Art Chansky

Now that the NCAA has acknowledged it has no jurisdiction over the sanctioned courses offered at its more than 1,000 member institutions, it is time to defend the notion that UNC’s ongoing athletic scandal began with the late Dean Smith more than 18 years ago. Smith believed in educational opportunity for all people. Yes, in his last 10 years as UNC’s basketball coach he did accept more recruits with academic records below the university’s baseline. He was allowed to do so because of his outstanding graduation rate of players up to that time and his assurances that these sub-standard...