The North Carolina Tar Heels have finally learned what the NCAA thinks of those self-imposed penalties in the wake of the great Heelgate* scandal. In a release, the NCAA announced it will tack on a year of probation to the two UNC had recommended, prevent the Heels from playing in a bowl game or the ACC Championship in 2012 and add to UNC's scholarships reduction.
NCAA Bans UNC Football From Bowl, Docks 15 Scholarships
The complete list of penalties, including both the NCAA’s and UNC’s:
The penalties in this case include:
- Public reprimand and censure.
- Three years of probation from March 12, 2012, through March 11, 2015.
- Three-year show-cause penalty for the former assistant football coach prohibiting any recruiting activity. The public report contains further details.
- Postseason ban for the 2012 football season.
- Reduction of football scholarships by a total of 15 during three academic years. The public report includes further details.
- Vacation of wins during the 2008 and 2009 seasons (self-imposed by the university). The public report includes further details.
- $50,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).
Thus, a story nearly two years in the making has essentially ended. A one-year bowl ban isn’t a big deal at all, and USC, Ohio State and others have provided helpful road maps on how to recruit around scholarship reductions.
Former assistant John Blake also suffered a three-year show-cause penalty for his role, meaning his coaching days are pretty much done.
For more on UNC football, visit North Carolina blog Carolina March.
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