rates are a joke.
Uh...
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 11:45 — Heels20Academic investigations are always led by the universities. That's not just at UNC, but at every school...
Really, who cares..what did
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 20:29 — pauld315Really, who cares..what did he do last Saturday ? I think he played the fifth quarter. He might not even make the team.
Yes! Another story!
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 13:00 — jhmd2000This non-news story brought to you by Barbaro.
Proof this is more than a UNC problem...
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 11:22 — KWCoronaThis guy's Twitter account is about to bring down an entire Division 1 college football program...and he has no regrets. He made mistakes, but mistakes happen. Of course he wants us all to move on. He is the epicenter of a football scandal...and it was selfishness on the part of the athlete that caused it. I admit it. I am an ECU fan and I have enjoyed watching UNC folks hem and haw the last two years. But the fault isn't with Butch Davis or any of the administrators. The real truth is these elite players don't care about UNC. They don't want any trouble now after they have held your school hostage, taken up all the premiere parking spots, committed academic fraud and otherwise tarnished the good name of North Carolina...No hard feelings. Say what you want about kids going to college and making dumb mistakes. These guys are on scholarship. That means someone has given them a huge amount of money and a golden opportunity to secure a future for themselves BEYOND football. A degree from UNC opens doors in places other than just NFL combines. These "special" athletes spit on that. They have zero appreciation for the opportunities they are given. They take the easy road. Its not just UNC. Its happening everywhere...even at ECU in the baseball program. These malcontents used to try and fly under the radar, but now they do whatever they want whenever they want and they feel they are entitled to.
You're right, this is all
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:27 — mad_maxYou're right, this is all Marvin Austin's fault. The people who recruited him, gave him illegal benefits, and helped him cheat are not to blame! Not to mention the other dozen or so players that committed violations...
This post will go 100% ignored
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:20 — gvillegatrby 100% of ncsu fans and UNC haters. This post makes too much sense and it was rationalized. Kudos to you fellow Pirate.
I read it. It's full of
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:36 — danofncI read it. It's full of ****.
Marvin Austin was:
*most likely paid/given illegal benefits to attend UNC
*certainly given illegal benefits while at UNC...and most likely they were at least partially organized by an assistant coach
*most likely given illegal help to stay eligible
*most likely treated like a king by his fellow students (and certain professors, like an African Studies guy whose classes I'd bet $100 MA took)
*the list goes on and on.....
So, Marvin Austin has no regrets because every adult at UNC who should have been making sure he was following the rules was, instead, helping him break them. They got caught. Why should Marvin feel guilt? If you walk a tightrope without a net, it's messy when you fall.
Really?
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:06 — Heels20You can't make the claim that he was most likely given illegal benefits to attend UNC when none of the allegations have to do with the way he was recruited.
You can only assume that Blake organized anything Austin received from NFL agents.
You have nothing to back up that he was given illegal help to stay eligible.
You have zero proof that he was treated like a king by students and professors.
Not surprised, though. Your whole game is assuming the worst for UNC, and assuming the best for State. Can't wait for that 9-7 basketball season.
Find the video of Austin at
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:52 — danofncFind the video of Austin at the Army All=American game (not the one he played in...the one the following year when he was sent by Blake to recruit) and watch Marvin's face when the interviewer mentions Blake.
I know you don't believe anything on Pack Pride, but there is a fairly well-documented trail there that shows calls from Blake to Wichard and Todd Amis (Austin's assistant coach in HS) in rapid succession around several of Marvin's trips. There's also Amis' testimony to the NC SoS saying that we was reimbursed by Wichard after paying for Austin's trips.
You need to realize that for the last 13 months or so assuming the worst for UNC football has been basically safe.
Assuming the worst
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 17:09 — Heels20Many Wolfpackers have assumed a TV ban, lack of institutional control, and that it would be reveal that Butch Davis was actively involved. Your assumptions mean nothing.
As usual
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:58 — gvillegatrYou don't get the theme of the post. Dan, I'd be willing to bet you are a good guy and someone who folks like to hang out with, but here at ACCNow you are as dense as they come.
No, I absolutely get the
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 15:06 — danofncNo, I absolutely get the theme of the post.
It's another attempt by a UNC fanboy to paint UNC's problems as the result of a few selfish kids, and in doing so absolve the university of blame. The biggest problem with this line of thinking is that it ignores the adults in leadership positions who (best case) allowed it to happen by not paying attention or (worse case) facilitated it by breaking the rules themselves.
Just curious...
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 19:07 — HeelsforeverJust curious, how much blame did you assign to Sidney Lowe when his own child committed a crime? I'm not saying all those you've listed don't deserve some blame, because, really, they do. But I would like to know if you only make these kind of statements when it involves someone NOT associated with NCSU.
You do understand that
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:42 — danofncYou do understand that you're comparing apples and oranges, right?
I don't blame any UNC coach for a player who smokes dope. I only question their handling of the aftermath in some cases.
SL Jr. was living on his own in Greensboro when he was arrested. There's nothing I am aware of to suggest that any authority figure in his life led him to break the law.
There is some evidence that some of the adults in Austin's life ignored and/or participated in his breaking of NCAA rules.
Yet
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 15:18 — gvillegatrYou don't know the Lowe's or the Austin's personally. But you can speculate that there is no evidence on Lowe's side of the family, but there is evidence on Austin's family. Even though what SLJr did was much worse.
As usual you are the most one sided fan here at ACCNow. Didn't take you but a month to get the recognition. Amazing consdering you share the site with Max whose been around a long time.
What? John Blake, Gary
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 17:33 — danofncWhat?
John Blake, Gary Wichard, Cam Thomas, Kentwan Balmer and Todd Amis are not Austin's family. And, there is evidence (all circumstantial) that they had something to do with Austin's rule-breaking ways at UNC.
Sidney Lowe Jr. was living on his own in Greensboro when he committed his (alleged) crimes (I don't know how his trials turned out). I will say without a doubt that Sidney Lowe's professional career likely contributed to SL Jr's choices, because his dad wasn't around much. I would also probably bet that stresses from that situation contributed to Lowe's divorce not too long after his son's arrest.
Unless you have a string of phone calls (and a few search warrants) that give any indication at all that Sidney Lowe somehow called his son and suggested that he go commit those crimes, I don't understand how you are making this connection.
It's an amazingly inept leap of logic.
Just as I thought
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:17 — gvillegatrYou didn't even read the OP. The guy (or girl) is an ECU fan and says he/she has enjoyed watching UNC fans "hem and haw." Not a UNC "fanboy."
ECU football fan means UNC
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:39 — danofncECU football fan means UNC basketball fan.
ECU Football Fan means...
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 11:06 — KWCoronaa Carolina Hurricanes fan once the football season ends...
ECU is getting better in basketball I guess, but it still annoys me a little that we had to go get a UNC guy to coach the team. It will take Lebo a few years in purple and gold before he atones for that.
Not Always
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 08:11 — YAR8packI'm a Pirate who detest anything unc. Been this way before I went to NCSU for my undergrad and ECU for grad school.
GO NCSU. GO ECU.
Just watched "Crazy Heart"
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 08:39 — unc098Just watched "Crazy Heart" for the first time last night. Which came first "True Grit" or "Crazy Heart?" Continuation of the same character. Jeff Bridges rocks.
The original poster is right and its refreshing to see a realistic perception for once on this site. And an interloper in our 'dirty little cyber wars' between Red and Blue.
Classic
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 15:13 — gvillegatrBad is, well, bad ! I couldn't deal with his hangovers though.
Crazy Heart
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 10:53 — YAR8packJeff Bridges (aka Bad Blake) looks just like Waylon Jennings in Crazy Heart. Eerily similar. It's a good movie. Too bad it gets a lil saptastic at the end.
Still haven't seen True Grit. I'll get there.
WATCH the film Get Low with Billy Murray and Robert Duvall. Awesome film.
Haven't seen it yet, but
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 20:07 — unc098Haven't seen it yet, but what a combo of actors. Robert Duvall can do no wrong in my book.
Agree it ( Crazy Heart ) gets a bit sappy at the end. Your right Gatr, those hangovers are classic.
change nothing?
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 11:01 — SlackZacso, he admits "I love the fans also. I just wanted to say that, because the hardest thing is to see how some of my actions have hurt a lot of people who love the university and put a lot of money into the university"
but he says he wouldn't change anything? what a selfish jerk.
I want to know more about
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 10:16 — andy65I want to know more about Jennifer Wiley who was "too close" to the players. Spill the beans there.
Why would Maaavlus Maaaav
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 08:23 — ProwlingWoofieWhy would Maaavlus Maaaav change anything ? He got exactly what he wanted out of his college 'experience':
1) He got paid to play
2) He got to party like a rock star
3) He got drafted into the NFL
Mission accomplished.
Education? Integrity? Character? Loyalty to teammates and school? Not on his list...
UNC and ncsu
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:15 — gvillegatrSomeone throw out a percentage of kids who graduate from each football program.
Also, according to where schools rank amongst each other, ncsu is like in the 80's compared to other Div-1 schools. That's 2nd worse in the ACC.
NINE major infractions...
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 15:26 — ProwlingWoofieNINE major infractions... NINE
And that's without the independent investigation(s) that should've been conducted.
What ?
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:03 — gvillegatrWhat does your post have to do with mine !?!?
Academic investigation
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:03 — Heels20The school conducts the academic part of the investigation. If you're going to make comments, at least be accurate.
The infractions covered more
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:13 — ProwlingWoofieThe infractions covered more than just academics, so I don't see where my comment was inaccurate.
Independent investigations
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:30 — Heels20Independent investigations were covered on the academic side...
It was inaccurate because
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:24 — mad_maxIt was inaccurate because you failed to mention how UNC is still the leader in academic integrity, and how they have been treated so unfairly by the NCAA. Oh, and don't forget to mention how they would have won the national title last year had it not been for all that adversity.
They are apparently the
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 08:16 — ProwlingWoofieThey are apparently the leaders in flipping cars after a night of drinking... except the N&O hasn't seen fit to print that story yet.
The NCAA
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:27 — HeelsforeverThe NCAA has not made their final ruling and exacted punishment yet, so I think most UNC fans will wait until that time to determine if the NCAA has been fair or not.
?
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:31 — Heels20Where did I say UNC was the leader in academic integrity?
When have I ever said they were treated unfairly by the NCAA?
When have I said they would have won a national title last year had it not been for the adversity?
OH, Its daybreak......All
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 07:23 — unc098OH, Its daybreak......All the trolls must have turned to stone.
BD
Sun, 08/14/2011 - 22:47 — tommy_56Slimeballs--
(1) Butch Davis
(2) Dick Baddour
(3) Holden Thorp
(4) John Blake
(5) Marvin Austin
(6) Greg Little
(7) Jennifer Wiley
(8) Deunta Williams, Kendric Burney, Charles Brown, Quinton Coples, Kevin Reddick, Da'Norris Searcy, Hakeem Nicks, and any other unfortunate affiliated with any of the above, and that includes you too, Woody Durham....
Post of the year
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:10 — gvillegatrJust about every month we get a post that we don't think can be beat. Well, I really don't think this post will be beat. I mean he threw Woody in it !! Lol.
LMAO
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 01:46 — jtric1963LMAO