Baddour “researched” past cases: Butch tells recruits no scholarship reductions or bowl bans are coming, other odds and ends (Day 202)

UNC Scandal28

Hey everybody!  I have been slammed at work and therefore unable to write as much as I would like.  My apologies.  Three recent developments warrant comment — so here we go, “Bytes” style.

First, let’s go over some comments made by Sylvester Williams, a UNC-CH signee.  This Charlotte Observer article posted today explains that Coach Davis explained to Sylvester that UNC-CH would suffer no scholarship reductions or bowl bans as a result of the ongoing multi-pronged NCAA investigation:

Sylvester Williams, a junior college signee who already has enrolled at North Carolina, said he trusted Davis.

“He just told me they weren’t going to lose any bowl games or any scholarships,” Williams said. “… Because obviously that’s everybody’s main focus, is are you going to be able to play in a bowl game. And he told me that wasn’t going to be a problem.”

I think it is super that Davis knows so much and is so confident.  I wonder why he hasn’t come out and said this to the press.  Another passage in the same article seems to explan the basis for Butch’s predictions:

North Carolina officials have said they don’t know how or when the NCAA will rule on possible sanctions for the program. But Davis said athletics director Dick Baddour researched cases from the past and what the sanctions were, and shared his findings with parents of prospects who were concerned.

“We were always honest with the kids we recruited,” Davis said. “We told them exactly what transpired during August and September. We told them absolutely everything we knew that transpired. And we never tried to paint a picture of something that wasn’t realistic.”

Has Baddour come out and shared this research regarding sanctions in past cases?  If so I have missed it.  Also, did he find a past case in which an Associate Head Coach was on an agent’s payroll? One in which a tutor was let go by a University for transgressions only to be hired by the Head Coach on a private basis — and provided improper tutoring services for football players while privatly employed by the Head Coach?  Apparently yes!   Butch and/or Baddour have found examples of sanctions handed down in these types of cases and talked to recruits’ parents about the sanctions UNC-CH expects.  Why wouldn’t he similarly educate the press and public?

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Next, the DTH recently posted this article reporting that UNC-CH football player A.J. Blue was arrested early Sunday morning in Burlington.  Honestly this is not very interesting to me.  I only include this item because I find this paragraph funny:

Linebacker Quan Sturdivant was cited for marijuana possession in July. Defensive lineman Jared McAdoo picked up a misdemeanor weapons charge when he had a BB gun on campus.

A BB gun?!  How old is he, 10?  What in the world is a fully-grown college student doing even owning a BB gun?

9:40 Update.  This article has a lot more detail about the arrest if anyone is interested.  Shockingly, marajuana and other illegal substances were found in the car, along with Dwight Jones’ very uncooperative sister.

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Lastly, the National Football Post posted this article today, reporting that former USC tight end and Marvin Austin bff Weslye Saunders is ineligible for the NFL draft and upcoming NFL draft combine because he failed to file the required paperwork:

Because former University of South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders has been declared ineligible for the NFL draft due to a paperwork issue, he’s also ineligible to participate in the NFL scouting combine.

League sources with knowledge of the situation have informed National Football Post that Saunders had been invited to the combine, but now that invitation has been rescinded.

What happened?

According to sources, Saunders and his representatives didn’t petition the NFL to be included in the draft eligible list to be given special eligibility. Saunders was a senior, but didn’t play for the Gamecocks last season due to an NCAA inquiry and violations of team rules.

How funny is that!?  What else did Weslye have to do that he got so busy that he forgot to get his paperwork together?  I think I am correct in saying that the combine might be especially important for Weslye given that he missed the entire 2010 season and should have valued the combine as an opportunity to catch the attention of NFL scouts.  I am guessing that Saunders and his “representatives” were attending so many Mensa meetings that the draft slipped their  minds.

You might be asking yourself what Weslye Saunders has to do with the UNC-CH scandals — well, alert readers will remember that Weslye and Austin were apparently in a hotel room in DC together last year (even though Marvin’s family lived in DC). 

When Weslye fell asleep during this trip, Marvin snapped a picture and posted it on Twitter, along with a cool (and I think somewhat flirty) message:

Apparently Weslye was in a similar posture when the NFL draft’s filing deadline elapsed!  Great job!

UNC Scandal

28 Responses to Baddour “researched” past cases: Butch tells recruits no scholarship reductions or bowl bans are coming, other odds and ends (Day 202)

  1. packpowerfan 02/03/2011 at 7:29 PM #

    I could care less about the marijuana possession…but a BB gun…really?

  2. john of sparta 02/03/2011 at 7:41 PM #

    sure beats bloggin’ ’bout b-ball

  3. LKNpackfan 02/03/2011 at 7:56 PM #

    “I’m going to talk to Coach (Steve) Spurrier beforehand and see if he’s OK if I get a 15-yard penalty,” Saunders said. “Because I’m gonna do some sort of extra celebration if I get a touchdown on the Wolfpack.”

    Hey Wes, how’s everything working out for you?

  4. DividedWeFall 02/03/2011 at 8:30 PM #

    FOR THE RECORD… BB guns are cool, especially in college. Now, I won’t say that I would ever think of bringing mine ON-CAMPUS because, well, that’s pretty dumb

  5. wolfbuff 02/03/2011 at 8:52 PM #

    I read that quote this morning by the UNC recruit. I gotta hand it to the Chief if he’s peddling that line of crap and is getting so many buyers. It’s almost as if he believes it himself. Wonder what will happen when the axe falls and they realize they’ve been soldl a bill of goods.

  6. Wufpacker 02/03/2011 at 9:14 PM #

    Q: How do you know when UNC-CHeat athletic dept. officials are lying?
    A: Their lips are moving.

    It would be interesting to know what cases Baddour “researched”.

    Unfortunately, the more I think about it the less I believe they will receive any significant sanctions.

  7. doatesjr 02/03/2011 at 9:15 PM #

    Carrying around a BB gun sure as hell beats a felony home invasion.

  8. Sw0rdf1sh 02/03/2011 at 10:13 PM #

    Habitual DUI sucks too.

    That being said, it is unfortunate that Saunders slipped again. Really.

    no. really.

  9. Wolfy__79 02/03/2011 at 10:16 PM #

    as signing day came to a close i never heard anyone ask when the sanctions would come out and what effect it will have on these scholarship players? my feeling is growing that these cheats have already gotten away with murder! the ncaa should have delivered what punishment was due before the draft to be fair to everyone.

    if they get what they deserve, aren’t these players hung out to dry?

  10. Gowolves 02/03/2011 at 10:21 PM #

    We have a troll. Oh you are so smart. We call you the Wal-mart fan.

  11. 94MEGrad 02/03/2011 at 10:24 PM #

    It’s amazing to me that just a few months ago, when the NCAA was asking the questions, Chief and Dickie knew nothing about what happened during August and September. Now, when the recruits are asking questions, they are able to tell them “exactly what transpired during August and September. We told them absolutely everything we knew that transpired.” Different audience……different story.

  12. packfan03 02/03/2011 at 10:55 PM #

    I understand why Local Media doesn’t objectively “go after” UNC based on hypothetical and unfounded information presented by message boards. But when a committed player to UNC, on the record, states Davis assured him no sanctions would be delivered and no additional questions are asked?

    Unbelievable. Ethically, how is that refusal possible. Blind eye anyone?

  13. packfan03 02/03/2011 at 10:57 PM #

    Does Rape beat Felony home invasion?

    Signed,

    LT

  14. Old MacDonald 02/03/2011 at 11:03 PM #

    Where does Hawkins’ felony cocaine trafficking charge fit in the spectrum?

  15. Wufpacker 02/04/2011 at 1:25 AM #

    I hope all of their recruits were informed about the new sign out sheet before they signed their LOI’s.

  16. Hungwolf 02/04/2011 at 8:44 AM #

    I have thought all along UNC will appeal any NCAA decision they do not agree with. Clearly unlike most other programs caught cheating, they have no intention of admitting any wrong doing by the administration and coaching staff. They will not give themselves any self imposed penalties as now they act like nothing wrong even happened. Any NCAA rulings will be appealed and we could see some ground breaking law sutis thrown at the NCAA. Could UNC be the school that leads the NCAA revolt? The UNC Board of Govs sits by doing nothing, and by taking no action they endorse this absurb behavior by an administration and head coach that are clearly out of control.

  17. wolfonthehill 02/04/2011 at 10:15 AM #

    I’d marvel at the lack of ethics on display, but it’s just par for the course these days…

  18. ncsu1987 02/04/2011 at 10:58 AM #

    +1 Hungwolf. I’m on EXACTLY the same page. There’s something foul brewing here, and my nose tells me that I’m not gonna like the taste when it’s served. Those of you who are waiting for the hammer to fall – for UNC to be treated like any other NCAA institution – are in for a BIG surprise. As this tawdry affair has unfolded, I’ve watched and waited with bated breath for the much-anticipated hammer, but the actions (or more pointedly, the inactions) of the administration and the BOG are so unfathomable I’m forced to the conclusion that they have absolutely no intent to submit to any NCAA findings. This is going to get VERY ugly and, while my heart wants them to be ground into the dirt and pissed upon, my years of experience and endurance tells me that, once again, it’ll somehow be different for them. They are the teflon program and, despite logic and reason and justice, nothing will stick in the end.

    Bitter? Yeah, you could say so

  19. golf76 02/04/2011 at 11:02 AM #

    This may be a stupid question but are any media outlets regularly petitioning the NCAA on the status of this investigation? The more time that passes, the more it looks like the NCAA is trying to determine a way to ignore the entire episode, and that UNX will receive no penalties whatsoever. Where is the NC Sec. of State in all this?

    Has any reporter asked any of the our esteemed lawmakers in Raleigh whether they intend to introduce legislation in this session to prevent this type mess from happening again?

    Is this the future of college football? Where money trumps any semblance of integrity? If so we may need two different classes of institutions of higher learning – 1) universities dedicated to educating students to be productive workers/employees/entrepreneurs; 2) athletic training camps feeding the pros.

  20. triadwolf 02/04/2011 at 11:25 AM #

    Even IF DB researched past cases and found one or two involving an assistant being any agent, or a tuder offering improper services to players, or … There is no way he found any precedent involving an asssitant coast acting as an agent AND a tutor offering improper services AND players taking illegal trips AND…

    The multitude of infractions is what will bring them down, not any single incident. There is NO WAY the NCAA can let this slip by and maintain an ounce of integrity or authority. If UNC gets away with this, the door will be open for every school from here on out to challenge any penalty handed down by the NCAA.

  21. Wolfman300 02/04/2011 at 11:26 AM #

    “UNC Football Player Faces Charges From Police Stop”

    http://www.wxii12.com/news/26742508/detail.html

  22. wfpk99 02/04/2011 at 11:36 AM #

    And it keeps getting better…

    “Source: Larry Drew II leaves UNC”
    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6089805

  23. Wolfy__79 02/04/2011 at 2:22 PM #

    wfpk99 what’s your take on drew leaving? he’s not good so him leaving would be desirable for the holes? did i miss something?

  24. Wolfy__79 02/04/2011 at 2:30 PM #

    well spoken hung & 87! i’m patiently awaiting the hammer! but if the ncaa is looking to be credible, then they’ve already missed the boat! violations to this extent or even close should stop operations immediately… kind of like OSHA would do if a business is operating unsafely, illegally or outside of regualations.

    if this kind of behavior is happening in the football program, it is happening in basketball too!

  25. graywolf 02/04/2011 at 3:59 PM #

    Hungwolf said:I have thought all along UNC will appeal any NCAA decision they do not agree with. Clearly unlike most other programs caught cheating, they have no intention of admitting any wrong doing by the administration and coaching staff. They will not give themselves any self imposed penalties as now they act like nothing wrong even happened. Any NCAA rulings will be appealed and we could see some ground breaking law sutis thrown at the NCAA. Could UNC be the school that leads the NCAA revolt? The UNC Board of Govs sits by doing nothing, and by taking no action they endorse this absurb behavior by an administration and head coach that are clearly out of control.

    I agree with your statement and thought process. I do believe that this will eventually colapse around them becasue of the calibur of people that are entering the unc football program. There will eventually not be enough ink to print the legal problems found within the program. It is still a house of cards that will catch up to them in some way.

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