UNC receives formal notice of NCAA inquiry

North Carolina has received a formal notice of inquiry from the NCAA regarding the ongoing investigation of the school’s athletics program.


The letter states that the NCAA enforcement staff intends to complete the investigation this month.

Signed by vice president of enforcement Julie Roe Lach, the letter says the possible violations primarily involve the football program, but says new information often is developed during an investigation that leads to expanded inquiries.

Dated June 7, the letter was delivered overnight to UNC chancellor Holden Thorp. The university released the letter to the media.

Since last June, the NCAA has been investigating impermissible benefits and academic misconduct in the UNC athletics program. Fourteen players missed at least one game and seven missed the entire season in 2010 as a result of the investigation.

“The notice of inquiry is a formal notification from the NCAA that they have been reviewing our football program,” North Carolina athletics director Dick Baddour said in a statement released by the school. “We have been working with the NCAA and cooperating with them on this investigation. We are committed to the process and will continue to cooperate.”

A letter of inquiry is largely a procedural step for the NCAA that now often is sent to schools near the end of an investigation rather than at the beginning. In UNC’s case, NCAA officials contacted the school by telephone on June 21, 2010 and first conducted on-campus interviews of football players on July 12.

The NCAA’s process for informing schools of actual infractions involves a notice of allegation that describes what the enforcement staff is alleging. The school has 90 days to respond to a letter of allegation, and the Committee on Infractions rules on whether violations occurred and hands out penalties.

A year ago, the NCAA’s investigation of North Carolina began with word that players had received impermissible benefits on trips to Miami, Washington, D.C., and California. Associate head coach John Blake resigned Sept. 5 as reports of his relationship with the late sports agent Gary Wichard emerged.

On Aug.26, UNC announced that the investigation had expanded to include suspicions of academic misconduct related to the work of a former university tutor. The tutor, later identified as Jennifer Wiley, also had worked for Tar Heel head coach Butch Davis.

In the fall, UNC officials sent letters to Wiley and a former player, Chris Hawkins, disassociating them from the program for their participation in alleged violations of NCAA rules.

Davis has said he was unaware of the violations when they were occurring, and UNC administrators have supported him. Baddour has said repeatedly that UNC officials have done their best to cooperate with NCAA investigators, who have made multiple trips to campus.


Ken Tysiac

Baddour 'won't speculate' on NCAA's plans

University of North Carolina athletics director Dick Baddour said Saturday that he would not respond to an Internet report citing unnamed sources that said the NCAA has informed school officials that a notice of allegation regarding the school’s football program will arrive on or around June 10.
Since last June, the NCAA has been investigating improper benefits and academic misconduct on the part of UNC football players.

“I’m committed to this process,” Baddour said Saturday. “To me, this process means that we, I, won’t speculate and I won’t respond to leaks. And when we have facts I’ll release that to the public and to all the media at the same time.”

Citing multiple unnamed sources, Inside Carolina reported that UNC expects the notice of allegations to highlight nine infractions, including failure to monitor violations regarding former associate head coach John Blake, former tutor Jennifer Wiley, and former player Chris Hawkins.

Inside Carolina wrote that North Carolina is expected to avoid a lack of institutional control charge. Baddour wouldn’t comment on any details.

“When we have facts, when we have something to report on anything dealing with the investigation, we’ll let the public know,” he said.

A school has 90 days to respond to an NCAA notice of allegation. Football team spokesman Kevin Best also declined to comment on the report.

“We don’t know when we’re going to receive any documentation from the NCAA,” Best said.

Fourteen players missed at least one game and seven missed the entire season in 2010 in relation to the NCAA’s investigation. Blake resigned after his ties to the late sports agent Gary Wichard were disclosed in media reports, and the school sent disassociation letters to Wiley and Hawkins for providing impermissible benefits.

But the NCAA has yet to provide notice on what sanctions, if any, the UNC football program might face.

Ken Tysiac

Former Tar Heels coach Torbush retiring

Former North Carolina football coach Carl Torbush, now the defensive coordinator at Kansas, is retiring to deal with prostate cancer, the school announced.

Ex-Colorado DE transfers to N.C. State

Defensive end Forrest West, who ranked second on Colorado's team with with 5 1/2 sacks as a sophomore last season, is transferring to N.C. State, Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien announced today.

West will sit out the 2011 season and has two years of eligibility remaining. O'Brien also announced that linebacker E.J. Carter - a Syracuse transfer who has never played a down for N.C. State - has left the school.

In addition, running back Curtis Underwood has decided to return for his final year of eligibility.

West, who's 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, played in all 12 games for Colorado in 2009 and made 10 tackles, broke up two passes and forced a fumble. He was honored as the team's most outstanding freshman after that season.

Last season, West made 19 tackles, including 8 1/2 behind the line of scrimmage.

West apparently left Colorado on good terms. In a statement meant to defuse "speculation and inaccurate rumors" earlier this month, Buffaloes coach Jon Embree said that West's departure had nothing to do with academic or disciplinary issues, a lack of commitment to the team, or questions about his ability to make substantial contributions to the team.

West is a native of Canton, Conn.

Underwood appeared in 10 games last season, carrying 15 times for 62 yards and catching a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Ken Tysiac

Our top 25 ACC quarterbacks of all time

Raleigh News & Observer columnist Caulton Tudor picks his Top 25 all-time ACC quarterbacks.

Player (last season)     NFL impact     ht.       
1. Philip Rivers (NCSU ’03)     Major     6-5       
2. Charlie Ward (FSU ’93)     None     6-2       
3. Chris Weinke (FSU ’00)     Minor     6-4       
4. Boomer Esiason (Md ’83)     Major     6-5       
5. Homer Jordan (CU ’82)     None     6-0       
6. Shawn Jones (GT ’92)     None     6-1       
7. Matt Ryan (BC ’07)     Major     6-4       
8. Russell Wilson (NCSU ’10)     TBD     5-11       
9. Joe Hamilton (GT ’99)     None     5-10       
10. Shawn Moore (Va ’90)     Minor     6-2       
11. Norm Snead (WF ’60)     Major     6-3       
12. Ben Bennett (DU ’83)     None     6-1       
13. Danny Kanell (FSU ’95)     Minor     6-3       
14. Roman Gabriel (NCSU ’61)     Major     6-4       
15. Steve Fuller (CU ’78)     Minor     6-4       
16. Matt Schaub (Va ’03)     Major     6-5       
17. Tyrod Taylor (VT ’10)     TBD     6-1       
18. Aaron Brooks (Va ’98)     Major     6-4       
19. Darian Durant (UNC ’04)     None     5-11       
20. Jamie Barnette (NCSU ’99)     None     5-11       
21. Thad Busby (FS ’97)     None     6-3       
22. Woody Danzler (CU ’01)     None     6-0       
23. Chris Rix (FS ’04)     None     6-4       
24. Leo Hart (DU ’70)     Minor     6-3       
25. Rod Elkins (UNC ’82)     None     6-1   

ACC title game gets prime time kickoff

The ACC championship game will have a prime time kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, the conference announced today.

In its second year in Charlotte, the game will kick off at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3. An announced crowd of 72,739 watched at Bank of America Stadium last year as Virginia Tech defeated Florida State to win the ACC title.

The ACC also announced kickoffs and television assignments for the first three weeks of conference play. On Sept. 3, North Carolina plays host to James Madison at 3:30 p.m. in a Raycom broadcast; N.C. State opens at home against Liberty at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.com; Duke has a 7 p.m. home game against Richmond on ESPN3.com; and Appalachian State at Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m. will be the ACC Network broadcast.

On Sept. 10, North Carolina's home game against Rutgers will be on the ACC Network at 12:30 p.m.; N.C. State plays at Wake Forest at 3:30 p.m. on Raycom; and Duke plays host to Stanford at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

On Sept. 17, Duke visits Boston College at 12:30 p.m. on the ACC Network; North Carolina's home game against Virginia starts at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU; and N.C. State plays host to South Alabama at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.com.

Ken Tysiac

ACC: At least 18 football games on national TV

 The ACC championship football game will be played Dec. 3, with kickoff at 8 p.m. at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium, the ACC announced Wednesday.

The game will be televised live by ESPN.

It's one of at least 18 nationally televised games for the conference in 2011.

  In addition, the conference announced that ACC network games will kick off later this season, at 12:30 p.m., and regional sports network package games will kick off no earlier than 12:30, with several starting at 3:30 p.m. or later.

 ABC has committed to televising three games nationally: Two are on Sept. 17 with defending national champion Auburn visiting Clemson (Noon), plus either Oklahoma visiting Florida State or Ohio State at Miami (either ABC or ESPN, to be determined on Sept. 6). The third was previously announced, Boston College at Miami 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 25.

All the TV games announced by the league Wednesday:

(All times Eastern)
Date        Game                                                   Network         Gametime
Sept. 1    W. Carolina at Georgia Tech         ESPN3.com    7:30 pm
Sept. 3    Northwestern at Boston Coll.           ESPNU            Noon
Sept. 3    Appalachian St. at Virginia Tech        ACC Network 12:30 pm
Sept. 3    Troy at Clemson                                  ESPN3.com      3:30 pm
Sept. 3    La. Monroe at Florida St.               ESPNU            3:30 pm
Sept. 3    James Madison at N. Carolina        RSN                 3:30 pm
Sept. 3    Liberty at N.C. State                             ESPN3.com     6 pm
Sept. 3    William & Mary at Virginia                  ESPN3.com      6 pm
Sept. 3    Richmond at Duke                              ESPN3.com      7 pm
Sept. 3    Wake Forest at Syracuse                   TBA                  TBA
Sept. 5    Miami at Maryland                             ESPN               8 pm
Sept. 10    Rutgers at North Carolina               ACC Network    12:30 pm
Sept. 10    NC State at Wake Forest               RSN                   3:30 pm
Sept. 10    Stanford at Duke                            ESPNU             3:30 pm
Sept. 10    Wofford at Clemson                       ESPN3.com       3:30 pm
Sept. 10    Charleston Southern at Florida State    ESPN3.com    6 pm
Sept. 10    Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee    TBA        TBA
Sept. 10    Boston College at UCF                    TBA        TBA
Sept. 10    Virginia at Indiana                             TBA         TBA
Sept. 10    Virginia Tech at East Carolina           TBA          TBA
Sept. 17    Auburn at Clemson              ABC (National)                    Noon
Sept. 17    W. Virginia at Maryland      ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU    Noon
Sept. 17    Duke at Boston College                   ACC Network      12:30 pm
Sept. 17    Kansas at Georgia Tech                   RSN        12:30  pm
Sept. 17    Arkansas St. at Virginia Tech        RSN        4 pm
Sept. 17    Virginia at N. Carolina        ESPNU    3:30 pm
Sept. 17    S. Alabama at N.C. State        ESPN3.com    6 pm
Sept. 17    Gardner-Webb at Wake Forest        ESPN3.com    6:30 pm
Sept. 17    Ohio State at Miami        ESPN or ABC (National)    7:30/8 pm
Sept. 17    Oklahoma at Florida St.        ESPN or ABC (National)    7:30/8 pm
Sept. 22    N.C. State at Cincinnati        ESPN        8 pm
Oct. 27    Virginia at Miami        ESPN        8 pm
Nov.   3    Florida St. at Boston Coll.        ESPN        8 pm
Nov. 10    Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech        ESPN        8 pm
Nov. 12    Maryland vs. Notre Dame (Landover, Md.)    NBC        7:30 pm
Nov. 17    N. Carolina at Virginia Tech        ESPN        8 pm
Nov. 19    Boston Coll. at Notre Dame        NBC        4 pm
Nov. 25.    Boston Coll. at Miami        ABC (National)    3:30 pm
Dec. 3    .ACC .Championship Game    ESPN        8 pm

BC, Miami to meet on Thanksgiving Friday

Boston College and Miami have agreed to play their football game this season on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the ACC announced today.

Kickoff will be at 3:30 p.m. at Miami Gardens, Fla. ABC will televise the game nationally.

This will be the first time Boston College and Miami have met on a Friday since the famous game in 1984 that Eagles Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie won with a desperation, last play pass to Gerard Phelan for a touchdown and a 47-45 decision.

Ken Tysiac

Wilson 'torn up' about leaving N.C. State

A day after N.C. State announced it has released him from his scholarship, former Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson said he didn’t want to leave the school.

“I really want the fans, N.C. State alumni and most of all my teammates to know if I had been given an equal opportunity to compete for the starting job, I would not have asked for my release,” Wilson said Saturday in a telephone interview. “I am a competitor.”

Wilson, a three-year starter, is playing minor league baseball for the Asheville Tourists in the Colorado Rockies organization this summer. He said he wanted to come back to N.C. State this fall and attempt to lead the Wolfpack to an ACC championship.

He said he didn’t want to have the starting job handed to him on a silver platter, but wanted an equal chance to compete for it. Wilson said it didn’t appear that he would be given that chance.

Coach Tom O’Brien responded Saturday with a statement read over the phone to a reporter.

“As I conveyed yesterday, I have had several conversations with Russell,” O’Brien said. “He knew the importance of his time commitment to our football team heading into this offseason, and how things might change if he was not able to make that commitment.

“As I also communicated, I respect his competitiveness and his contributions to our program and only wish him the best.”

Wilson said he respects what O’Brien wanted to do with the football team in terms of going forward, but just wanted a chance to compete for the job.

Mike Glennon, a talented but untested junior who led the team through spring practice, will be the starter. Wilson’s goal is to play major league baseball and NFL football, and he said he needs an opportunity to play in 2011 to impress NFL scouts.

“I respect Coach O’Brien and I’ve learned a lot from him and his staff,” Wilson said, “and I’m a better football player for that. I just wanted to have an opportunity to fully compete for the job.”

He said he is concentrating now on baseball, but imagines he will be getting lots of calls from college teams interested in his services this fall for his final year of eligibility.

Wilson is a graduate student who obtained his bachelor’s degree in communications in three years and therefore can transfer to a Football Bowl Subdivision school and play immediately. The terms of his release prevent him from transferring to a school that’s in the ACC or is on N.C. State’s schedule.

After leading the Wolfpack to a 9-4 record and a win over West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl last season, Wilson ranks second in ACC history in touchdown responsibility with 93 scores. He is No. 8 in ACC history in total offense with 9,628 yards.

In the ten-minute phone call Saturday, he was candid about his emotions after the announcement. He said he is proud to be an N.C. State graduate and enjoyed going to graduate school there.

He said he is “really torn up” about leaving, and is grateful to the N.C. State fans and his teammates.

“N.C. State means the world to me,” Wilson said. “It’s heartbreaking to me that I had to go.”

Ken Tysiac

Pack stunner: Wilson released by N.C. State

RALEIGH – There will be no quarterback controversy at N.C. State in the fall.

Junior Mike Glennon’s status as the Wolfpack’s starter was cemented at 5 p.m. Friday when coach Tom O’Brien issued a stunning announcement that Russell Wilson has been granted his release to play football for another school in 2011 if he so chooses.

According to the terms of the release, Wilson cannot transfer to another ACC school or a school on N.C. State’s schedule.

Wilson, a three-year starter who ranks second in ACC history in touchdown responsibility with 93 scores, is playing professional baseball for the Asheville Tourists and did not participate in spring practice.

"Russell and I have had very open conversations about his responsibilities respective to baseball and football,” coach Tom O’Brien said in a statement released by the school. “While I am certainly respectful of Russell's dedication to baseball these last several years, within those discussions I also communicated to him the importance of his time commitment to N.C. State football.

“My staff and I thank him for his contributions as a member of Wolfpack football and to this university and wish him only the best in the future."

Last season, Wilson played pro baseball and came back to N.C. State at the beginning of fall camp. He went on to earn second-team All-ACC honors and help the Wolfpack earn a 9-4 record and a Champs Sports Bowl win over West Virginia.

Wilson was playing baseball for the Tourists in Rome, Ga., on Friday evening. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

N.C. State released a statement attributed to Wilson.

“Although I remain undecided on the option of playing college football this coming season, I believe it is in the best interest of the players and coaches involved to end any speculation of my return to the Wolfpack,” the statement read. “It has become apparent that the time has come for the program to move on without me.”

The statement expressed gratitude to N.C. State and its fans. It said Wilson has not closed the door on pro football and plans to explore and consider all his options.

Wilson has often said it is his dream to play major league baseball and NFL football. Last season, he posted 3,998 yards of total offense, the fourth-highest single-season total in ACC history.

Friday’s announcement was the culmination of a slow widening of a gap between O’Brien and Wilson. In February, O’Brien said N.C. State was moving on without Wilson, but said the door was open to his return.

During spring practice, O’Brien said that if Wilson returned, it would be in a backup position. At the Wolfpack Club booster caravan stop Thursday night in Raleigh, O’Brien compared Glennon to Matt Ryan, Tim Hasselbeck and Matt Hasselbeck, who played for O’Brien at Boston College and went on to become NFL starters.

Where Wilson at 5-foot-11 was known for his ability to scramble as well as throw, Glennon is 6-foot-6 and a classic dropback passer similar to those NFL quarterbacks.

“I think he looked at this spring as an opportunity to take hold of the position and take the job,” O’Brien said. “And that’s what he did.”
O’Brien praised Wilson for his contributions to N.C. State, but also seemed to be shutting the door on him.

“He [Wilson] had a choice to make, and we had a choice to make,” O’Brien said. “Mike Glennon made my choice a heck of a lot easier.”

Ken Tysiac