Roy Williams Answers McCants Allegations: Naturally, They Deny It...

((HT: ESPN/OTL))

Roy Williams has answered the allegations in the recent Rashad McCants interview saying he took "sham" classes while he was on campus in Chapel Hill. McCants even made the Dean's List when most of his classes were in the Afro-American Studies Department- which has come to the center of an investigation since late 2011.

The University, naturally, is circling the wagons that includes an interview with Williams.


The interesting part of the Williams interview was that 11 former players attended and were there as a show of support. None would go on camera, but they backed up their coach.

The other interesting part of the interview was that Williams would not directly address the McCants claims.

WRAL-TV has more response from the UNC teams of the past and the campus:

McCants' 16 teammates signed a statement that said, "With conviction, each one of us is proud to say that we attended class and did our own academic work."

McCants’ allegations are the first direct claim involving the Tar Heels basketball program and the 2005 National Championship team. The other UNC athletes on that team, and those who issued the statement were: Sean May, Jesse Holley, Melvin Scott, Raymond Felton, Charlie Everett, Reyshawn Terry, Jackie Manuel, Quentin Thomas, Jawad Williams, Wes Miller, Marvin Williams, Damion Grant, David Noel, C.J. Hooker and Bryon Sanders.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham released a statement to WRAL News Thursday saying it's disappointing anytime a student isn't satisfied with his experience.

"The university hired former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein in January to conduct an independent investigation into past academic and athletic irregularities. While these are the first allegations we have heard from Mr. McCants, I encourage him to speak with Mr. Wainstein. We are confident Mr. Wainstein's inquiry will provide us with a full understanding of these issues," Cunningham stated.

Rashad McCants Says He Took Sham Classes (UPDATED)

((HT: ESPN/Delsohn))

Yes, the HQ knows you're shocked and stunned...

Steve Delsohn over at the Mothership has been chasing the problems at the University of North Carolina involving their alleged joke of an African-American Studies Department and how it was, basically, an assembly line for not attending class and getting good grades as long as you played along.

McCants and as many as 14 other players were involved in the major and he even had an appearance on the Dean's List with that as his major.

The Raleigh News and Observer reported that basketball players were in the major back in that championship season of 2005 in their initial reporting back in 2012.

Here's a snippet of McCants interview


And here's the initial Sara Ganim report on CNN with UNC whistleblower Mary Willingham


Obviously, the University is refuting McCants' claims and Willingham's study into the department.

CBS' Gary Parrish caught up with Williams, via Parrish's Twitter is the response:

“In no way did I know about or do anything close to what he says.”

Former NC Governor Asked To Keep Investigating Tarheels

((HT: WRALSportsfan.com))

Former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin has been asked by UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp to continue the investigation into alleged academic shenanigans at the school in Chapel Hill.

It is the continuation of the McAdoo/African-American Studies investigation from last summer which was an extension of the investigation from last May that uncovered unauthorized grade submissions, forged signatures and other improprieties in 54 classes on campus.

Here's team coverage with Erin Hartness and Beau Minnick...

After Martin is done, the university will have another task force put together to figure out what to do about the Martin task force results...

So, let's see...

There will be an investigation about an investigation that will lead to another investigation...

Check...

UNC Athletes Take Class That Has No Instructor

((HT: Raleigh News and Observer/Kane, Carter))

Not that this is a surprise in light of the whole Tarheels NCAA investigation that ended up decimating the football team and coaching staff...

BUT...

Kane and Carter have discovered that the "AFAM 280: Blacks in North Carolina" class was attended by 19 students- 18 of them players on the football team, the other a former player. Advisers helped the players enroll in the class, which is the subject of a criminal investigation.

The advisers also knew that there would be no instruction and the class itself ws added just days before the 2011 summer session.

So, this begs the HQ's question of: "Who knew what when and how far does the knowledge go in this case...?" The HQ would surmise pretty far up, and the end result of the investigation will be interesting...

54 UNC classes are in question over the full four years of the school investigation and center around the head of the department.

Here's the early word on the investigation in the Afro-American Studies Department before it involved the current enrollment involving football players...
((HT: WRAL-TV))


And here as well...