Roy Williams and North Carolina AD deny allegations by Rashad McCants

Former North Carolina basketball player Rashad McCants caused a stir on Friday morning when he claimed he had tutors write papers for his “paper classes” and received straight A’s and made the dean’s list despite not attending classes. Even more damming is that he says his former head coach Roy Williams was fully aware of this practice that was “a part of the program.”

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UNC’s athletic director Bubba Cunningham released a statement to offer a non-denial denial of his claims:

"“It is disappointing any time a student is dissatisfied with his or her experience. I welcome the opportunity to speak with Rashad McCants about returning to UNC to continue his academic career — just as we have welcomed many former student-athletes interested in completing their degrees.“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. …“I have gotten to know some of Mr. McCants’ teammates, and I know that claims about their academic experience have affected them deeply. They are adamant that they had a different experience at UNC-Chapel Hill than has been portrayed by Mr. McCants and others.”"

Cunningham doesn’t deny that McCants is lying or stretching the truth only to say he has been affected deeply and welcomes one of the key members from the Tarheels’ 2005 title team back to continue his education.

Williams did not beat around the bush and issued a firm denial to the claims of his former player.

“With respect to the comments made today, I strongly disagree with what Rashad (McCants) has said. In no way did I know about or do anything close to what he says and I think the players whom I have coached over the years will agree with me. I have spent 63 years on this earth trying to do things the right way and the picture he portrays is not fair to the University or me.”

Should be an interesting time in Chapel Hill as the allegations made by McCants are investigated to discover what really is happening with the athletes on campus.

Who do you believe: The player or the coach?

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