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.”