CHAPEL HILL – After returning from a four-game NCAA suspension against Clemson on Saturday, North Carolina safety Deunta Williams apologized to the University and fans for putting himself in the position to have to sit out.
Then he thanked the NCAA for making him so eager to play.
“It really was [frustrating] the first week, but they’ve [the NCAA] got a job to do,’’ Williams said. “I feel like them making me sit those four games made me really hungry, and I feel like I’ve got that fire back that I had my freshman year when I was out there ballin’ and stickin’ people, so I feel like that’s going to continue. I’ve got to thank them for that. I just try to find a positive in all of this.”
Williams – who recorded five tackles, and got burned on a fourth-quarter Tigers touchdown play in his first game back – said that when he was first interviewed by NCAA investigators, he never thought his trips to California to visit former Tar Heels defensive back Omar Brown would be an issue, because he and teammate Kendric Burney (who accompanied him once) paid for the trips.
Instead, the NCAA ruled that Burney (who is suspended for two more games for also receiving extra benefits from a different person, who the NCAA said met the definition of an agent) received $1,333 in benefits while Williams received $1,426 in benefits. Burney must repay $575.19 and Williams must repay $450.67 to charities of their choice. Their penalties were upheld by the NCAA on appeal.
“ I went out to California, me and Kendric, and we stayed with Omar Brown … and instead of me swiping my [credit] card, he swiped his card for the hotels, and we paid him cash at that time,’’ Williams said. “So they deemed this as a violation – and that’s why is says $1,500 dollars, and we only had to pay back $400 and stuff like that.
“That $400 is from [Brown] taxi-ing us from the airport to his house, and to our hotels. And me and my girlfriend, when we went at the time, we stayed at his house for two nights. And that’s where all that money that I have to pay back comes from.”
Williams said he took two trips to California – one two years ago with Burney, and one last spring with his girlfriend.
“ The line of questioning that they [the NCAA] asked me was, ‘Who paid for the trip?’ Well, I paid for the trip,’’ Williams said. “Me and KB paid for the trip together. That was the line of questioning. So once we revealed certain details about instances when I stayed there with my girlfriend for two nights – they felt like that was a violation and stuff like that. That was the type of stuff that they got me on.
“And I felt like, me and Omar have had a relationship for four years, so I thought it was a big brother-little brother type of thing. I would have done the same thing – I won’t now. But I would’ve did the same thing if I was in his position. But they said it was a violation, and I understand that, so I manned up and served when I had to serve.”
Williams said he wasn’t nervous to get back onto the field – just eager to get back out there and hit someone. Coach Butch Davis had him lead the Old Well Walk before the game, and he said it only took him about three plays to get his playing feet back under him.
“I’m just happy to be back,’’ he said.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
Duenta is back
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 12:35 — SCPOABDuenta, I'm glad you're back and thanks for trying to provide some information, but...please don't talk about this situation anymore. The NCAA is done with you; of course, if you keep talking, they may not be done with you.
Suit up and play, but please, no more interviews about the investigation.
Very well said.
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 14:18 — mad_maxVery well said.
I think a lot of Colleges,
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 11:13 — calypsomanI think a lot of Colleges, including UNC, allow their athletes "special" privileges and I believe too the coaches and some of the upper echelons of the Univ know that, and implicitly condone the actions of these YOUNG people. So these people are equally to blame for some these young peoples' actions. Thus these same people must also pay the price that these young folks are paying: THEY TOO SHOULD BE TERMINATED. Universities are meant for ACADEMICS and that should come first but I do not think at UNC that is the case (I think it is differenrt at Duke).
Funny
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 14:39 — gvillegatr99 percent o the people only talk about education being a priority at a school AFTER cheating is found out.
ALMOST no one talks about it when their is no scandal.
To paraphrase Raum
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 15:48 — JPDOhioA crisis is a terrible thing to waste.
Especially
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 17:06 — gvillegatrEspecially when the shades get opened!
Nothing wrong
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 14:35 — Heels20with what Deunta said about the NCAA. They're dragging their feet and I'd love nothing more than for him to have a spectacular season.
really changed my mind
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 11:09 — gogirlI've used to hear about an NCAA investigation or suspension at another school and automatically assume the worst. And when the explanations came, I said oh sure. So this is the first time I really paid attention to the claims and counterclaims. I don't think I'll jump to conclusions any more, since it really looks as if the NCAA rules and enforcement have become crazy. Back in the days of Valvano, when it took total lack of control to bring down the NCAA--and then fans didn't take it seriously and made him a saint--I could assume that the NCAA was god. But not now.
It's so clear
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 08:16 — mad_maxThe NCAA is obviously out to get Carolina's football team...and stuff like that.
"But they said it was a violation, and I understand that, so I manned up and served when I had to serve."
.....
He manned up?Ah, forget it...if you're still believing the lines coming out of CH at this point, then you'll never see the light.What a
Sat, 10/09/2010 - 23:39 — gvillegatrCrock.
We have Dareus from Alabama who initiates conversations with Blake, but gets two games bc he squeals.
Then you have two guys (who are guilty) who pay for everything but a frickin' taxi or two and get four snd six games respectively.
What a crock.
Why should we believe Williams' side of the story?
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 07:57 — mad_maxI'm pretty skeptical of what Williams is saying. These "student"-athletes had thousands of dollars in cash (their own money, of course) to take with them to Cali? Okay, believe that if you want.
So let me get this straight...Williams apologizes, but also claims he barely did anything wrong, and then on top of that, he "thanks" the NCAA (what a smart ass!). Take the pity party elsewhere...we're not buying any of this crap. And I bet the NCAA is ready to say "You're welcome, please have another"!
Why not?
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 19:08 — UNC1998What side do you want to believe? Your own voice? Williams didn't say "The NCAA railroaded me". He didn't say "This entire thing is a joke". He told what he did, and pointed out the things the NCAA had a problem with. What's wrong with that? I red earlier where you wrote something about seeing a light...... What if it turns out this one's shining bright? I wrote it earlier..
There's a spectrum of thought on this
1. The man, blow it up and start over is in the red
2. The "that NCAA is just trying to ruin us. Nothing went on here that doesn't happen everywhere". That's in the Carolina Blue end.
3. The "truth" will come down where it does. It will then be up to the red end and blue end to deny it, embrace it, or construe it to their own ends.
Max
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 09:38 — gvillegatrYou could be right. I'm not so "blue" to think everything is on the up and up, but there are ways for kids to get money in college while playing a sport.
Living off campus gets you an allowance. If certain kids qualify, they can get a pell grant which can be a small fortune in college. They can qualify for other loans which have to be paid back. Or their parents/grand parents may just give them some money.
You do not always have to see things in such a negative light when it comes to UNC.
I didn't play a sport..
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 18:46 — UNC1998but got scholarships, grants, loans, etc... that set me up so I didn't eat just Ramen and bologna for 5 years. Take the actual tuition away (as in the case of an athlete), and there's money to do stuff, go places, and other stuff. I'm not one to assume every player's from a poor family. It just doesn't have to be that way.
He wears Carolina blue
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 08:58 — HeelsforeverSo, he has to be a liar, and all other things bad.
I'm just glad he is back.
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 09:09 — unc098I'm just glad he is back. Kids are Kids and will says things they maybe shouldn't be saying, just like some adults on ACC NOW.
Nevertheless, Duenta played a great game except for going for the glory on that last Clemson TD. Just make the play Duenta.
Totally agree 98
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 09:59 — HeelsforeverIt never ceases to amaze me how these people automatically assume all of our kids are bad simply because they chose to wear Carolina blue instead of red. I'm sure their pot smokers are ALL perfectly good kids. Nevermind that they got off on a technicality, but we are supposed to believe they walk around wearing halos, while Deunta and all of his team mates are the worst kids imagineable. How about that sunday school kid Sweezy who beat up that old bus driver, huh? I bet he was really defending some little old lady and a group of girl scouts from that mean old bus driver...
Both Sides
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 14:13 — YAR8packBoth sides have their pot smokers (Graves and Sturdivant for UNC-Sweezy, Kuhn, Bryan, and Vermiglio for State). Both sides have their assaulters (Sweezy, who was later cleared due to the revelation that the poor little old bus driver and his friend came off the bus to attack Sweezy-glad you left that out-for NC State, and who was the guy for unc who got in trouble for the pellet gun and hitting a teammate last year?) In other words, don't throw rocks at a glass house. Both sides have their idiots.
To the point, which I have
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 14:37 — unc098To the point, which I have made several times, these are kids despite the fact that they are glorified sports figures. I am a parent and good kids make bad choices sometimes. If they are truly good people and have been brought up right they will learn from their mistakes and incorporated what they have learned to become better folks.
No matter which school's colors we wear, no school is immune from kids making stupid mistakes. For athletes it is probably a lot less percentage then the general student body population.