Posted by Chip Patterson

With every NCAA investigation there are different pivotal steps in the process, one of the most relevant in regards to possible punishments is the notice of allegations. According to a report on InsideCarolina.com, the NCAA has told UNC officials to expect a notice of allegations "on or around June 10" as a result from the investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct within the football program.

The report cites sources who believe that the notice of allegations will highlight nine different infractions, mostly stemming from previous relationships with assistant coach John Blake, tutor Jennifer Wiley, and former player Chris Hawkins. The loss of scholarships and probation is expected, and some close to the program believe forfeiting wins is a possibility. It is widely assumed at this point that North Carolina will avoid the "lack of institutional control" charge.

Keep it here at the Eye on College Football for more on this story as it develops.

Posted by Chip Patterson

Until Thursday afternoon, the North Carolina athletic department had not had a very good day.  It began late Wednesday night, when a Yahoo! Sports report traced a paper-trail that linked NFL agent Gary Wichard to recently resigned assistant coach John Blake and Marvin Austin.  Then on Thursday, highly touted basketball recruit Austin Rivers cancelled his final visits with North Carolina and Kansas, verbally committing to Duke.

But there was some good news from Chapel Hill on Thursday, with the Tar Heels learning that senior safety Da'Norris Searcy had been cleared by the NCAA and will be on the field Saturday when the Tar Heels host the East Carolina Pirates.

Searcy was one of ten players still waiting for a verdict on their eligibility due to the ongoing investigations into academics and improper contact with agents.  Fellow defensive backs Deunta Williams (four games) and Kendric Burney (six games) received suspensions, but are appealing them on Friday.  

While North Carolina has been competitive through the first three games of the season, the secondary has been sorely missed.  Losing all four starters put inexperienced defensive backs on the first team defense earlier than head coach Butch Davis had hoped, which led to holes in the special teams which needed to be filled by potential redshirts.

North Carolina's appeal on Friday will be for shorter suspensions for Williams and Burney.  As it stands, Williams will be back on the field October 9 against Clemson, while Burney will be out until October 23 against Miami.

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Posted by Chip Patterson

North Carolina defensive backs Kendric Burney and Deunta Williams are the first Tar Heels to officially receive punishment from the NCAA regarding improper benefits from agents.  They are two of the 12 players who have missed the first two games of the season already, and in addition to missing more they will both have to repay the value of their contributions.

via University of North Carolina release:  
Burney, who received $1,333 in benefits, must miss six games and make repayment of $575.19 to a charity of his choice. Williams, who received $1,426 in benefits, must miss four games and make repayment of $450.67 to a charity of his choice. Both student-athletes already have sat out two games.

"We plan to appeal the length of the suspensions," says Dick Baddour, North Carolina Director of Athletics. "While I respect the NCAA process, I believe the penalties to be unduly harsh given the individual circumstances in these cases."

The university declared both student-athletes ineligible for violations of NCAA agent benefits and preferential treatment rules. According to the facts of the case submitted by the university, these benefits in part included trips to California, Atlanta and Las Vegas for Burney and two trips to California for Williams. The majority of the benefits Burney received were from an individual who meets the NCAA definition of an agent.

The good news for Williams and Burney, both preseason all-conference selections, is that they will get to see the field this season.  Hopefully, it will be in time to make a difference for the 0-2 Tar Heels.  North Carolina has been completely depleted in the secondary, with all four original starters being in the group of players held out of games.  

Athletic director Dick Baddour did admit that there would be suspensions, and they would be announced on a case by case basis.  The announcement of Burney and Williams may mean that we could be seeing more (or even the remaining) punishments handed down in the coming weeks.

Unless the length of the suspensions are successfully appealed, Williams' first game back in uniform will be October 9 when the Tar Heels host Clemson  and Burney's will be October 23 at No. 19 Miami (FL) .

 

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