ACC committee reprimands UNC

ACC committee reprimands UNC

Published Apr. 20, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

The Atlantic Coast Conference's infractions and penalties committee has issued a public reprimand to North Carolina.

The reprimand was announced Friday and came roughly a month after the NCAA's infractions committee imposed sanctions on the Tar Heels' football program.

''The ACC's balance of academics, athletics and integrity will continue to be the cornerstones by which this league operates,'' ACC Commissioner John Swofford said. ''As I have said previously, it is disturbing anytime one of our member institutions has NCAA infractions issues. Such issues are counter to the goals and aspirations of our conference.''

The ACC's 12-person committee, which consists of athletic directors and faculty athletics representatives, issued the reprimand for the university's responsibility for the major violations documented in the NCAA report.

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UNC spokesman Steve Kirschner issued a statement saying the ''unfortunate and regrettable experiences of the last few years have been difficult for the University community to endure, but we believe UNC will be a better and stronger member of the conference going forward.''

The NCAA in March gave the Tar Heels' football program a one-year postseason ban, a reduction of 15 scholarships and three years of probation, capping a nearly two-year investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct.

The NCAA said the school was responsible for multiple violations, including academic fraud and a failure to monitor its football program. The scandal included players receiving jewelry and other gifts from people outside the program, as well as a tutor providing improper help to players on term papers.

The postseason ban is for this fall and prevents the Tar Heels from playing in either the ACC championship game or a bowl game. The scholarship reductions would be five per year, also starting in the fall.

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