Now Let's Cheer For North Carolina . . .

[Smulaw90]

I know most of us don't believe anything significant is going to come out of the NCAA's investigation into the fraudulent courses taken at North Carolina. However, some very interesting things are taking place with the latest amended allegations.

If you recall, or even care, the original investigation involved the men's basketball team and the "benefits" the team received over the years from classes which were deemed to be a sham. However, at some point, the NCAA investigation removed the men's basketball team and the allegations based on "benefits" from the scope of its investigation and subsequent Notice of Infractions.

With that "bone" having been thrown to NC, NC and its team of lawyers decided to still directly attack the jurisdiction of the NCAA essentially arguing that whether classes have merit or not is outside the purview of the NCAA's enforcement powers. However, what struck me as odd about their position was the tenor of the argument which directly placed the "fault" with the NCAA for not bringing these matters to the forefront years before and for waiting so long to do anything about it. In other words, shifting the blame to the NCAA.

That apparently has not set too well with the NCAA infractions committee who decided to do an, "oh yea? How do like this" to NC. The NCAA has now amended its allegations and added back in the most serious allegations and in particular, the ones against the men's basketball team. These allegations potentially impact the 2 national championships NC won in 2005 and 2009.

So why should we now cheer NC? While I want to see them get punished for transgressions that far exceed those of SMU basketball, NC has the financial means and cojones to really take on the NCAA for essentially changing the scope of the investigation AFTER NC appeared before the infractions committee.

While I may dislike NC, the amended allegations wreak of being "arbitrary and capricious." In other words, you attack us and we will get you back. That's not how a fair and impartial administrative body is supposed to work. In Russia and Cuba, yes. In the good ole USA? No way Jose!

[Stallion]

I understand and generally agree with the argument that the NCAA should stay out of criminal matters such as at Penn St. and Baylor-there is solid legal precedent why the NCAA should do so

However, I think North Carolina's analogous argument concerning academics is ridiculous because the NCAA has an entire framework of bylaws dealing precisely with academic progress toward degree and curriculum which arguably have been violated. It's understood that progress toward a degree for a student athlete means a degree accredited by national accreditation standards required by all students at the university in question. If they let the cows out of the barn on academics then they'll never be able to get them back into the barn. I don't think the NCAA can let North Carolina off the hook in this case