UNC Football: Everyone Saw This Coming Months Ago

No big surprises as Dick Baddour has planned on retiring right after the firing of Butch Davis on July 27. UNC is giving itself a chance to make things right with the NCAA after they dropped the ball amidst the NCAA violations and academic scandals that have taken place the past two seasons in Chapel Hill. 

It all started at the beginning of the last season when allegations of players receiving extra benefits hit the news stands and kept guys like Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn off the field possibly costing UNC a chance at an ACC championship and possibly an national championship. The first casualty from that episode was defensive coach John Blake. 

After Blake fell, then the tutor situation hit the news and 14 players were accused of academic scandal and most of them missed at least one game. However there were players like former North Carolina football player Michael McAdoo, who was declared permanently ineligible last year for academic misconduct, filed a lawsuit against the university and the NCAA seeking to restore his athletic eligibility to allow him to play for the Tar Heels this fall. Well things didn't work out in McAdoo's favor but its another casualty as he was probably the third best of the three defensive players who was unable to perform last season.

Click to read more ...

The ACC Outshines Everyone But SEC in 2011 NFL Draft

If I would have told that the ACC would have the second most picks in this years NFL draft, you probably would have laughed. The ACC didn't have a great 2010 football season, but it enjoyed an outstanding 2011 NFL draft.

NFL  teams chose 35 players from the ACC, the seventh consecutive year that the conference has had at least 30 draft picks. The only other conference to top that is the SEC, considered by many to be the nation's top football conference.

The SEC led the draft with 38 selections. Of the first 60 players taken, 15 came from the ACC and 10 from the SEC. So hold up. If the ACC has all of this talent, then why aren’t they more successful during the season? Seriously what is the problem? North Carolina had more players selected (nine) than any other ACC school and had its highest total in 11 years, tying Southern California for No.1 in the nation.

Click to read more ...

UNC Football: Players Suspended and the Hammer Drops

The Tarheels have departed for their big game versus LSU and 15 players were left off the trip. Word is that all but 3 have in some form been suspended from making the trip.

According to Mike Potter of Indyweek.com, the ineligible players  are defensive tackle Marvin Austin, cornerback Charles Brown, cornerback Kendric Burney, wide receiver Greg Little, defensive end Michael McAdoo and defensive end Robert Quinn. There were also 3 more players who will remain namless.

Those also being withheld include tailback Shaun Draughn, defensive end Linwan Euwell, safety Brian Gupton, tailback Ryan Houston, safety Da’Norris Searcy and safety Jonathan Smith.

The number of games those players may miss because of the investigations has not been determined. Earlier, UNC coach Butch Davis had announced that Austin was on an indefinite suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.

“We’re obviously very disappointed to learn that the actions of a number of our student-athletes have resulted in their being unable to compete in Saturday’s game,” UNC athletic director Dick Baddour said in a statement released today. “It is important to note again that people should not make assumptions as to the nature of each student-athlete’s involvement with these issues.”

Click to read more ...