As you’ve probably read by now (and, if you haven’t, you can do so HERE), former North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo is suing the NCAA, his university and UNC chancellor Holden Thorp in hopes of regaining the eligibility he was stripped of permanently last November.
McAdoo was one of a handful of Tar Heels to be ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA in the fallout of a two-pronged scandal featuring allegations of impermissible benefits received by players and academic misconduct. He claims the NCAA used inaccurate information related to the academic misconduct charges (the reason for his ban) and did not consider a UNC report that claimed McAdoo was unaware the help he was receiving from tutor Jennifer Wiley was improper.
The NCAA has since responded to the suit -- a hearing for which has been set on July 15th -- and, surprise, they’re pretty stubborn about their stance. Below is their statement on the matter:
“We are aware of the litigation. Academic integrity is critically important to intercollegiate athletics and something that is expected from all student-athletes. As a result, the NCAA plans to vigorously defend the process by which penalties related to academic misconduct are ultimately determined by the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, comprised of representatives from member institutions.”
It is important to emphasize (again) that McAdoo was ruled ineligible based on the allegations of academic misconduct in addition to the alleged impermissible benefits received. However, McAdoo’s case contests that he was only guilty of one of three academic charges (improper use of the tutor) for which he received a brief probationary period. Whether the court agrees with his decision remains to be seen.
At the time of McAdoo’s first appeal for reinstatement, UNC athletic director Dick Baddour stated that “[w]e appealed this decision because we believed it was unfair and we continue to believe that.”