UNC-Chapel Hill will not face sanctions over a pickup game Tuesday.
The men's basketball team played with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in violation of a rule that coaches are not allowed to watch pickup games during the offseason.
Division I basketball teams are also prohibited from any mandatory athletically related offseason activities through final exams, which began Monday.
A team spokesman said Coach Roy Williams knew he wasn't supposed to be at the Smith Center practice gym under the letter of the NCAA rules, but that these were "extraordinary circumstances," and he wanted to make sure everything was OK.
This was a unique situation and not an NCAA issue," NCAA media relations director Erik Christianson said in an e-mail. "It certainly was a great opportunity for the student-athletes to interact with a presidential candidate." (N&O)
Comments
Recruiting advantages and illegal practices
April 30, 2008 - 9:18am — jjsmith2It is seen as an unfair advantage.
Re: No sanctions for UNC on Obama game
April 30, 2008 - 9:10am — maiapinionI had no idea there was that rule. Why is it in place?
Re: No sanctions for UNC on Obama game
April 30, 2008 - 8:43am — jjsmith2I bet if it was NC State, the NCAA would have a different take on the matter.