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Greg Little said yesterday that he is sorry for helping bring an NCAA investigation to North Carolina that involves sports agents and has tainted the football program.
Little, a senior receiver and one of three players dismissed from the team on Monday, apologized for his role in the investigation in a prepared statement released by the UNC sports-information office.
"I want to apologize first to my teammates, coaches and the support staff for letting them down," he said.
"To the community of Chapel Hill, students, alumni and supporters of the university, I am terribly remorseful."
The NCAA and UNC declared Little permanently ineligible Monday for accepting $4,952 in gifts and trips in violation of NCAA rules on agent, for receiving preferential treatment and for violations of ethical behavior.
Defensive end Robert Quinn, a junior, also was declared permanently ineligible, and defensive tackle Marvin Austin, a senior, was dismissed from the team. Austin issued an apology on Monday through his attorney, but neither he nor Little have spoken publically.
"The recent decision from the NCAA regarding my eligibility as a collegiate athlete is extremely painful, and has been a distraction from the team throughout the past five months," Little said.
"My situation should not take away from any of the team's current accomplishments or future accomplishments. Now that I am no longer a part of the program, I hope my actions will not distract the team any longer."
All three players have been banned from all activity with the football team but will be allowed to keep their athletics grants-in-aid. Little said he will continue at UNC for the rest of this semester but did not say if he would return for the spring semester.
"There are defining moments in everyone's life," Little said. "I will use this as one of mine to shape and mold my morals and values as a person.
"My time at UNC came to an abrupt conclusion, but I will forever be a proud supporter of the Tar Heels and the University of North Carolina."
