Quote :

"folks on IC think it's no big deal because it was a high school coach"

because everyone knows that HS coaches are just LOADED and can pay for trips and shit out of pocket no problem

3/2/2011 8:53:10 PM

Quote :

" ^^How did Austin meet Wichard?"

Because he's a predatory agent who introduces himself to college kids?


Not saying that Blake is clean, but there's a lot of plausible deniability in this story. It proves nothing about Blake. All it proves is that Austin took gifts (which we already knew), Wichard provided gifts (which we already knew), and that his HS coach was also wrapped up in it.
I was excited as hell when I saw the headline "Coach pays for Austin's trip," but when I saw it was his HS coach, my excitement completely fizzled.

3/3/2011 7:53:52 AM

To think Blake didn't introduce Austin to Wichard would be completely ignorant.

Blake was Austin's best friend on the coaching staff. In all his interviews, it's all "Blake this, Blake that, etc." He stated he came back to school to work with Blake for one more year. Then you add in the Blake/Wichard connection (he use to work for him and currently had credit cards in Pro Tec's name).

I'm definitely cautious about UNC getting into big trouble over all of this, but this could potentially be big...and it definitely ties back to Blake. Hopefully some good stuff will turn up from the search warrants.

3/3/2011 8:00:12 AM

Still need proof of it. Speculation will only take you so far.

3/3/2011 8:04:56 AM

Quote :

"Still need proof of it. Speculation will only take you so far."

The NCAA isn't a court of law. SOS might need proof...but the NCAA doesn't.

That still doesn't excuse your ignorance.

3/3/2011 8:06:50 AM

My ignorance?
I'm not a damn investigator. I'm not required to have any intelligence about this at all.

Even if Blake did introduce Austin to Wichard, what then? "Marv, you're gonna be a first rounder in a couple of years, let me introduce you to a man who will give you the best contract possible. By the way, be sure not to accept any gifts from him while you're still in college. That would be dumb. Oh wait, you're pretty dumb, aren't you?"


Again, I'd love more than anything to see real proof that Blake was giving out money to players while at UNC, but so far, there's been no proof.

3/3/2011 8:12:21 AM

The NCAA really doesn't "punish" per se. Now, once (if) criminal charges come out, they'll start singing pretty good.

3/3/2011 8:12:38 AM

^^ wow, you must have a really negative life to throw salt in something as sweet as this.


There is no way Blake is not associated and did not pass money to Austin. He is a part of the circle and that will be sussed out eminently. If he did not hand the money to him directly, he is still guilty because he recruited Austin to UNC. Don't you understand that? Any criminal investigator does, at the very least.



Even if she doesn't sell one crack rock, if grandma knowingly buys you a house to sell your drugs from, she is an accessory to your crime because she enabled it. The difficult part is proving Grandma's intent - but if Grandma receives crack house profits as a kick-back, then you have her nailed.


If John Blake recruited Marvin Austin to UNC, and Marvin Austin received money from Gary Wichard illegally, then Blake is an accessory because he enabled it. The simple part here is proving Blake's intent -
Blake received Wichard profit as a kick-back and still carried a company credit card that was used several times. It is documented as several payments that first went unexplained, then had multiple different explanations assigned, none of them plausible.



This is open and shut shit right here, bro.

[Edited on March 3, 2011 at 9:10 AM. Reason : .]

3/3/2011 9:09:54 AM

Quote :

"Because he's a predatory agent who introduces himself to college kids?"

There's nothing wrong with that (UNC even had an 'agent day'), as long as you're registered as an Agent with the State of North Carolina.

I don't think it's good plausible deniability if you have to admit to a felony.

3/3/2011 9:10:21 AM

It just occurred to me that Wichard could voluntarily help the NCAA. Not sure if he can be made to, but if the State of NC is trying to basically pin 100% of the blame on him and ruin him, I don't see why he wouldn't tell his side to whoever will listen, and the NCAA at least has some power.

3/3/2011 9:15:21 AM

^I think he's gonna want to be an agent again when he finishes his suspension. If he blabbed, I would assume ti would piss off some prospective clients, unless he decided to go all Jerry McGuire on us.

3/3/2011 9:20:22 AM

from what that guy OldEastHeel was saying on PP, the crime he's ostensibly committed (if proven or he pleas to) is a Class I felony, which is about as low as you get and he wouldn't serve any time.


I could see Wichard pleading to it IF he didn't lie to the Secretary of State's office when he gave his deposition. I doubt that would hurt him in any way shape or form. Probably just a fine, maybe probation (I even doubt that). If he lied, though, there's no way. Lying to the SOS is going to carry a much higher penalty and probably jail time.

3/3/2011 9:48:22 AM

Delvon Simmons now wants out of his LOI, probably now that Baker left.

Also, Brandon Willis (who left to go to UCLA) is now transferring back to UNC, and petitioning to play immediately. His grandmother is apparently sick, hence the reason for him to move back to the east coast. With that said, I don't see any reason why he should be granted a waiver to playing right away.

3/8/2011 2:10:24 PM

hilarious--isn't that the kid that never made the official visit?

I also don't see them allowing him to transfer back and play immediately. They just don't do that and don't allow immediate play if the reason you transfer in the first place is due to a relative being sick, but this guy is transferring twice.

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 2:22 PM. Reason : .]

3/8/2011 2:21:28 PM

Quote :

"Delvon Simmons now wants out of his LOI, probably now that Baker left."

Spent all that time boasting their top 10 recruiting class, and what did we say? They'll start to jump ship sooner or later...

Isn't this the 2nd or 3rd 4/5 star that has left now??

3/8/2011 2:40:14 PM

Damn, if UNC is willing to infect Grandma to get recruits, this shit goes deeper than any of us suspected.

3/8/2011 6:10:35 PM

Willis coming back shoots a small hole in some of the bad stuff everyone has been saying about UNC's recruiting tactics.

Lots of people were talking about some of his facebook posts talking about Blake giving him money under the table and similar shit. If he knew that and still came back to play for UNC...then it might not be as bad as we thought.

Just sayin....


Oh...and IC is blaming Baker for Simmons leaving...saying that what he did was "dirty" and "wrong." That mother fucker never even signed a contract at UNC. I don't believe for one minute that Butch Davis was surprised that he went to Dallas. That shit kinda pisses me off. They used Baker to get Simmons and solidify other d-line recruits, and now that those guys are leaving, they are mad at Baker? Reinforces that UNC attitude that I grew up to hate so much.

3/8/2011 6:31:23 PM

Oh well....

After seeing the slap on the wrist the NCAA keeps giving, I.E. Jim Tressel's 2 game suspension, i don't see anything further really happening to UNC...

3/8/2011 7:12:39 PM

NCAA didn't suspend Tressel, dumb shit

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 7:14 PM. Reason : NCAA penalties are yet to come]

3/8/2011 7:14:00 PM

I'm sure the NCAA will agree with the punishment that was handed down by the univ...

Quote :

"In May of 2009, The Columbus Dispatch reported that since 2000, Ohio State had reported to the NCAA more than 375 violations -- the most of any of the 69 Football Bowl Subdivision schools that provided documents to the newspaper through public-records requests. Most of the infractions were minor and resulted in little or no punishment. "

3/8/2011 7:21:56 PM

i wonder what 2nd place was. 35 violations a year seems a tad excessive

3/8/2011 7:50:21 PM

without any knowledge, my wild guess would be Southern Cal

or Florida, but they might just lead the nation in players getting arrested, not actual NCAA violations

3/8/2011 7:52:38 PM

apparently unc isn't letting simmons out of his LOI.

3/10/2011 2:32:31 PM

Your info is incorrect, they have agreed to release him to a certain list of schools, but have not gotten back to him as to what schools are on the list.

http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/varsity-blog/25742-more-on-simmons-and-north-carolina

3/10/2011 3:00:40 PM

that's bullshit, a guy works for UNC for all of a week or two, and he's the reason why the kid signs. dude leaves, the kid should be able to go where he wants. that said, makes you wonder what went down, what fell through, that we won't hear about.

3/10/2011 3:12:51 PM

^some tarhole comment made me ...plus in my opinion makes it even more incriminating for UNC in the fact that this kid never met Baker

Quote :

"So Simmons wants out of his LOI because Baker left UNC? That's interesting since he never even met Baker face-to-face and his chief recruiter was offensive coordinator John Shoop (Oakmont native). And it's interesting since the LOI expressly states that the departure of a position coach is not considered extenuating circumstances of purposes of getting out of an LOI. It seems like Simmons had a much, much belated change of heart - and I smell some serious tampering since no other college programs are allowed to contact him after he signed his LOI. The NCAA will be investigating this situation, no doubt. "

3/10/2011 3:13:09 PM

i don't really feel too bad for the kid because he made the brilliant decision to commit to a school under ncaa investigation.

3/10/2011 3:23:17 PM

hahaha i don't know if they WANT the ncaa to investigate.

[Edited on March 10, 2011 at 3:23 PM. Reason : (i sure do though.)]

3/10/2011 3:23:20 PM

The kicker to me is that UNC was not on his radar, it was the COACH, who was all "we had a meeting behind closed doors and that's all I can say". The kid never made a visit there, never met with any of the coaches. It was shady as hell he ended up there in the first place, UNC ought to be wanting to let him go.

3/10/2011 3:27:23 PM

Quote :

"The NCAA has ruled that North Carolina cornerback Charles Brown must sit out the first game of the 2011 season for an agent-related violation, the school announced Friday."

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/brown-to-miss-unc-opener#ixzz1GJWGl3hF

This was released 10 minutes before tip off.

3/11/2011 12:41:31 PM

they've got the idea. lets fire Lowe during Duke/UNC if it happens.

3/11/2011 12:44:36 PM

Ok, so that's not exactly what I expected. I'm still thinking that the end of the investigation is going to be announced next thursday or friday during the games. They know the commentators won't bother talking about the issue (A: The NCAA won't want them too, and B: It's a BBall game, no one will care about FBall).

3/11/2011 12:51:43 PM

http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2011/03/11/gary-wichard-of-pro-tect-management-has-passed-away/

Quote :

"Gary Wichard Of Pro Tect Management Has Passed Away Gary Wichard, the former NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor at the top of successful football agency Pro Tect Management (which he founded in 1980) has passed away. Multiple sources including a member of Pro Tect Management has confirmed the agent’s passing. Wichard had represented some of the best in professional football. At one point in time, Jason Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Terrell Suggs, Keith Bulluck, Antonio Cromartie, Elvis Dumervil, Jimmy Clausen, Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, C.J. Spiller, and Darren Sproles all considered Wichard as their agent of record. For a long time, Wichard was known for his ability to broker fantastic deals for his clients. But then, The UNC Football Scandal broke. Wichard ended up receiving a 9 month suspension from acting as an NFLPA Contract Advisor and was under investigation by the State of North Carolina at the time of his death. Not everyone loved Gary Wichard. He and Pro Tect were sued by his former client Brian Bosworth, for supposedly causing Bosworth to lose over $2 million based on referring Bosworth to a financial advisor (Judd Rothman of Rothman & Rothman in Patchogue, NY) who Wichard apparently knew had engaged in fraudulent activity in the past. Bosworth additionally claimed that Wichard was receiving some sort of compensation for referring clients to Rothman. But a lot of current and former clients did appreciate the work Wichard did for them over the years. Our prayers go out to his family. No matter what kind of harm he may have done to others and the sports agent profession, he was a human being and my hope is that he rests in peace."

3/11/2011 3:46:31 PM

Quote :

"@AGoldFan RT @darren_heitner: BREAKING! Gary Wichard Of Pro Tect Management Has Passed Away sportsagentblog.com/2011/03/11/gar…"

UH OH

3/11/2011 3:46:46 PM

So....is this bad or good for the investigation??

I'm going to guess bad. He's obviously not going to talk now.

3/11/2011 3:49:08 PM

was the guy in bad health?

it somewhat screams suicide but maybe the investigation is waiting to confirm

3/11/2011 3:50:10 PM

^Pretty sure he's been really sick lately. Can't remember what it was (cancer??)...but he's been in bad health for the past year or so.

3/11/2011 3:50:57 PM

i'm sure the situation took a mental/physical toll on him. but, wow.

3/11/2011 3:51:19 PM

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/36261/taylor-devotes-season-to-no-1-advocate

Quote :

"Wichard had throat surgery and gall bladder surgery and has been battling an undisclosed illness"

Sounds like cancer.

3/11/2011 3:53:11 PM

3/11/2011 3:57:23 PM

lol tree

3/11/2011 3:59:25 PM

From my friend who is a UNC alum "That is one stiff NCAA penalty"

3/11/2011 4:04:08 PM

Quote :

"So....is this bad or good for the investigation?? I'm going to guess bad. He's obviously not going to talk now."

Probably but might be easier to subpeona records if privacy isn't a concern.

The bigger question is do the authorities continue to pursue this or just drop the investigation since they don't have anybody to fine, etc.

3/11/2011 4:28:17 PM

wow, just heard about this on the radio. pretty terrible. i know he was at the center of the unc investigation, but from reading what players like jason taylor said about him, seemed like a decent guy

3/11/2011 4:32:40 PM

^^ They can still go after Blake.




And honestly, they probably will.

[Edited on March 11, 2011 at 4:33 PM. Reason : .]

3/11/2011 4:32:55 PM

just saw it was from wilford brimley's disease and pancreatic cancer

3/11/2011 4:33:00 PM

wonder if he got that free Cookbook

3/11/2011 4:34:29 PM

wow, that's crazy. Wish nobody this.

3/11/2011 4:37:19 PM

UNC whacked Gary Wichard

3/11/2011 4:44:30 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/11/arkansas-state-ncaa.ap/index.html

Remember folks, if you're Ark St. and you use an ineligible player then you'll be punished. If you're UNC and you use an ineligible player it's just business as usual, nothing to see here, move along.

3/11/2011 4:50:29 PM