CHAPEL HILL — Amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding P.J. Hairston, the rising junior guard who was North Carolina’s leading scorer last season, university athletic director Bubba Cunningham earlier today said UNC was still gathering information and that it wouldn’t comment further until it had “sufficient understanding of the facts involved.”
Hairston has been embroiled in controversy for more than a month, since being arrested in Durham on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges. On the night of his arrest, Hairston was driving a rental car that had been rented by Haydn “Fats” Thomas, a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal record.
Here is Cunningham’s statement:
“The athletic department compliance staff and I are fully aware of recent media accounts related to our men’s basketball team. We take these matters very seriously and are looking into these reports and the inferences they contain with all due diligence.
“It is my practice not to comment on the individuals involved or the details surrounding these reports until we have sufficient understanding of the facts involved. We are still gathering information, learning information from other sources, and we will not comment until we have a strong grasp of each individual situation.
“Where the facts show mistakes in judgment and/or actions, Coach (Roy) Williams will take and I will support the appropriate disciplinary measures. The integrity of the University of North Carolina is of paramount concern to all of us and is the principle on which Coach Williams and the athletic department operate each and every day.
“The most responsible course of action, however, is to withhold judgment and comment until we are confident we have the facts to do so. I appreciate everyone’s understanding of that and we will bring these matters to resolution as soon as possible.”
-Andrew Carter
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8 comments:
Will be swept under the rug. Nothing to see here.
What about the twit pics of him on mansboro island on the 4th of July?
Anon at 1:20: A college student drinking underage? Big freaking deal.
you mean like Duke did with Lance Thomas?
buying jewelry is hardly as eyebrow raising as drugs, a gun, and being involved with a known criminal...give me a break...just like the football program UNC will be once again excused and their fans will be thumping their chest as being annointed Mary Poppins University...practically perfect in every way...
At the risk of being repetitive, UNC-CH athletics painted itself for years as squeaky clean. More and more (stuff) spewing forth from Chapel Hill proves not only were they not squeaky clean, the were and are downright pig dirty. The shame is that, with a little ordinary oversight such as many programs provide, Chapel Hill could win just as much without the stigma of being labeled cheaters and liars.
Whether UNC kicks Haiston off the team or not (they of course will not), UNC will have another 'meh' season. They needed Wiggins badly. Dont' be surprised to see a #6 - #8 seed team again.
The APPEARANCE of integrity in your athletic dept is of utmost importance, Bubba.
Don't worry, the Raleigh News and Observer will do your job for you and the facts will come to light, much to your chagrin and annoyance.
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