NCAA Investigation: UNC Punishes Itself, Leaving No Negotiation Room

As NCAA investigations go, the University of North Carolina did its part in proclaiming its guilt. In a 111-page response to NCAA allegations, UNC left no doubt but that violations of NCAA rules had occurred. In addition, UNC agreed to the following self-imposed punishment:

"The University is embarrassed and disappointed by these violations. It has attempted to respond in an appropriate and timely manner to the issues it confronted, student-athlete eligibility and employment decisions among them. The University has taken the same approach with regard to self-imposed penalties. It understands and acknowledges it is responsible for Blake’s conduct that violated bylaws with institutional implications. As a result, the University will vacate wins for the 2008 and 2009 seasons in their entirety. The University also will reduce the number of initial and total grants-in-aid as follows: (a) a reduction of three initial and total grants in aid for the 2012-2013 academic year; (b) a reduction of three initial and total grants in aid for the 2013-2014 academic year; and (c) a reduction of three initial and total grants in aid for the 2014-2015 academic year. The University also will self-impose two years of probation. Finally, the University will pay a monetary fine of $50,000."

Ohio State similarly vacated its 2010 wins. Yet, the violations were known by the head coach in the Ohio State situation and allowed to continue and were actively hidden. No such situation exists in the UNC situation.

At the same time, Ohio State did not offer to reduce any scholarships. UNC has already done so.

Although the self-punishment was laudable, it is also very dangerous. In this time of uncertainty, with the NCAA making moves seemingly intended to make institutions pay more dearly for rules violations, the most important aspect of the case is barely noted.

The fact that both Ohio State and UNC are on similar tracks is not encouraging.

The fact that the situations involved at Ohio State was not compared and that existing sanctions for institutions was not reviewed does not bode well for UNC. Were the others treated more severely so the comparison could not be made?

Perhaps the best that can be said is that UNC has been punished only once under NCAA rules. In 1961, UNC reported that its basketball coach Frank McGuire had entertainment expenses for prospective athletes that were deemed excessive. There is no history of any major violations in the football program or elsewhere.

Only time will tell in this investigation prolonged by new discoveries over the past year. Is this the end of the sanctions? Did UNC offer too many at this time?

Probably not. Only time will tell.