Sources: UNC investigating academics

By Joe Schad
ESPN.com


North Carolina expanded the inquiry into its football program to include allegations of academic impropriety involving a former tutor writing papers for players, sources said Thursday.

The Tar Heels relegated at least nine players to the scout team on Wednesday due to the academic portion of the probe, the sources said. The group included players who were questioned as part of the NCAA's inquiry related to agents and trips to Miami.
Sources said starting defensive tackle Marvin Austin, starting defensive end Robert Quinn and starting linebacker Bruce Carter were among the players who were relegated to the scout team.
Sources said the tutor in question has also been a nanny for head coach Butch Davis' family.
North Carolina scheduled a 7:30 p.m. ET news conference to provide an update on the NCAA's investigation. Chancellor Holden Thorp, athletic director **** Baddour and Davis are all expected to attend.
The school is unlikely to announce the suspensions of any involved players at tonight's news conference.
The NCAA is involved in the academic angle of the investigation as well.
Previously, the NCAA's investigation focused on defensive lineman Marvin Austin and starting wide receiver Greg Little and their contacts with agents and trips to South Florida and California.
Two sources who were interviewed by the NCAA said that Austin has said Miami Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis helped fund some of his expenditures to South Florida. A source close to Davis says he is good friends with Austin, but hasn't interviewed with the NCAA. The same source says Davis says he didn't pay for Austin's trips.