NCAA says two Heels cannot play

Ramsay, McAdoo ruled permanently ineligible for UNC

By: Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 16, 2010

CHAPEL HILL

Devon Ramsay and Michael McAdoo, North Carolina football players, were ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA yesterday.

Ramsay played in UNC’s first four games, two of which were victories, before school officials decided to hold him out after gathering information in an NCAA investigation into the football program for possible illegal contact with a sports agent and a school investigation into possible academic fraud.

The NCAA enforcement staff will not require UNC to forfeit the wins, which came against Rutgers and East Carolina. UNC has the necessary six wins for bowl eligibility and will be able to play in a bowl if selected.

Ramsay is a junior fullback. McAdoo is junior defensive end. Dick Baddour, the UNC athletics director, said in a prepared statement that the school will appeal the rulings to the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.

“While we respect the decision, the facts of the cases simply do not support permanent ineligibility,” Baddour said. “We will aggressively appeal and are hopeful the reinstatement committee will reach the same conclusion.”

Ramsay has not played in the last six games. He had two pass receptions for 15 yards and scored a touchdown in a season opening loss to LSU by a 30-24 score in Atlanta.

Ramsay and McAdoo were the last of 16 players whose eligibility had to be determined for this season because of the two investigations.

Eight players were cleared — linebacker Bruce Carter (0 games missed), linebacker Quan Sturdivant (0), tailback Shaun Draughn (1), safety Da’Norris Searcy (3), safety Deunta Williams (4), tailback Ryan Houston (5), defensive end Linwan Euwell (5), and cornerback Kendric Burney (7).

Seven players have not participated this season: defensive tackle Marvin Austin (dismissed), defensive end Robert Quinn (permanently ineligible), receiver Greg Little (permanently ineligible), safety Jonathan Smith (ineligible), safety Brian Gupton (ineligible), cornerback Charles Brown (ineligible), and McAdoo.

Smith, Gupton and Brown have one season of eligibility left and can return in the 2011 season if they choose.

UNC appealed NCAA suspensions on Williams for four games and Burney for six, but the appeals were denied. Burney was held out an extra game by school officials. UNC did not appeal the ineligible rulings on Quinn and Little.