The impermissible benefits and academic fraud scandals that led to Butch Davis' firing also led to UNC's internal investigation into the Department of African and Afro-American studies. PHOTO: N&O file

CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina recently released the results of a months-long internal investigation into the Department of African and Afro-American Studies. UNC’s investigation found widespread academic fraud involving more than 50 courses, and the investigation found evidence of academic fraud ranging from professors who never showed up to teach class to unauthorized grade changes.

You can read The News & Observer’s story about UNC’s internal investigation right here. You can also find a complete copy of the investigation right here. 

If UNC’s internal investigation wasn’t damning enough, the situation became worse today. Responding to a request from The N&O, UNC provided the number of football and men’s basketball players who enrolled in courses at the heart of the investigation into the Department of African and Afro-American Studies. According to UNC, 39 percent of those enrolled in the suspect courses were either football or men’s basketball players. Here is the story from N&O reporter Dan Kane.

UNC coach Larry Fedora and his staff of assistants will receive a combined $4.07 million during their first year on the job. PHOTO: Rober Willett

The University of North Carolina will pay its football coaching staff $4.07 million during its first year on the job, according to figures the university released on Monday. That includes the $2.13 million UNC will pay to head coach Larry Fedora, whom the university introduced in December as the successor to interim head coach Everett Withers.

Fedora’s salary includes a one-time payment of $400,000, which the university was to provide to him by March 15, according to his contract. Blake Anderson, Dan Disch and Vic Koenning are UNC’s three highest-paid assistants. They will each receive $250,000 annually. 

Quinton Coples was one of only two former North Carolina players to be selected in the NFL draft. PHOTO: Getty Images

CHAPEL HILL — The NFL draft concluded on Saturday after only two of North Carolina’s prospects – defensive end Quinton Coples and linebacker Zach Brown – were selected. Dwight Jones, the wide receiver, ended the draft on the outside looking in. So, too, did cornerback Charles Brown. And defensive tackle Tydreke Powell. And Donte Paige-Moss, the defensive lineman who left school early to enter the draft.

Even Coples and Brown went lower than they likely expected they would – Coples at No. 16 overall to the New York Jets, and Brown in the second round, at the 52nd overall pick, to the Tennessee Titans. If you followed the draft at all, you know that NFL personnel types shared similar concerns about Coples and Brown, both. In fact, you could have learned that simply by reading the NFL’s official website.

UNC coach Larry Fedora said the Tar Heels' rivalry with N.C. State will be a point of emphasis. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHARLOTTE — Larry Fedora has yet to coach his first game at North Carolina but already he has added some zest to the Tar Heels’ football rivalry with N.C. State. Speaking on Wednesday night in Charlotte at a Rams Club Tar Heel Tour stop, Fedora indicated he understands just fine the significance of the UNC-N.C. State rivalry.

UNC coach Larry Fedora address his team after the Tar Heels' spring game on Saturday. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina held its annual Blue vs. White spring football scrimmage at Kenan Stadium on Saturday. In case you missed the story that ran in the paper about this yesterday, you can read it right here. The Blue team defeated the White, 44-7. Well, actually, the final scoreboard read 44-21 – but that includes 14 points that the White team received at halftime to make the game a bit more competitive.

Of course, the final score of a spring scrimmage doesn’t mean much. And it’s difficult to read too much into the Tar Heels’ spring game, anyway, because it was, you have to remember, UNC’s 14th practice in the completely new, completely different offensive and defensive system that first-year coach Larry Fedora and his assistants are installing. A lot will change between now and September.

Even so, the spring game provided us some insight and some lessons. Here are some of them:

UNC coach Larry Fedora wants to see energy and enthusiasm during the Tar Heels' spring game on Saturday. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Larry Fedora wouldn’t mind another 25, 30 practices or so this spring. Maybe by then, he said earlier this week, the Tar Heels would be able to accomplish all they need to accomplish before heading into the off-season conditioning program.

But there will not be 25 or 30 more practices for Fedora and UNC. NCAA rules limit teams to 15 spring practices, and UNC’s final one comes on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Kenan Stadium, where the Tar Heels will play their annual spring scrimmage (admission free, game televised at ESPN3.com).

Here are some things to watch:

CHAPEL HILL — The start of spring college football practices always represents a new beginning, no matter the school. It’s especially so at North Carolina, though, which begins spring practice this afternoon.

The Tar Heels have a new head coach, Larry Fedora. They have a new coaching staff. A new offensive and defensive scheme. And a sense of a new beginning now that UNC’s NCAA infractions case is a thing of the past.

I wrote about UNC’s new beginning in a story right here. And before writing that, I had the chance to conduct a short interview with Fedora …

Here it is:

CHAPEL HILL — A couple of quick North Carolina spring football tidbits for you on this Wednesday:

CHAPEL HILL — What began in May 2010 with a Marvin Austin tweet about lavish partying on South Beach ended on Monday when the NCAA Committee on Infractions gave its final verdict in a scandal that hung over the University of North Carolina football program for nearly two years.

UNC’s football team will serve a postseason ban in 2012, and first-year head coach Larry Fedora will have to make do with five fewer scholarships in each of the next three seasons. During the same time span, UNC will remain on probation, and anything that runs afoul of NCAA rules during that time would be subject to harsher penalties.

The drama is over, finally, and the case is closed. But the end brings a time for reflection. So here are some final thoughts on a case that seemed would never end – but finally did earlier this week:

Outlook: The Tar Heels start with a relatively easy game against Elon, an FCS opponent, before beginning conference play one week later on the road at Wake Forest.

The schedule sets UNC up for a fast start leading into its Oct. 6 home game against Virginia Tech, the first of back-to-back key divisional games for the Heels, who go on the road the next week to Miami.