The Real Truth: NCAA Investigation Broadens - National in Scope?

Although the rumors continue, the facts are becoming more clear.

Days ago, North Carolina disclosed that two or more football players were being investigated for improper contact with one or more agents.  

The NCAA investigation that began with the public disclosure of two Tar Heel athletes has now expanded to include South Carolina.  And the same agent is involved at both institutions.

Recent reports suggest that UNC is not involved in constant investigation of its athletes.

Carolina, like other schools, has a small staff dedicated to keeping players and coaches working within the rules of amateur athletics and they do not police a players [sic] every move.

"It would be a full-time, secret service, under cover investigative job," Schad said.

Meanwhile, UNC has not determined what type of punishment Austin might face, because the investigation is ongoing.

These comments have not suggested that North Carolina has a hyper-secure system to monitor athletes.  Yet it does suggest that more may be required by the NCAA in this modern age.

Over the past few years, agent issues have increased enormously.  As a part of the current situation, the University of Florida Gators have found themselves involved in part of this ever-widening investigation.

According to ESPN, the University of Florida is investigating claims that Pouncey received a $100,000 payment from the representative of an agent prior to playing in the Gators' Sugar Bowl win over the University of Cincinnati in January.

The depth of this investigation is unusual.  It contains criminal issues.

In North Carolina, paying money to a university athlete is a felony.  And it is by far the widest investigation that we have seen so far in connection with an agent's actions.

If there are widespread, multi-institutional problems, the NCAA will be most likely to change the rules.

Perhaps they will preclude the type of activity prominent in recent years where agents come to campus by invitation in order to meet players and to allow the players to learn the rules.  Perhaps there will be more.

Whatever is really going on, this is far wider than it appeared at first.

The real truth is that we do not really know the full scope, and will not until the investigation is over.  

What we suspect is that far more than institutional and/or player sanctions will emerge from this investigation.  Jail time and player expulsion is clearly possible.