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UNC Football: Terry Watson pleads guilty to breaking law

By Brandon Griffin

Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora speaks to the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora speaks to the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Agent Terry Watson pleads guilty to violating North Carolina state law. What does this mean for the Tar Heels?

If you haven’t heard, North Carolina is under investigation by the NCAA.

The investigation that started all the way back in 2010 has cost the university millions of dollars, recruits, potential championships, reputation, staff, and even a good football coach in former head coach Butch Davis.

The investigation stemmed from a tweet by former Tar Heel Marvin Austin at a party during the summer of 2010. That tweet raised questions about unfair benefits and got the football team put on probation by the NCAA.

Nov 15, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Florida International University newly acquired head coach Butch Davis sits court side with his wife Tammy Davis during the first half of a game between the Atlanta Hawks the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Florida International University newly acquired head coach Butch Davis sits court side with his wife Tammy Davis during the first half of a game between the Atlanta Hawks the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

It also cost UNC three future NFL players for the 2010 season: Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, and Greg Little. Quinn would end up going in the first round and Austin and Little in the second.

It also might have cost UNC a chance at a national championship in football that year. The Tar Heels went 7-5 that season, but three of those losses were by six or fewer points. If everyone was eligible, that team figured to be pretty good.

The reason those three players were ineligible to play is because they were connected to agent Terry Watson. Watson plead guilty to violating the state of North Carolina’s agent laws and admitted to giving those players money.

So what does this mean to UNC?

In the grand scheme of things, maybe nothing. The NCAA investigation involved with that technically ended back in 2012 with a bowl ban and loss of scholarships and wins.

However it did open the door to the current investigation involving the academic scandal that seems to be nowhere near ending.

Additionally, it opens the door for further criticism for the Tar Heels by its opponents. Maryland’s president recently weighed in on the situation (and then Roy Williams weighed in on him). Duke and NC State fans alike will use this to say that UNC is a bunch of cheaters.

No matter how anyone looks at it, it is just another reminder that this is far from over. In five years (assuming the NCAA has made a ruling by then) this will just be another footnote in the academic faux pa.

Until then, it is just the latest in a long running line of stories that will not end until things finally get resolved, if they ever do.

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