Scratch Quinton Coples from the University of North Carolina's potential headaches with the NCAA.
The NCAA told UNC that Coples, an All-ACC defensive lineman, did not commit any violations in connection with a draft party for former UNC defensive tackle Marvin Austin in May, according to a school spokesman.
Robert Orr, Coples' attorney, said Tuesday that he received a phone call from the NCAA on Monday and that he considered Coples' issues with the NCAA closed.
UNC received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA on June 21 which listed nine major violations, including more than $13,000 in impermissible benefits for Austin, who was kicked off the team in October and did not play a down in 2010.
Austin, second-round pick of the New York Giants, hosted a draft party on May 5, with former UNC teammate Robert Quinn, at a Washington, D.C. club. A Washington magazine posted pictures from the party on its web site. Coples is in several photos with Quinn, Austin and former teammate Michael McAdoo, who was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA for his role in the academic prong of the investigation.
"At no time was there ever any allegation or intimation of a violation of NCAA By-laws," Orr wrote in a statement released to the media. "This process was simply the NCAA gathering information relevant to its responsibilities for monitoring student/athlete conduct as governed by the NCAA By-laws."
Coples, who will be a senior, led UNC with 10 sacks in 2010 and is considered one of the top defensive prospects for next year's NFL draft. ESPN and Sports Illustrated have him projected as a top 5 pick.
Comments
See. You can find an acorn
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 22:19 — mule10See. You can find an acorn in the pile of crap called unc football.
Glad his tutor saved all the
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 21:11 — ProwlingWoofieGlad his tutor saved all the receipts for him...
It doesn't really matter.
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 20:13 — awdracerIt doesn't really matter. Once Butch's 216 call logs and emails are released it'll be all over but the cryin'. And there there will be a lot of cryin' in Chapel Hill.
Also, Coples lied on his sign-out sheet. How will UNC-CHeat$ handle that? Oh wait, we all know that the sign out sheet was just an exercise in @$$ covering.
I never...
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 18:30 — UNC1998considered this an issue. I've no doubt that the trip Coples took was self funded. Any assertion otherwise would be the same as calling him mentally handicapped. Imagine this, your teammates just had their college carreers ended for taking gifts that ordinary people take all the time. So you decide to let them pay your way to a party in the nation's capital no less. Good times ensue. Ummm, no. Contrary to what some may think.. not all college athletes are stupid. It's nice that the NCAA took the time to "clear" Coples today. It's also nice that opposing qb's have that to look forward to.