Friday, September 17, 2010

UNC's Austin meets with state investigators

University of North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin met with investigators from the North Carolina Secretary of State's office for several hours today as part of the probe into possible violations of the state's Uniform Athlete Agent Act, Austin's lawyer confirmed.

"He's cooperating in their investigation and will continue to do so," said Christopher G. Lyons, Austin's Miami-based lawyer.

Lyons declined to comment further.

Austin is one of 13 North Carolina players who did not play in the Sept. 4 season opener at LSU as UNC and the NCAA investigate possible impermissible benefits received from sports agents and possible academic misconduct involving a former undergraduate tutor.

One of the 13 players, running back Shaun Draughn, has been cleared to return for Saturday's Tar Heels home opener against Georgia Tech, which kicks off at noon.

George Jeter, the spokesman for Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, said he can't comment on an active, ongoing investigation that isn't public.

Austin has been a focal point of the investigation since it first became public in mid-July and he and wide receiver Greg Little were confirmed to be among a number of players who talked to NCAA investigators in an initial round of interviews.

Ken Tysiac

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Marvin were 5 feet 5, 125 lbs and white, no one would care, but he is over 6 feet, 300 lbs and black, so the man wants to bring him down. Racism at it's worst targeting a future NFL income earner and a beloved Tarheel. Shame on you white folks at NC state!

Anonymous said...

Miami based lawyer? What a shocker.

Anonymous said...

Anon - 4:55pm

YOU SIR, are an idiot and part of the faction that keeps racism alive.

Reminds me of watching an episode of Cops - ie...they have a guy selling drugs on video tape, cops go to arrest him and the whole time the guy yells RACISM.

Break the rules...suffer the consequence. It's that easy. This Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton excuse strategy is getting old. Get off your arse and do it the right way the first time. Don't expect it given to you.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if Wichard is paying for that too?

Anonymous said...

4:55 PM has to be a facetious statement...no one can be that stupid.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Tysiac,

Your story implies that Marvin Austin is being investigated by the state. That is not true and you know it. The relevant law applies to AGENTS and NOT to PLAYERS.

Have you been spending all your time with "Sam - I - Am" Giglio?

Anonymous said...

5:53

You can argue semantics all day. The fact is, Marvin Austin is a pivotal figure in this entire agent/tutor/NCAA investigation. Get over it. Ken Tysiac isn't out to get you. He's reporting the news.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 5:53:

Here's the part you didn't comprehend correctly:

"probe into possible violations of the state's Uniform Athlete Agent Act"

Not the "probe into UNC violations" or "probe into Marvin Austin violations".

Stop reading what you want to read. At no point did Tysic insinuate Austin was the focus of the SoS investigation. In fact, the SoS has gone out of here way to explicitly state she was investigating agents, and not UNC/players.

Anonymous said...

It ia amazing how the Observer has become the media wing of UNC. The Hawkins story barely gets a blurb, and then now we are told that the UNC players are just victims of agents. Let's face it, Butch is gone after this season...either he is dirty or has no control over his program. Either way....

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:11 "YOU SIR, are an idiot and part of the faction that keeps racism alive."

Actually, I think IT'S YOU who keeps racism alive with your smart arse mouth while probably sitting on your clueless arse.

Anonymous said...

The entire institution that is UNC is out of control. SHUT IT DOWN!!! This is NOT the Carolina way!

Anonymous said...

Did Big Marv wear his trademark orange pinstripe jumpsuit?