Withers will not attend UNC hearing in Indy

CHAPEL HILL – Interim football coach Everett Withers will not accompany University of North Carolina officials Friday in Indianapolis at the school’s hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.

Withers originally had been scheduled to go to Indianapolis because NCAA rules state that the head coach of a team must appear in front of the committee. But Withers was merely the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator during the time that the nine major violations the NCAA alleges occurred.

Butch Davis, who was the head coach, was fired in July. Team spokesman Kevin Best said that after conversations between the NCAA and UNC, it was determined that Withers did not need to appear.

That will allow Withers to focus all his energy on preparing for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. home game against Wake Forest.

“It’s going to be a normal game week for me, because I’m not involved,” Withers said of the NCAA hearing.

Ken Tysiac