The Carolina Way (Cont'd)

[Gonzo]

This scandal was a topic on the David Glenn Show today and if I weren't busy I would have called in. I agree that the Syracuse comparison is misleading. There are key distinctions that drive home just how nefariously UNC handed the scandal, never-mind perpetrating it in the first place. Not just when compared with Syracuse, but with many other programs large and small.

Let's back up to 2011 (Yeah, it was that long ago) when Macadoo filed his lawsuit. It wasn't until WRAL dug into the situation were suspicions about an internal conspiracy first raised. Then we saw Julius Pepper's transcript (thanks to snoopy NC State fans and their laptops) that indicated that the guy's GPA was lower than permissible for eligibility. Then, after two independent sources forced their hands, came the first "internal investigation." Not because they were genuinely concerned with academic integrity at UNC, but because of one snoopy journalist, some nerd from NC State, and BAD PR. That investigation yielded the first findings about the AFAM major and the amount of athletes enrolled in that program that make up the meat of the current scandal. What it didn't yield is the scale and depth of the problem, names and specifics, classes that never met, tutors writing papers for players, or information that would otherwise result in sanctions. That we learned about later. Information that was UNDOUBTEDLY uncovered when they dug into their own steaming pile of crap, was covered up. They published what they needed to to appear to "come clean" but kept secret the truly damning.

Next was the rogue tutor who went to the media about UNC players sharing a massive database of old papers and assignment to be plagiarized, that most athletes were essentially forced into the hoax majors to maintain eligibility, and (oh yeah) an alarming number of them were basically illiterate....

Two years ago the Wainstein Report (an independent report) came out and this thread got started on the MMB. It's an 80-something page document with more damning information that I care to summarize (page on and my second post in the thread). Since then, just hours prior to NCAA sanctions being considered for this current basketball season, UNC "self-reported" more NCAA violations. Magically, the investigation was extended to account for the new information and, you guessed it, sanctions were postponed until AFTER the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Here we are and the Tar Heels are in the Final Four. Funny how that worked out.

Point being: Syracuse was investigated, and Boeheim was suspended. I'd argue that the punishment was a joke, but nevertheless, they "did their time" as of were.

Louisville self-imposed a post-season ban after we found out about the hookers.

Look at every other example in modern memory. They've cooperated, for the most part, and their sanctions (whether too harsh or too soft, another matter), have come relatively swift.

UNC has obstructed, postponed, and misrepresented from the moment this scandal saw the light of day, culminating this summer with a deliberate and strategic "self-reporting" of information for the specific purpose of allowing their men's basketball team to compete for another national championship. It came to light in 2011. TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN! They've dodged what will inevitably be a mild sanction for five ****ing years.

[bcoach]

Bottom line is that nobody who matters cares.

[scatman77]

This scandal was a topic on the David Glenn Show today and if I weren't busy I would have called in. I agree that the Syracuse comparison is misleading. There are key distinctions that drive home just how nefariously UNC handed the scandal, never-mind perpetrating it in the first place. Not just when compared with Syracuse, but with many other programs large and small.

Let's back up to 2011 (Yeah, it was that long ago) when Macadoo filed his lawsuit. It wasn't until WRAL dug into the situation were suspicions about an internal conspiracy first raised. Then we saw Julius Pepper's transcript (thanks to snoopy NC State fans and their laptops) that indicated that the guy's GPA was lower than permissible for eligibility. Then, after two independent sources forced their hands, came the first "internal investigation." Not because they were genuinely concerned with academic integrity at UNC, but because of one snoopy journalist, some nerd from NC State, and BAD PR. That investigation yielded the first findings about the AFAM major and the amount of athletes enrolled in that program that make up the meat of the current scandal. What it didn't yield is the scale and depth of the problem, names and specifics, classes that never met, tutors writing papers for players, or information that would otherwise result in sanctions. That we learned about later. Information that was UNDOUBTEDLY uncovered when they dug into their own steaming pile of crap, was covered up. They published what they needed to to appear to "come clean" but kept secret the truly damning.

Next was the rogue tutor who went to the media about UNC players sharing a massive database of old papers and assignment to be plagiarized, that most athletes were essentially forced into the hoax majors to maintain eligibility, and (oh yeah) an alarming number of them were basically illiterate....

Two years ago the Wainstein Report (an independent report) came out and this thread got started on the MMB. It's an 80-something page document with more damning information that I care to summarize (page on and my second post in the thread). Since then, just hours prior to NCAA sanctions being considered for this current basketball season, UNC "self-reported" more NCAA violations. Magically, the investigation was extended to account for the new information and, you guessed it, sanctions were postponed until AFTER the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Here we are and the Tar Heels are in the Final Four. Funny how that worked out.

Point being: Syracuse was investigated, and Boeheim was suspended. I'd argue that the punishment was a joke, but nevertheless, they "did their time" as of were.

Louisville self-imposed a post-season ban after we found out about the hookers.

Look at every other example in modern memory. They've cooperated, for the most part, and their sanctions (whether too harsh or too soft, another matter), have come relatively swift.

UNC has obstructed, postponed, and misrepresented from the moment this scandal saw the light of day, culminating this summer with a deliberate and strategic "self-reporting" of information for the specific purpose of allowing their men's basketball team to compete for another national championship. It came to light in 2011. TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN! They've dodged what will inevitably be a mild sanction for five ****ing years.

Not to mention the swift punishment imposed on Larry Brown and SMU this year, after infractions there came to light. I think it only took less than a year to investigate/try/convict/punish them.

[Longrifle28]

Only major research university to be put on academic probation by the accrediting agency.....The only one.....

Roy says he didn't know, but he receives salary bonuses based upon his teams APR results with the NCAA. If your players keep your APR up by taking sham classes or receiving bogus grades, should he have to give back his bonuses???

61% of athletes enrolled diagnosed as learning disabled-able to receive learning/testing accommodations, plus approved to take banned substance by the NCAA. Most other schools athletes total between 5 and 15%....

There have been NO independent investigations, all have been initiated and paid for by UNC and the scope of the investigations have been limited by UNC. Hell, for the longest time they wouldn't even call them investigations (they called them reviews). Wainstein just didn't want to sully his good name by whitewashing what he found. UNC has spent millions of dollars on attorneys to work with the NCAA regarding the impacts of the NCAA violations and millions on PR firms for damage control.

The head of the ACC (UNC Grad and past UNC AD when this started) and the Board of Governors (vast majority affiliated with UNC) should be all over this, but we know how that works. Florida State and Clemson will be punished by the ACC, and App or ECU will be punished by the BOG (joke).

At this point, I really don't think the NCAA wants to truly investigate UNC or wade through all of the incriminating evidence and I expect very light punishment. I actually think they will take UNC's word for it. In light of that, I think UNC's "The Carolina Way" will be forever tarnished by people that know. Other schools, if they want to compete with UNC, apparently cheating pays (on this, I guess we will have to see what the NCAA actually does).

[AppinVA]

They're going to get away with everything. The school shouldn't be accredited, much less playing sports right now.

[WVAPPeer]

The difference as Gonzo pointed out, is that UNC has stalled the committee at every turn whereas, the other schools want to know as soon as possible what the "sanctions"/"punishment" will be so they can begin to get things back on track and begin to deal with the penalties. An example - UNC had 90 days to comply with (answer to) a NCAA ruling - UNC waited 89 days and filed additional information which automatically triggered another NCAA "investigation" which then triggered another 90 days for UNC to "answer" once the NCAA went back thru all the "new" info - As stated - THE ONLY REASON FOR DOING THIS WAS TO GET THIS BASKETBALL SEASON IN --- I believe I might puke if they win it all !!!

[TheMoody1]

Good read. Not sure if it has been posted.

In an Unfortunate Final Four Matchup, No Lessons Learned

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/sport ... arned.html

[WVAPPeer]

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/ ... 62627.html

Throughout the scandal, UNC has maintained to the public, the NCAA and SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) that a 12-hour limit was placed on independent study classes in 2006. Prior to that, the university has maintained, there was no limit in place.

However, Kane has established that is not the case: " [A] new document released by the university in March shows that the limit on independent studies started before 2003. Other evidence suggests that the limit was in place since the early 1990s."

This is significant for at least three reasons:



1.The university has misled the NCAA and SACS, and not for the first time.
2.With this information, the number of ineligible players the NCAA is looking at goes from 10 to nearly 150.
3.If the scandal is pushed back into the early 1990s, Dean Smith's legacy is at risk.

Let's be clear: whatever happens with NCAA is child's play. SACS wrote a letter to UNC previously which expressed serious irritation at being misled. They won't appreciate a repeat occurrence. SACS has the ability to put UNC on probation, which it currently is. It can also strip UNC of accreditation. You do not play with this organization.

That said, if the NCAA is dealing with 100+ players instead of 10, things change dramatically. UNC is already facing very serious allegations. No one has any idea what the NCAA is going to do, but options range from the usual scholarship and post-season restrictions to vacating the 2005 and 2009 titles to stripping the university of any number of wins during the years of the scandal. Heavy financial penalties are also possible.

Then there's the question of just when it started. We've told you before that we first heard about UNC using the African and Afro-American Studies program to get players through in 2002.

Specifically, we heard it while standing outside Cameron on March 3rd, close enough to the UNC team bus to see the players, who had just taken an epic beating, losing 93-68.

Obviously you can't prove anything based on what we heard in 2002, but we never forgot it, and it was fairly specific: UNC was using a specific department to grease the skids for basketball players.

So it's reasonable to assume this: if we heard about it in Durham in 2002, it had to be going on for a while prior to that point.

And if it dates back to the early 1990s, as Kane says, it dates back to the Smith era.

Obviously no one can ask Smith about it, since he's no longer with us. But that could potentially involve the 1993 championship team and the Final Four teams of 1994-95 and 1996-97.

The other striking thing about this latest revelation is how it fits into UNC's pattern of delay and obfuscation.

The N&O asked for documentation about changes to the 12-hour limit for independent studies prior to 2006. The university denied that it had any.

Repeatedly.

And the university said this to SACS: "Until Fall 2006 there was no defined limit on the number of independent study courses that could be applied toward an undergraduate degree."

And when asked about all of this, Chancellor Carol Folt and Provost James W. Dean Jr. simply forwarded interview requests to a spokesman, who offered no further information.

When she came to UNC, Dr. Folt promised to deal with the scandal openly and honestly. She's done everything but that.

She's become part of the problem. It's time for her to step down, and time for UNC to hire a leader who will actually deal with this comprehensively, once and for all.

[AppinVA]

[WVAPPeer]

But you neglected to add that he can also speak fluent Swahili

[MtnDevil95]

A poster under the screen name "Manalishi" at PackPride has been a large contributor to much of the evidence leading up to the NOA and getting N&O writer Dan Kane what he's needed to leverage the public records and freedom on information act that has forced the CHeater's hands on releasing evidence. Subsequent to the Kane's article yesterday, Manalishi unleashed this morning on PP:

Alright, here is the situation:

As you know, Dan Kane's article from yesterday strongly suggests that there were certain (UNC) university policies in place -- prior to 2006 -- that said that no more than 12 hours worth of Independent Studies courses could count towards graduation.
Those athletes that DID take more than 12 hours of I.S., and it counted towards their cumulative degrees/hours/GPA's, received impermissible benefits in the eyes of the NCAA -- this was all outlined in the NOA.

UNC has said that such a policy was only implemented beginning in 2006 --- and they made sure to tell the NCAA and SACS the same thing.

One might surmise that UNC was trying to prevent the years of 2005 (and earlier) from being affected.
And of course, we all know what happened in 2005 --- they won an NCAA title.

So just for the moment let's all assume that the NCAA chooses to ignore Kane's article, and the strong evidence that he supplies (via UNC's own documentation) that the 12-hour Independent Studies limit extended further back than 2006.
Let's assume that.

And that would be okay...

Because there is another academic policy from within UNC's own documentation that points to another impermissible benefit that at least one of its pre-2006 athletics was given.

UNC releases an Undergraduate Bulletin for each specific "College" every year.
One such release is for the College of Arts and Sciences, and it states the "Regulations and Requirements", as well as the "Policy on Awarding of Undergraduate Degrees and Transcript Notations". Essentially, the "academic rules" of being a student in said college.

There is a section that specifically pertains to Independent Studies, and this section has been consistent and unchanged since the early 2000's. (the bulletins are out there and online, and have been hard-copied saved as well)

That section on Independent Studies states, in part:


A. Students may enroll and begin work at any time during the year. They may be enrolled in a maximum of two courses at any one time. An Independent Studies course enrollment expires nine months from the date of enrollment.

////

As you might recall, Rashad McCants revealed on "Outside the Lines" that he rarely went to class. In fact, he stated that he NEVER went to class during the Spring semester of 2005 -- when UNC won the National Title -- but managed to make the Dean's List.

To bolster his claim of taking easy/no classes that semester, his transcript was shown during that "Outside the Lines" episode. Part of the image shown displayed his Spring 2005 classes:


As you can see, McCants took three no-doubt Independent Studies courses that semester (and likely a fourth course that would also be considered I.S. -- but definitely at least three).

This breaks the university's own policy that states a student "may be enrolled in a maximum of two (Independent Studies) courses at one time".
By being allowed to enroll in more than two I.S. courses, McCants was given an impermissible benefit.
Once he began that semester (in January of 2005) he became (retroactively) ineligible.
That means he was ineligible to participate in the 2005 National Title game -- thus invalidating that game's final result.

Conclusion:
Even if the NCAA does not accept the information provided in Dan Kane's article from yesterday regarding the 12-hour graduation limit on Independent Studies courses (pre-2006), there is another UNC policy that at least one former athlete was allowed to break -- and it was from 2005.

How many other athletes were allowed to take more than two Independent Studies courses at one time, and during which years?

Even still, I expect the MBB program will get little to nothing from the NCAA. Perhaps football will get a mild punishment, and WBB or some other non-revenue generating sport will be offer up as a sacrificial lamb.

[JTApps1]

Im starting to think it would be best for them to win the NC this year then have the hammer drop and lose every title all the way back 1994. Talk about rubbing their sumg noses in it. It would be beautiful AND wel deserved as everything points to this being the most corrupt athletic department in the country for decades.

[WVAPPeer]

Im starting to think it would be best for them to win the NC this year then have the hammer drop and lose every title all the way back 1994. Talk about rubbing their sumg noses in it. It would be beautiful AND wel deserved as everything points to this being the most corrupt athletic department in the country for decades.

I do agree with your premise but personally, I want them to have NO JOY in this Final 4

[HeffnerIV]

Let's all just chill and enjoy tonight's Inaugural Anti-Academic Bowl


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bcoach]

These things will never be solved. Way too much money involved.

[TheMoody1]

These things will never be solved. Way too much money involved.

I think it is solved, but nothing will be done.

[JTApps1]

Im starting to think it would be best for them to win the NC this year then have the hammer drop and lose every title all the way back 1994. Talk about rubbing their sumg noses in it. It would be beautiful AND wel deserved as everything points to this being the most corrupt athletic department in the country for decades.

I do agree with your premise but personally, I want them to have NO JOY in this Final 4

You're right. Watching them walk off after losing when everyone has basically put their name on the trophy would be fun to watch. Sanctions be handed out after would be icing on the cake.

[WVAPPeer]

I've got the feeling something has leaked on this NCAA stuff - Read an article today where Roy says he expects no rulings whatsoever against men's bb - of course, he would say that, however I heard 2 in-state reporters say exactly the same thing today on radio - yeah, they are probably unc alumni, but I am now feeling they are going to skate by...I didn't feel this way until recently ... Geez

[AppDawg]

unc-chEATS!

[AppDawg]

how sweet it is... Cry baby blue! The first of hopefully many tears shed by those on the hill.