As the players arrive on campus to start the pre-season we also learn that the NCAA was back at UNC once again. While Athletic Director Dick Baddour did not say much on who the NCAA talked to, Greg Little’s father told the media that his son did speak with whomever came from Indianapolis. Have to say I do not know how I feel about Mr. Little talking about this, but I believe that if he is doing this is because he believes his son is not going to be punished, or so he hopes. However what Baddour did say made me feel like this investigation is not as bad as I was thinking, then again they way I was thinking about this had no silver lining. Here is the key sentence from the Athletic Director and you draw your own conclusions on it:
“We view this as a joint review, absolutely, that’s ongoing,” Baddour said. “Their initial call to us was that we will conduct this review together, and that’s what we’re doing.” (from ACCNow)
I am not sure that the NCAA would be doing this together with Carolina if this was going to be a big blow to the squad. Maybe I am being too optimistic on this, but having read that both defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little, the main subjects of the investigation, are practicing tomorrow combined with the knowledge that this was a joint adventure between the school and the NCAA makes me feel like the final punishment for either player could be a lot smaller than I first thought. The only thing that worries me now is the fact that the investigation could be looking to make an example to all of what is going to happen if you deal with sport agents while still in school, but hopefully that is not going to be the case.
And through all of this, the team is now in the official pre-season part of the year. For head coach Butch Davis, who is entering his fourth season, this is the year a lot of people felt he would make the jump from middle of the pack to head of the class. Will that happen? A lot could ride on what the final verdict is of “Agent Gate”, but I am not going to go there. I believe that the defense is going to be good no matter what, and it’s going to be up to the players around T.J. Yates to make him better. An offensive line that can beat the opponent they could not beat last year, the injury bug, a decent running game to open up the play-action and the wide outs that can make “the play” when needed could make Yates good enough to help this team win.
Yates himself is going to be a lot more challenged in the pre-season as red shirt Bryn Renner is going to be challenging the fifth year senior for the starting role under center. I truly believe that this is going to do one of two things for Yates, either make him better and ready for the season, or show his weaknesses enough that the youngster will get the nod. These two gun slingers and the rest of the team are going to be working in 90 degree weather to make themselves, and the team as a whole, better for this upcoming season. This time of the year is when you see who can make it and who can’t take it. This is the time where “on paper” is replaced by “heart and soul”, where dream become reality, be it good ones or not.
During the next days/weeks I will work on a position by position look at this team that seems to be set for great things but still has some question marks, some on the field and some they have no power over. Move over boys of summer it’s once again time to talk about the gridiron as the heat gives away to falling leaves and baseball takes a back seat to football. Once again all is good in the sports world and in mine!
