From the Greensboro News & Record, a shocking announcement:
Evans Declared Academically Ineligible For UNC Game
By Steve Norton, N&R Staff Writer
GREENSBORO, NC (AP) NC State Wolfpack starting quarterback Daniel Evans, the former benchwarmer who led the Wolfpack to two come-from-behind victories over ranked conference opponents, is “academically ineligible” for NC State’s upcoming game against the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced today.
“We, as a conference, want to make sure this young man is on pace toward his degree.” – ACC Commissioner John Swofford
The announcement surprised many conference observers, who noted that Evans is generally an outstanding academic performer with at least a “B” average – “an exemplary scholar-athlete and well-grounded young man,” according to several sources.
Swofford, however, described the suspension as a “academic precautionary” move. “We have to be concerned, first and foremost, with this young man’s progress toward his degree,” Swofford said. “As a conference, we are most concerned when a young man comes from nowhere, as it were, and leads a team to two big wins. Obviously, if he can do that, he’s not spending the amount of time he needs hitting the books.” Sitting out one game should give the redshirt sophomore time to get back on an academic even keel, Swofford said: “Maybe he’ll make straight A’s instead of almost-straight-A’s!”
Swofford dismissed as “coincidence” the fact that the ACC declared Evans ineligible for the Pack’s game with North Carolina. “I can’t see why people would see bias here,” Swofford said. “Just because I am a UNC alumnus, a former UNC quarterback, bleed Carolina blue, and served as Athletic Director at UNC doesn’t mean that I don’t exercise my ACC duties with complete impartiality.” In fact, Swofford said, “I am offended by the suggestion [of bias]. This is all about the ‘student’ part of ‘student-athlete,’ and I am sure NC State won’t miss him that much. Go Heels!”
Go Heels! – John Swofford, circa 1971
In a related story (as first reported on the “Section Six” website), Swofford announced that “each and every touchdown” scored by the Pack in its Thursday night 24-20 upset win over Florida State is being subjected to “intensive official review” by the ACC Coordinator of Officials and fellow UNC alumnus Tommy Hunt. Hunt, when asked about the review process, said it was “double secret,” but would probably lead to one or more touchdowns being taken away on the grounds that the points were awarded on the basis of still photo evidence rather than “runnin’ pictures.”
Jim Knight – “One Shining Moment”
Veteran ACC official Rick Page and “highly respected” Chief Official Emeritus Jim Knight will participate in the review, Swofford said, so that there can be “total confidence” in the accuracy of the review process’s findings.
See “IT’S ALL IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS,” Page C-6
