UNC receiver Greg Little talked with NCAA investigators earlier this month about improper contact with a sports agent, his father said Tuesday.
"My understanding is they wanted to know if he had improper contact with an agent," Greg Little Sr. said Tuesday. "Beyond that I don't know what's going on."
Little Sr. said his son and defensive tackle Marvin Austin took a spring break trip to Miami in March. Little Sr. did not know if his son was asked about the trip by the NCAA, which according to ESPN, is the focus of the NCAA inquiry of the UNC football program.
"I gave him money for all of his expenses," Little Sr. said.
Greg Little led UNC with 62 catches for 724 yards with five touchdowns in 2009. He also rushed for 176 yards from his receiver spot.
Little Sr. said he's hopeful his son will be cleared by the NCAA and be eligible for the season-opener against LSU on Sept. 4.
"My gut feeling is that he didn't do anything wrong but I don't know," Little Sr. said. "I feel empty not really knowing what's going on."
Comments
Presumed guilty
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 16:22 — ironduff"UNC receiver Greg Little talked with NCAA investigators earlier this month about improper contact with a sports agent . . ."
That should be "ALLEGED improper contact" unless one assumes he is guilty.
Giglio should know better.
Actually, Giglio is correct
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 18:46 — TDiddytironduff,
If you want to parse words and be technically correct, Giglio's wording is not improper.
The subject of the meeting was "improper contact with an agent" No where did Giglio write that it was Little's improper contact, or an actual improper contact, just that the NCAA met with Little and the subject discussed was "improper contact with an agent".
The only reference made to the possibility of an actual improper contact with an agent that potentially involved Little was the inclusion of a quote by Little's father.
I heard basically the same thing...
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 15:09 — UNC1998on an audio clip on the sports page of a local TV sports website (in Raleigh, NC). The person being interviewed said that Little was seen as polite. He also gave thoughtful answers to all the interviewers questions. His responses basically cleared him and have been verified as best they can by the NCAA. Recent reports have said the investigation is now narrowing down to two players. We all know Austin is one of those, but who's the other? Well, the prevailing thought was that it was Little. They both went to Miami together. If Little is cleared as reported in the audio interview I heard Monday, who is the other player?
Investigative reporting, Giglio-style.
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 14:31 — DuvallNew Nando motto: All the alibis that fit, we print.
Lighten up
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 16:06 — JPDOhioNothing has been proven or disproven at this point. What's being reported is news as it is happening, which apparently many are interested in given the discussion going on. So this is a reporter doing his job, plain and simple. Let the process take its course before assuming guilt.
Proof
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 09:20 — DuvallNothing wrong
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 12:40 — Heels20with the way JPG has covered this. Austin has flaunted what could very well be more than enough evidence to lose his place on the team. Any blame for negative perception here falls on the shoulders of the players (or Marvin, at least). Advertising stupidity is never a good thing.
What's different?
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 12:00 — JPDOhioReporting what the player's parent said about who paid for a trip does not constitute an "alibi". I thought the dad's answers were honest and hopeful, although a "no comment" might have been a better approach.
I feel for the dad in this case. Some might say that he should have known and kept closer tabs on his son. Any parent who has a child that ever went on spring break knows how impossible that is.
so glad I got two boys
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 12:07 — gvillegatrbeach week, college, spring break. yup. thank goodness.
You are a lucky guy
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 14:11 — JPDOhioBut you know that.
I wouldn't trade my daughter for anything and there is a lot that I miss about her college years (especially soccer season). But I definitely do not miss spring break week.
J. P.
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 10:15 — SurferOf course we all know that J. P. is loving, for obvious reasons, the fact that he is covering this story. But I actually think that has done a pretty good job so far of not letting his bias show through too much. He just seem to be putting all the information out there that he comes across.
agreed
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 11:52 — JPDOhioAlthough I don't buy the JP bias theory, I agree that the reporting on this issue is straightforward. One could argue that too much is being written about this too often, but the public interest is definitely there and the potential impact on the upcoming season is huge. That makes it relevant.