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The North Carolina football careers of Robert Quinn, Greg Little and Marvin Austin ended yesterday for their parts in breaking NCAA rules about contact with sports agents and receiving extra benefits.
The NCAA and UNC declared Quinn, a junior defensive end, and Little, a senior receiver, permanently ineligible. UNC dismissed Austin, a senior defensive tackle, from the football program after suspending him Sept. 1 for violating team rules.
UNC found that Quinn received $5,642 in extra benefits and that Little received $4,952 in extra benefits.
UNC reported to the NCAA that Quinn accepted two black diamond watches, a pair of matching earrings, travel accommodations to Miami and other benefits and that Little received diamond earrings, travel accommodations to the Bahamas and Washington, D.C., and to Miami twice and other benefits.
They were declared ineligible for violations of the NCAA agent-benefits rule, for receiving preferential treatment and for ethical-conduct violations.
Athletics Director Dick Baddour of North Carolina could not say exactly how much Austin received in extra benefits, because of lingering uncertainty about what was received, but said that the amount was between $10,000 and $13,000.
Austin did not return a phone call from the Winston-Salem Journal to his cell phone yesterday. He did apologize in a statement released by his attorney's office.
"I want to apologize to the NCAA and the entire North Carolina Tar Heel community, including my teammates, coaches, students and fans," Austin said. "I have let you all down, and I am truly sorry.
"I deeply regret my actions and the embarrassment I brought to the university and to the football program. I will pay a severe price for my poor decisions by not being able to play my entire senior season."
All three players were told of the decisions yesterday morning by Baddour and Coach Butch Davis. UNC officials learned last Thursday that the NCAA had made a decision and learned the severity of it Friday.
UNC can appeal to the NCAA to have Quinn's and Little's eligibility restored, but Baddour said that no appeal will be made.
Baddour said he was disappointed that none of the three told UNC or NCAA officials the truth about what they received when the NCAA investigation started. Information came out during the summer that a sports agent might have paid for the players to travel to Miami.
"It's particularly disappointing because at the very beginning of this process, Coach Davis, myself and all the (UNC) compliance people were in front of our student-athletes, driving home the message of how important it is that you be honest, that you be forthright and that you give us the opportunity to help you," Baddour said.
"And the way you give us an opportunity to help you is by being honest in the descriptions. Of course I'm disappointed that these things happened prior to our knowledge, but I'm more disappointed that once the process started that, as it turns out, we didn't get from them in the beginning what we were wanting to get."
Baddour said he had no evidence that John Blake, a former UNC assistant, had anything to do with the extra benefits the players received. Blake is a close friend of agent Gary Wichard, who is said to be involved with a trip to Miami for the players. Blake resigned from the UNC staff on Sept. 5.
Baddour said it most likely will take more time to determine if the NCAA will penalize UNC or if it might put the program on probation. Baddour said that the school and the NCAA have worked closely together since the investigation started, and an NCAA investigator is on campus working with school officials.
Baddour and Davis said that the players expressed remorse for what happened, and Baddour, without giving specifics, said that some of them explained why they accepted the extra benefits.
"I feel a little uncomfortable trying to represent them," Baddour said. "I think they got caught up in some things. It's unfortunate."
Davis apologized for the second time in eight days for problems in his program.
"I personally want to apologize to the chancellor, the board of trustees and our faculty," Davis said. "I want to apologize to our alums and supporters for having to go through this. It is a very difficult and trying time as we go through this.
"I think I'm also very sad and disappointed that these individuals made these extremely poor choices, that not only did they jeopardize themselves and their lives, they certainly have jeopardized this team (and) the university."
All three players will retain their athletics grants but must adhere to strict guidelines to keep them.
Davis encouraged the three to earn their degrees and told them that they most likely will have chances to play in the NFL but that those chances won't be as strong with them not playing this season.
Safety Deunta Williams said he was saddened to hear of what happened to his teammates but that the football team must move on and prepare for Saturday's game at Virginia.
"More than anything, I'm sad for the players themselves and their families," Williams said. "They're still good people. I love them to death. I just want to be there for them."
bcole@wsjournal.com
