Former coaches Brown, Davis deny involvement in UNC academic scandal

Former North Carolina football coaches Butch Davis and Mack Brown have denied being involved in the academic fraud scandal at North Carolina, according to a report from ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

On Wednesday, the University released the results of an investigation conducted by former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein that detailed how about 1,500 athletes (and more than 3,100 students) enrolled in bogus classes over a nearly two-decade period. The NCAA can use Wainstein's report in determining punishment for UNC.

Brown coached the Tar Heels from 1988-97 and Jones from 2007-10.

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"Absolutely not [was I aware of any fraudulent activity]," Davis said. "We were completely interested in our players graduating, having great careers and success academically, but to say we had any idea that there were fraudulent independent study classes -- yes, we were aware there were independent classes -- but to say there were fraudulent or that there was anything crooked -- we had no idea." [...]

"I wasn't aware [of the paper classes]," Brown said. "I never ever heard, felt or saw anything inappropriate academically. Like Butch said, after 30 years as a head coach, I never told an academic counselor where to put a young guy in a class, never told one what major to take. I never met with a dean, never met with someone in the department. I've never gone and talked with a faculty member about a grade because there was perceived pressure.

"I was getting [academic] reports, like Butch would get reports, but it was simply [an update on student-athlete's] grades."

• North Carolina releases Wainstein report on academic scandal