East Chapel Hill quarterback Drew Davis. MARK DOLEJS - newsobserver.com
University of North Carolina chancellor Holden Thorp said today that he was disappointed that former football coach Butch Davis offered son Drew Davis a football scholarship without consulting with Thorp or UNC athletic director Dick Baddour.
Thorp added, once again, that there was no one reason for Davis’ firing July 27, but rather a “collection of problems” as UNC faces NCAA allegations of nine major violations and an Oct. 28 hearing before of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions.
Drew Davis is a senior quarterback at East Chapel Hill High. Thorp said that with all of the controversy surrounding the program, it would have been better for Butch Davis to talk with Thorp and Baddour before offering Drew a scholarship.
“I found out about that a couple months ago when I saw it online,” Thorp said during a telephone interview today, “and yes, I was disappointed that neither the athletic director nor I knew about that.”
Thorp said UNC’s program is under a lot of scrutiny and needs everybody to pull together to make sure things work best for the program. The NCAA’s Notice of Allegations arrived June 21; it was also revealed in June that fewer than 12 players had amassed 395 parking tickets with fines totaling $13,125.
In July, UNC officials learned that they had failed to detect plagiarism in a term paper written by defensive lineman Michael McAdoo, who’s been ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
Butch Davis was to be paid an average of $2.2 million a year under the contract extension he signed after the 2007 season. Tuition and fees at UNC for an in-state student in the 2011-12 academic year cost $7,008.70.
“Drew is a good kid and I feel bad for him in all this,” Thorp said, “and for all I know, we would love to have him on the football team. But with everything going on, it would be good for the athletic director and the coach to talk about that and probably for all three of us to talk.”
Comments
Butch Davis
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 22:05 — rangewoodI think it's sad that Drew Davis has to deal with this, I wish him the bes of luck and a great season this year I know he has really worked hard and should be able to enjoy his senior year without having to go through this, I can only imagine how the crowds will be on Friday nights, Butch Davis should be ashamed.
No Big Deal?
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 09:32 — dj9686For people that think it's no big deal that Butch offered his son a scholarship, eventually you'll have to pull your heads from the sand. No other school thinks Drew warrants a free ride. Not one other school had offered as of the time the N&O article was run. So, Butch who was/is making $2.2 million a year is trying to slide his son in on the cheap. Butch is not only corrupt but cheap and stupid. He had no idea his son's tutor was writing papers for the players and that his #1 recruiter and assistant head coach was being paid by an agent. Yeah, right... I think UNC is probably very fortunate Wichard passed away.
just wondering
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 00:58 — JPDOhioDoes anyone in UNC's administration have a clue?
First, they let this ordeal drag out for more than a year. Then, just when it looks like things will settle down, they abruptly fire the guy they have been backing since the beginning. Then the AD goes, but not really. And, finally, it seems like they hold a press conference every day to announce something more inane than the last announcement.
Lee Fowler is looking pretty good right now.
JPD!
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 01:59 — Heels20Easy with the fightin' words!
But you're right. Carolina athletics have been left in total disorder. Any chance you know anyone who can stitch Thorp's mouth the f*** shut?
Sorry
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 09:51 — JPDOhioCouldn't help myself.
Can't help you with Thorpe though. I am not sure how this stuff about Butch's son came up, but it was idiotic for him to address this in public. Of all the battles he has to fight, this one is not worth the trouble.
Thorp
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 12:21 — gvillegatrHe must have had a sex change bc he is acting exactly like a woman when you are having a "fight" with your mother, girl friend, fiancé or wife. Hes bringing up crap that has absolutely nothing to do with the reason you are "fighting" to begin with.
Very frustrating. I need a drink ... !
Where is the Oversight?
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 21:32 — mcgutimGive me a break. . ..
Unlike many people who commented earlier tonight on this story, I was on board with Thorp's announcement last week.
Unfortunately, now, I agree that Davis, Badour and Thorp all need to find a place to live -- far away from taxpayers' money and far away from anybody who will hold any of them accountable for their actions.
How can a head football coach making millions of dollars a year for performance on the field be given the keys to the bank when it comes to giving out ANY scholarship without oversight by the AD (the janitor or the head ticket-taker, for that matter)? The NCAA should be taking a hard look at this.
Whether other universities do the same or not is not the issue. We all want UNC to be the shining light on the hill -- above reproach in every way, but it's not.
UNC's black eye is well deserved right now. The fox has been allowed by the farmer to run the chicken house. Hopefully, the farmer will realize that he needs to accept responsibility, and the next farmer will have the guts to take responsibility for keeping that fox out.
It's not the AD's job
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 22:06 — danofncIt's not the AD's job approve every scholarship offer.
To pretend otherwise just because this is Butch Davis' son is crazy.
The only thing in this particular situation that has been done in a poor manner is the statement by Thorp today which is a secondary NCAA violation.
Nice!
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 02:01 — Heels20For once, I agree with you.
But Dennis Horner still sucks.
Are we suprised they didn't
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 21:46 — jlmcgowanAre we suprised they didn't know about the kid. Hell, it took them 4 years to realized he offered John Blake.
They didn't know ?
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 23:01 — gvillegatr99.9 FM was talking about Drew becoming a Tar Heel a few months ago. "they" didn't know my ass.
Didn't know
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 02:14 — mad_maxJust giving Butch a little taste of his own medicine!
And
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 12:17 — gvillegatrActing like fools in the process. Which I'm sure you are enjoying immensely.
hhmm
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 21:37 — jtric1963oookkkk!
hold it a minute
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 20:21 — jtric1963some of you are attacking the young guy, this is a story about his father.....so attack the father not the son.....you do not have the rights to attack someones as young as this guy when you do not know anything about him....remember your big mouth is talking about someone who is still in high school...
What's the big deal?
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 19:33 — HeelsforeverThere are numerous examples of kids playing for their dads in college. Eddie Sutton, Bobby Knight, John Thompson, Maravich, etc. and I can think of those off the top of my head without doing any research.
Well, before today there
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 19:37 — danofncWell, before today there wasn't really a big deal.
There still isn't.
There's just a secondary violation to add to the list because Thorp talked about an unsigned recruit.
Who's In Charge?
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 19:16 — stateofmindNo one.
There is a complete lack of institutional control at UNC over its football program and anyone associated with the program.
The NCAA did not say there
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 19:50 — AlfredENeumanThe NCAA did not say there was a lack of institutional contol. Did you bother to read the letter? Butch Davis had done nothing wrong.
Get this F out of UNC
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:36 — gvillegatrDoes henot have anything better to pin on Butch other than he (Thorp) was not in the know about Butch's son possibly getting a scholly ? Resign, Thorp. You've been an embarrassment and puppeteer since Day 1. Go play croquet at the All England Club with Muffy !
UNC and ethics
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:25 — igliigliAnother example of why the UNC System should fire all coaches and sports teams.
It's a violation. It's a
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:21 — awdracerIt's a violation. It's a minor secondary violation. Who cares? The biggest thing is that this shows that Boy Wunder is in over his head.
Gophers
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:18 — ncmathsadistApparently, Butch has signed with The University of Minnesota. This whole kerfuffle, therefore, is moot.
Different Drew Davis
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:21 — Heels20That would be Broughton High LB Drew Davis, younger brother of UNC PG Luke Davis.
What a train wreck
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:14 — dsspr1while the fat lady keeps singing.
At least three versions ....
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 17:40 — AgentPierceEvery bit of news re: "UNC Football" for the forseeable future is going to be commented on from three very different perspectives:
(1) Hard core ABCers who see all this thru the most partisan rival negative eyes imaginable. They hope that by continually equating this to 9/11 or similar global catastrophes it will increase the chances that "real people" might be influenced to their extreme point-of-view. Some will. Most will not.
(2) Hard core Holden-haters - who mistakenly view Davis' firing as the End of Big Time Football at UNC and they are quite angry at that prospect. It will take "a while" for this group to settle down, but they eventually will. Meanwhile they will pout and lash out in their anger.
(3) The rest of the human race who see these evolving events correctly as "of concern" and "of interest" and follow them to whatever degree of concern they might have for the people and institutions being effected. Medical studies show that "this group" has better digestion and far less headaches than the first two above.
NCAA Violation
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 17:09 — dscienceguyMr. Poke,
The chancellor may have committed an NCAA violation. Coaches may not talk about a recruit prior to the student signing a letter of intent. This may also be true with anyone affiliated with the university. It will have to be reported and investigated by the NCAA. If he is found to have violated NCAA rules, will you be calling for his dismissal?
Love it
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:53 — paddynormDid he have the grades and class rank to be accepted into UNC or not?
If he made 750 on the SAT
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 21:38 — CoachHIf he made 750 on the SAT Reading +Math and has a 2.3 high school GPA then he meets UNC's minimum admission requirements.
Did he have a pulse? If he
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 18:22 — awdracerDid he have a pulse? If he did, then yes.
Goes With the Tutor
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:37 — stateofmindWho is surprised at this one?
Butch already had him hooked up with the tutor!
Furthermore
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:25 — Heels20Thorp has proven that he knows nothing about athletics. I know he's not the head coach, but why is he commenting on a recruit by name who has not signed? This is wrong on multiple levels.
It would be better...
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:23 — Heels20...for Thorp to resign. If Butch loses his job after being held accountable for violations to which his name was not attached, then Thorp should take responsibility for the professor who did not catch McAdoo's plagiarism. If the integrity of the athletics department being questioned over the actions of an assistant coach and some players is reason to fire the head coach, then the academic integrity being questioned over the stupidity of a professor should lead to the dismissal of Thorp. Just going by his logic.
O/T
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 22:10 — danofncIt's off-topic, but it will be easier to find here:
UNC offered TJ Warren tonight. We get a Gottfried versus Williams recruiting battle for 2012.
Who did UNC miss on? I remember you saying yesterday that Warren was a backup plan.
Nice try, little brother
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 01:54 — Heels20It's only a story if Gottfried wins.
Nope, on the logic thing
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:37 — Agent_PokeThat's a false analogy. Davis hired an asst coach (John Blake) with a known shady past, but also known for landing recruits who would then recruit others with a wink. If doing that, he needed to keep a close eye on the guy, not turning the blind eye. Saying that's the same as Thorp being responsible for something missed by one of the profs is simply not analogous. If Thorp had hired a close associate with a shady past, e.g., a vice-chancellor for finance who has been suspected of embezzlement, and then turned a blind eye to what turned out to be evil deeds, then that would be analogous, and I'd be among those expecting for Thorp to go. In fact, when the NCSU chancellor arranged the hire of Mary Easley (although having the Provost take the fall initially), right, he had to go, and he did.
Butch
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 16:44 — Heels20was the head of the ship on the football field. When the negative publicity came because of the football program, he took the fall, without his name attached the the violations.
Thorp is the head of the ship on the academic side. Both the professor and, according to all these State fans, the honor court brought negative publicity to UNC from the academic side. Thorp should go down.
I see your side of the argument about how Butch hired the guy. But keep in mind that Blake had never been ruled guilty of an NCAA violation, and these aren't recruiting violations as you stated.