WILMINGTON — University of North Carolina Athletics Director Dick Baddour told the UNC system's Board of Governors today that academic misconduct by members of the football team may date back a year or more.
Asked whether the cheating could have happened in prior years, Baddour said, "The short answer is yes. We will go where the information leads us. If that isn't the immediate year ... we will go where the information takes us."
Baddour didn't say anything more on that issue.
The comments came this afternoon during an appearance by Baddour and University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp at a committee meeting of the UNC system's Board of Governors, which sets policy for all public universities. The board is meeting this week on the campus of UNC Wilmington.
Several board members peppered Thorp and Baddour with questions about the ongoing NCAA investigation into the football program. One branch of the probe has focused on allegations of academic misconduct involving football players and a university tutor who also worked for Tar Heels football coach Butch Davis' family.
The other prong of the probe is investigating the possibility that some UNC football players have had improper contact with a sports agent.
Asked whether the university has a concrete indication that the academic misconduct stretches back a year or more, Thorp said, "I just can't say. We're going to look where the facts take us."
The questions posed to Thorp and Baddour, largely touched on procedural issues, and Thorp said he doesn't yet know when resolution on the issues will be reached.
Comments
As for Davis..
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 14:27 — UNC1998I'll admit I can't really read the silent signs, but BD or HT have said nothing but that they support him, and he's their man. A member of the BOG has also said as much. Where there do you get he's getting fired. I mean, if he is that's just the facts, but I think it's the wrong move. As for UNC being Harvard... it never was and never will be. It claims to be the people's university... and that's just not Harvard or any other haughty school in the USA. I graduated from there and will always hold the school in a cherished spot. That said, in the real world sports drive UNC's name, and keeping that clean is important... Abandoning it would be a bad move, as UNC can never climb the academic ladder to the rung of Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc..
rumor or not
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 19:10 — gvillegatrsomething must have been cooking b/c it was enough for HT to come out today and say that Davis' job was safe and possibly for the forseeable future.
I do not think that was a coincedence (msp?).
Excellent post
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 14:41 — Heels20UNC is not at the academic level of an Ivy League school, but what makes it (and other ACC schools) so unique is how well-rounded of a university it is. Carolina's tradition consists of much more than a rich history in the classroom. When people hear "North Carolina," they think of Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Lawrence Taylor (go ahead Wolfpackers, take your cheap shot), national championships and a beautiful campus. Yes, it is highly regarded as far as academics go, but Holden Thorp doesn't understand that you don't have to put every spotlight on academics for it to be a clean and reputable school.
That's all I have to say. These rumors make me sick to my stomach.
Hearing the same rumor
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 01:23 — Heels20Holden Thorp wants UNC to be Harvard. This is unbelievable.
somewhere
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 09:53 — JPDOhioigligigli is smiling.
I have a simple question...
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 23:37 — UNC1998Does it not seem to be resonable that all of this information trickling out to the press is stuff that UNC knows and has shared with the NCAA or vice versa? If this is the case, then the surprise expressed by the public is basically just that. The NCAA knows all of this, and has garnered it for it's "fact finding" portion of the inquisition/review/investigation. When Baddour says they are reaching the end of the information gathering phase and are now moving on to the next step it makes sense to me. Inspite of all of the new public information breaking out the parties that matter... UNC and the NCAA know all of this way before we do, and are probably 2 steps ahead of where we assume they are in the process. When reputable folks like David Glenn state 5 things I know, and it basically is generalities I think it's a true reflection of what is factual and what is conjecture in the process. All the hand wringing an head shaking we can muster is probably at things that are just plain rumor. I'm not impuning this blog post, but rather speaking to the entire body of mass that has overtaken every stream of media in this area and nationally.
Well there they ( the
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 22:27 — unc098Well they ( the administration ) seem to be applying due diligence. This going to get very ugly. My prediction is bye bye Butch. Interesting comment Gatr.
not revealing my sources either
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 20:31 — gvillegatrbut I understand Butch is going to be fired tomorrow (friday).
Scoop?
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 00:28 — JPDOhioYou guys get a lot more coverage locally (official and unofficial) than I get up here. So I don't know where your prediction about Butch's dismissal comes from. But it would not surprise me.
There is no doubt in my mind that Butch's days are numbered. I may not be right, because of the lack of official information coming out. But if I am right, it would be better for Butch to go now.
I'm not....
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 23:46 — UNC1998saying this won't happen... but what has happened in the last 2 days to bring this on? As late as Wednesday Baddour was loudly insistant that Davis would be the coach at UNC. Does the rumor or nonproven idea that academic dishonesty was present befor last season? Perhaps the agent contact and unsavory attention? Basically, we all knew if they digged enough they'd find dirt. It's no surprise.
Wow
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 22:28 — mad_maxIf gatr is even saying that, then I might have to start believing that rumor.
With or without pay?
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 22:28 — unc098With or without pay?
didn't ask
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 09:20 — gvillegatrbasically, this crap is just getting too deep. cheating is apparently going back more than a year and Thorp is being backed into a corner. Apparently, the University system wide meeting in Wilmington got more heated than what is being reported. of course, this could just be another BS rumor ...
I wonder if Dan Mullin would like to leave Miss St for UNC?
Sounds plausible
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 12:43 — JPDOhioIt is kind of amazing to me that the lid has been clamped shut on this from official sources. Not that I think that is a bad thing, but it is seems unusual that there are no "official" leaks.
I have felt all along that Butch would be the ultimate sacrifice in this debacle. There are so many players potentially involved and under investigation that it is hard to imagine that there won't be multiple penalties imposed. Even if the violations turn out to be relatively minor and manageable, I don't think Butch can survive this.
Quitting today or this weekend would give the team a week to absorb the shock and have a better chance at being ready for Ga Tech. On the other hand, waiting until Sunday avoids discussion on College Game Day tomorrow. I would take that approach if I were them. Or, as you say, it could just be another BS rumor.
One other thing that amazes me is the "Student Court" that I read about this morning. Is it true that this court has the power to impose penalties including dismissal? Without review or approval by anyone associated with the school's administration? If that is true, that is a really bad idea. I have no problem with the concept of a review board made up of the student body's peers, as long as they are limited to making recommendations that are reviewed and acted on (or not) by experienced and accountable school officials. But putting that kind of power in the hands of twenty-something kids is just plain crazy.
Well
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 18:09 — Heels20Not gonna say my sources, but they're looking all the way back to '07.
i know exactly why they do not
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 20:39 — gvillegatrbut if any of these schools (all of them) had any back bone and truly meant when they say, "academics come first," they'd ALL be looking into their programs AFTER this mess at UNC.
none of them will b/c they are all hypocrites and theur is too much money involved and I understand that.
Guarantee
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 09:51 — YAR8packEvery university or college on the east coast is somewhat panicked about what's going on at unc, Tennessee (bball), and South Carolina. I guarantee every school is looking into their student-athlete academic programs to make sure not a single scrap of a possible transgression is out there for the NCAA to latch onto.
*Yawn*
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 17:32 — mad_maxThis investigation is getting boring. Let me know when they bring in an independent investigator, or when the NCAA is ready to annihilate the program. Getting tired of tiny pieces of information at a time, while UNC administrators try to frame everything they say in a way to protect themselves.
Welcome
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 18:52 — JPDOhioto the 24/7 news cycle.