Since UK news is slowing...

by TrickyD26 on Apr 30, 2008 10:00 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

I just wanted some opinion on a story that isn't getting much coverage down here in ACC land.

This was in the Raleigh N&O today: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/1055122.html

So, the Tarheels have a "voluntary" scrimmage, consisting of the whole team, with the coach watching, during exam week and the NCAA basically doesn't care.

This happened last year when Ray Felton and Sean May played pick-up games with UNC recruits, also a violation, and again nothing happened. Here is that link: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/709830.html

It's really amazing to live down here and see all of the things UNC gets away with. NC State was prohibited from the NCAA tournament after going undefeated because David Thompson, a recruit at the time, played a pick-up game with Stae players. Carolina has a large journalism school and it clearly shows by reading the NC papers.

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I was ...

thinking about writing an article on that story, but instead, maybe just a long diary comment would be sufficient. Here is the paragraph from that article that really bakes my noodle:

Team spokesman Steve Kirschner said Williams knew he wasn't supposed to be at the Smith Center practice gym under the letter of the NCAA rules, but that these were "extraordinary circumstances," and, with the number of Secret Service personnel on site, the coach wanted to be there to make sure that everything went OK.

So Williams knew that he was violating the rules, and did so deliberately because of his judgment that the rules didn't apply to him if he thought the situation were "extraordinary" enough. And somehow, Williams presence made the team safer than all those secret service agents. All this time, I just thought he was a basketball coach, not Rambo.

Sweet. And then this beauty:

Even as UNC acknowledged that Williams should not have been present, the NCAA's Christianson would not specifically address whether rules were broken or if UNC asked for permission beforehand. Christianson responded again through e-mail: "This is not an NCAA issue."

So who's "issue" is it then, Mr. Christianson? The Obama campaign? Maybe if he becomes president, Obama can spearhead a law that requires the NCAA to overlook presidential candidates' excesses. Or even better, he can stump for freedom from the Draconian NCAA rules like this that fly in the face of truth, justice, and the American way.

Just wondering, Mr. NCAA guy -- does this exception apply to gubernatorial campaigns as well? Senatorial? How's about Lexington mayor? Surely if Roy gets a pass for Obama, we can get a pass for McConnell or Lunsford, or (fill in a political candidate here), right? I mean, why would just presidential candidates be able to be declared, "extraordinary?"

How about if Coach Gillispie declares himself a candidate for office? We could practice all summer! He doesn't actually have to be elected, and he can always withdraw just before the election.

I think we have us one of them there "loopholes" here, guys and gals. :-P

by Truzenzuzex on May 1, 2008 9:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing that gets me

is that no one down here seems to care. And that's not just limited to UNC fans. NC State and Duke fans that I've spoken with do not seem to think this a big deal either. The article I linked from the N&O illustrates my point. It is basically a huge puff piece that simply shrugs off the whole situation with a big "aw shucks."

The sad thing is that we've grown used to the fact that they often get away with these "bending" of the rules. From Williams' attempt to bring his Kansas recruits, to May and Felton playing games with recruits, and now this.

Now if only Roy could learn to call timeouts during epic collapses the Tarheels would be unstoppable.

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on May 1, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really should change the title of this diary...

Gillispie won't let UK news ever slow down!! The man is a machine!

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on May 1, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NCAA hypocricy in full-colored action.

Although I feel the violations are very minor, the words being spoken by the UNC officials certainly makes me think that they feel they are above such pedestrian concerns such as the NCAA rulebook.

Back in '85 (I believe) Steve Alford posed for a sorority calendar at IU. The sorority was selling the calendars to raise money for a local charity. When Knight found out, IU officials called the NCAA and informed them of the secondary violation. Alford was then not allowed to play in IU's next game (Knight's decision) versus UK because the NCAA had not decided their course of action. IU did not want to risk playing a potentially ineligible player.

Knight certainly had his shortcomings, but following the letter of the law was not one of them. Coach Williams could use a lesson from "The General" in how to have integrity as it pertains to setting a positive example for his players and fan base.

by Ken Howlett on May 2, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs