As the fact-finding part of the review of the football program draws to a close, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has coordinated with the NCAA to release additional information.
As the fact-finding part of the review of the football program draws to a close, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has coordinated with the NCAA to release additional information.
Chancellor Holden Thorp has acknowledged the legitimate interest that the public and the media have in the investigation. He also has pledged transparency, while noting that the University cannot ignore federal and state law with regard to confidential student and personnel records.
The University previously released redacted documents that identified agents, prospective agents and runners whose names have surfaced during the University’s joint investigation with the NCAA. The documents were redacted under federal law to protect confidential student information.
In an effort to share as much information as possible, without violating privacy laws, the University is providing the following additional details:
- Reinstatement requests sent by the University to the NCAA report that impermissible gifts of cash and jewelry and impermissible assistance with lodging, travel, transportation and entertainment expenses were provided to football team members by the following five individuals: Mahlon Carey ($140), Hakeem Nicks ($3,300), Omar Brown ($1,865), Vernon Davis ($20), and a person from Miami whose full name is not known ($323).
- The total value of the impermissible benefits provided by these five individuals is less than $6,000 and includes the estimated value of lodging provided in their homes and some of which was repaid by the involved student-athletes before they or their hosts knew that receipt of the benefits violated NCAA rules.
- Carey, Nicks and Brown are former UNC football players who thought they were helping out friends and fellow Tar Heels. Although the investigation remains ongoing, there is no evidence that links them to inappropriate relationships with agents, prospective agents or runners. When reviewing benefits provided to a current student-athlete by a former member of the same team, NCAA rules require that the institution look at whether the type of benefit provided is consistent with what was provided when the donor and recipient were both college students.
- The News & Observer also has requested parking tickets issued to 11 named football players. Those records are protected by federal privacy law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA) with regard to students. However, the University has reviewed the parking tickets and can report that each car receiving a ticket was registered either to the student, a parent or a fellow student.
- The University also is releasing a disassociation letter issued to Jennifer Wiley in addition to already released letters issued to Chris Hawkins and A.J. Machado.
UNC News Services contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu