PINEHURST — ACC commissioner John Swofford said he was disappointed in the NCAA troubles facing North Carolina's football program on Sunday at the ACC Kickoff.
UNC, which had gone 50 years without a major NCAA violation, faces nine major violations in a hearing with the NCAA's Committee of Infractions in October.
Swofford, who played football at UNC and was the school's athletic director for 17 years, didn't specifically mention the school in his two-minute answer but said:
"Any time one of our schools has an NCAA problem, wherever it is, whichever one it is, I'm disappointed and concerned because that's not who we are as a league."
In a one-hour address to the media, Swofford had championed the league's academic track record, and said, along with compliance, it was one of the cornerstones of the conference.
UNC's violations range from academic fraud to seven players accepting more than $27,000 improper benefits.
"When you have those kinds of problems, you don't step back from what your cornerstones are and what you're all about," Swofford said. "You try to fix it and move forward."
Swofford termed UNC's problems as an exception and said the school needs to recommit to its values.
"You have to look at it, revaluate it and recommit to the appropriate values you want and have displayed throughout the league in the past," Swofford said.
Comments
Oatsdpreader
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 16:50 — carolinafeverYou seem to have a lot of animosity built up agaisnt North Carolina. So much so that you don't have all your facts straight. You mentioned that UNC "piled it on" when Clemson was down. Fact is, John Swofford piled it on. Yes was was AD then, but ask the Chancellor who Swofford spoke for.
You seem like the pot calling the kettle black when you put the Heels down, and then turn right around and confess all of the Tiger's trangressions. Your remarks sounds like "sour grapes" to me my friend. And, being a Clemson fan I can undersetand that.
I consider myself to be pretty sure of myself, and I'm pretty sure UNC will take a hit from the NCAA. But when it's all said and done, Carolina will recover, and you will still be a Clemson fan. How sad to spend one's life hanging onto the lower rungs of the ladder year-in and year-out. Enjoy the ride!
To other N. Carolina schools...
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 18:52 — UNC1998Swofford is a UNC homer. To ACC schools not in North Carolina he is the godfather of the tobacco road mafia. What a thankless job. The fact is the ACC as a league has never spoken with specificity regarding ongoing NCAA investigations involving ACC member schools. I'll readily admit he and the other ACC officials who led the most recent expansion failed badly. Now, it appears the drumbeats say the ACC might be the first to go to 14 or 16. I simply can not believe this. I did read a twiiter post by a local sports radio personality who stated Swofford simply did not deny that there is a distinct possibility of BCS conference members or conferences in total may consider withdrawing from the NCAA completely. That would be something indeed!
swofford
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 16:44 — JPDOhioSwofford may be a hypocrite, but I think he has one thing right. Institutions that have big-time college football (and basketball) programs need to take a hard look in the mirror. The money being thrown around has created a culture that deems it acceptable to break the rules, if that will pave the way to championship contention and bowl or tournament money. It seems to me that programs are making a cost-benefit analysis and concluding that the monetary benefit from having a successful athletic program is outweighing the cost of being caught and penalized by the NCAA. This is a slippery slope that could have a disasterous effect on the future of college football. The Presidents and ADs of these institutions need to get out in front of this issue and propose meaningful reform to promote compliance in substance, not just form.
Twi faced John
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 00:29 — stejenSwoffords silence in this (and making darn sure he does noting to get involved) it the biggest dissapointment here. Here was Mr. Fire and Brimstone everytime another school in the league got in trouble and how the burning smell you are hearing in Greensboro is the paper shredders working overtime to make shre he knows NOTHING about what is going on at UNC. He needs to admit he has a conflict of interest and quit. Better yet, the reporters of the non-news and observer should be demanding the same thing. And no, this is ot an Valvano thing, think back the the Md problems, the Clemson problems, the Miami problems, he was all over those and even demanded harsher penalties than the NCAA imposed but now he know "nothing" and is dissappointed. Right, Buthc Davis hired a known rogue assistant named John Blake that everyone in the business knew what kind of guy he was. Did Swofford step in? Nope. When Butch said he has known Blake for 20 years and did not know about what he was doing. Did Swofford do anything? Nope. The ACC has gone down both in football and basketball and I can't help but think leadership is part of the reason why.
A conflict of interest
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 09:00 — gvillegatrYea, I guess he has 12 conflicts of interest considering John Swofford is the bridge b/tn all 12 ACC schools and other conferences/the NCAA.
Quit being so dramatic and if you can't stop obsessing, start a petition and secede from the ACC and go somewhere else. The Big Least will gladly take ya !
Wow, I just perused through
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:08 — GoHeels1984Wow, I just perused through the ABCer comments ( I wouldn't have expected anything less) and it "once again" wreaks of obsession.
Take one step back ABCer fan, take a look at what you wrote, think about your thoughts, and think about what you do....
If you didn't care about The University of North Carolina, you could care less and you would go read stories about your own team.
It makes me THOROUGHLY chuckle to read these comments on a daily basis for over a year now.
And, for the NC State University at Raleigh fans, it seems to amaze me that a team with a 4 win streak over UNC that they would care more about UNC than their own team.... Funny stuff.
Keep posting your comments! I am so amused and keep laughing!
child please! so i guess
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 09:05 — dar456child please! so i guess UNC is the only program in the history of sports which is above the jeers of their rival fanbase?
child please! so i guess
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 09:05 — dar456child please! so i guess UNC is the only program in the history of sports which is above the jeers of their rival fanbase?
He Should Speak
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 22:50 — InspectorPittJohn. Your comments were cowardly. You could not bring yourself to be specific to Carolina, and you should have. People would have given you much more respect.
I get it, Swofford should
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:40 — GoHeels1984I get it, Swofford should have just said nothing and said "welcome to the 2011 ACC football season. Would that have had made you happy? LOL Idiots!
Clemson
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 22:28 — uncznflThe year Clemson won the Football Championship. They were charged with 101 violations by the NCAA. So don't start mouthing off about the violations Carolina is facing.
West VA, Ohio St, and several others are getting off with a slap on the hand for things that I consider worse than any of the charges against Carolina.
Just because you still play basketball in an arena that dates from the 70's and Carolina built one without one penny of construction money coming from the state of NC and contributes $70 million to the athletic dept. each year to help run non revenue sports.
Bring your program up instead of trying to bring everyone down to your level.
John Swofford is a COWARD
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 19:08 — OatspreaderJohn Swofford is a COWARD and HYPOCRITICAL commissioner. Do you Carolina fans wanna really know why you are so hated? Little Johnny Swofford is a microcosm of why. Read this little ditty penned by Brett Mills of the Clemson Tiger News:
"As a lifelong Clemson fan that was raised on tales from the program’s glory days in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, I absolutely love seeing both the Bulldogs and Gamecocks squirm under NCAA scrutiny. But nothing has satisfied me more than seeing NCAA investigators unearth the plethora of corruption within the UNC football program.
"What initially began in late June with the NCAA notifying UNC officials that they were going forward with an investigation of football players receiving improper benefits has quickly morphed into what ESPN’s Joe Schad called an “extensive NCAA inquiry into the North Carolina football program.” It’s centered on the alleged improper benefits given to star defensive tackle Marvin Austin by an agent.
"The investigation by both the NCAA and the university itself has since uncovered assistant coach John Blake’s collusion with sports agent Gary Wichard, resulting in the forced resignation of Blake two weeks ago. But most ironically for a university that prides itself on academic superiority, there are reports that nine Tarheel players have engaged in academic fraud by allowing tutors to write papers for them.
"The NCAA has yet to hand down a ruling on the situation in Chapel Hill. In fact, the investigation could drag on for months or even years like the one at USC. Regardless of how bad things get for UNC, I urge you to not to waste a shred of sympathy on them. Their penalty will be just comeuppance for their decades of hypocrisy.
"For those who are unaware as to why I would make such a harsh statement about the Tarheels, let me just say we Clemson fans have good reason to show the UNC football program the same amount of affection we would a cockroach. I’ll be the first to admit that Clemson was less than honest as a program in that late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Tiger players certainly received more than their share of improper benefits. In a response to rival fans heckling him about Clemson’s probation in 1983, star defensive tackle William “Refrigerator” Perry famously retorted, “Hey, we work hard for our money!”
"While Clemson was certainly not alone in its… er… egregious cheating, we were the ones unlucky enough to catch the attention of the NCAA, thanks to some helpful tip-offs from UGA’s Vince Dooley and NC State’s Monte Kiffin. In 1982, the NCAA wasted no time in dropping the hammer on us. All in all, the sanctions spanned two years of scholarship reductions, a two-year bowl ban and a two-year television ban — a stiff punishment, but a just one.
"It is at this point in the story that our self-righteous, baby blue friends from Chapel Hill decided to enter the fray. Joining forces with the athletic director from Duke, UNC athletic director John Swofford (yes, the one that is now ACC Commissioner. Don’t even get me started on that…) called a meeting between every ACC athletic director except Clemson’s.
"In the meeting, Swofford stated that the sanctions the NCAA handed down to Clemson were not stiff enough and proposed a vote to extend Clemson’s probation from two years to three. All the schools present consented with the exceptions of Maryland and Wake Forest, who were appalled at the idea of further punishing a fellow conference member. The two schools’ representatives left the meeting in disgust when Swofford suggested that the votes remain anonymous.
"In other words, when Clemson was enduring its lowest moment as a football program, UNC elected to pile on and kick the dog when it was down. And all the while, they passed themselves off as the morally superior ones. But the current academic scandal and NCAA investigation has now completely shattered that façade.
"For a program that only deigned its nose at poor hillbilly Clemson and its renegade football program over the past couple decades, UNC now finds itself in no position to judge others. They have forfeited the right to condescend."
Did Swofford actually graduate without cheating?
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 18:49 — fds4444What was his major and does he speak swahili?
About the most stupid and
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:27 — GoHeels1984About the most stupid and idiotic posting I have ever seen. Speaks my theory about the continued obsession. ABCer (NC State College at Raleigh) fans care more about UNC than their own institution.
I think you should look up a good shrink in the phone book and go see them.
John Swofford was a
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 22:12 — SFPNCNativeJohn Swofford was a Morehead Scholar who also played on the 1971 football team. Yes, he did graduate. Although he played football, with his extraordinary academic success, you can be certain he did not need to cheat. According to his bio on the ACC Commisioner's page, he also has a Masters of Education in Athletic Administration from Ohio University. You ABCers would have more friends if you would just understand that everyone who attended Carolina and played football is not Marvin Austin.
Swofford as a Morehead Scholar
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 22:35 — uncznflMr. Swofford ranks with one of the best Commissioners the ACC has ever had. The ACC today is where it is for the work he has done. The ACC would not be in the bowl champship series without his hard work.
Lets not also for get Carolina is not the only one in trouble with the NCAA. But all the ABC'ers are having so much fun. Get their own houses in order before you start throwing stones.....Lots of glass roofs out there
Watch the Hypocrite
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 18:21 — CUfromRaleighLet's see how hypocritical Swoffie is now that Chapel Hill is caught cheating. If he follows precedent, then the ACC should tack on an extra year of probation to whatever the NCAA gives the Tar Heels. Last I recall, he helped lead the charge against Clemson in the early 80's when the ACC added an extra year of probation on top of the 2 year sentence that the NCAA had given down.
But it'll never happen. Not to good ol' UNC...
Dodge, deflect, never admit
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 17:14 — growupDodge, deflect, never admit fault, everyone else is doing it. Any adults left in Chapel Hill or the commissioner's office?
Huh? Has the NCAA made
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:29 — GoHeels1984Huh? Has the NCAA made their final ruling yet? I'm confused here.......
Carolina Values - Oxymoron
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 15:45 — packman1Swofford said that Carolina needed to get back to their values. Too late John, Carolina has already sold out to their win at all costs and hide the truth values. These were the same values you oversaw so I'm surprised you've forgotten.
For years the media has shilled for the Tar Heels, but now that the cat is out of the bag that the level of corruption and lack of institutional control runs deep, there are plenty of national media outlets without an allegiance to UNC so this story is not going to go away until people get their pound of flesh. Davis and Baddour will not be around this time next year. Thorpe might be gone too unless he has some kind of religious conversion and decides to clean house sooner vs. later. If he sticks by Davis then he will be lost too. This fiasco is embarrasing the league and the UNC system. Every time Thorpe, Baddour and Davis make excuses or try to perpetuate the myth of cooperation it just insults the intelligence of everyone that is actually paying attention to the cesspool they've created in Chapel Hill.
Its funny, a NC State
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:33 — GoHeels1984Its funny, a NC State University College at Raleigh fan, Pack man, says that Davis and Baddour should be gone now. If he is so concerned and feels like they are evil people, he should be wishing that they would stay. Just a little confused here. I guess Pack boy is wanting UNC to get better? Very confusing comments.... Oh, I get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obsession..... That's what it is.....
Typical
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 15:43 — GreedbusterThat was called deflection. Blame the league for the tarheel's problems. If Ga Tech wins a championship, send the tarheel mascot onto the field to steal their glory. They do the same thing in their precious UNC system. They deny their members when scandal erupts, take credit when a member school has a major accomplishment, and try to punish everybody when they get caught cheating. Swofford wants reform for everybody not just the cheaters. When he retires, Davis Whitfield Jr is set to take his place and continue this garbage.
Way to step up and address
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 15:25 — ProwlingWoofieWay to step up and address the issues, John. I don't see see you demanding sanctions and imposing fines against Chief Know Nothing like you did against, say FSU's soccer coach...
Time for you to pass the baton and move on, Oh Biased One...
I have an idea Prowling
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 16:02 — GoHeels1984I have an idea Prowling Woofiepup, since you think things are so biased.
Lets not pick on one school here. Why don't we check the parking tickets, tutors, cell phone records of recruiters, audit the work of each athlete, etc. etc. etc. and the list goes on for each football team in the ACC?
I bet you will want the NCAA skipping your school i'm sure. No bias there pal!
That would be great
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 21:00 — ProwlingWoofieThat would be great DBag1984, except the NCAA isn't investigating NCSU for cheating - they're crawling all up UNC's tail, because UNC's playaaahhhzz were bragging about all the bene's they were receiving.
Grow up.
Haha, "We cheat so everyone
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 16:51 — hdog007Haha, "We cheat so everyone else must too".
That's the best you can come up with? Better get back to cleaning up the spill on aisle 7 before your boss finds you on the computer again...
Are you saying you wouldn't
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 23:35 — GoHeels1984Are you saying you wouldn't care if the NCAA came to do an audit of your precious College in West Raleigh? Lets give them a call and see if they will do a courtesy call shall we? If you aren't worried, why would you care?