When the big scandal over the big operation to keep football and basketball stars eligible to play began breaking, top UNC officials did all they could to sweep it under the rug, while assuring faculty members who smelled deep trouble that the whole thing would be investigated and all problems rectified. Two who didn’t buy that line were reading specialist Mary Willingham and history professor Jay Smith. Together, they’ve written a sharp expose of the scandal entitled Cheated.
In today’s Pope Center piece, I review the book. In it, the authors show the tricks and outright academic fraud used to first enroll the stars that the coaches wanted, and then keep them eligible to play.
Undoubtedly, many other big sports schools use the same tactics and coaches are probably worrying, “What if someone really gives our program a close examination?”