UNC’s Cunningham says football players were caught selling shoes, an NCAA violation

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Thursday morning the school selfreported an NCAA violation because it found that football players were selling shoes.

That is against NCAA rules. The news of the violation was first reported by WRAL’s Jeff Gravely Wednesday afternoon, after UNC appeared at the ACC’s annual football media day in Charlotte.

Cunningham said he didn’t know offhand how many players were selling shoes.

“There were a number of students,” Cunningham said at a break during a UNC Board of Trustee’s meeting. “Off the top of my head I don’t have it right in front of me, but all the penalties will be determined within the next couple of weeks.”

UNC’s season starts on Sept. 1 at California.

The news of the violation also comes less than a year after the NCAA wrapped up a multiyear investigation into whether many of UNC’s athletes benefited from African-American Studies courses that never met and required little work.

UNC was not penalized after the conclusion of that investigation.

The most recent violation was deemed “a secondary violation,” which is considered minor. But Cunningham said it was possible that players could be facing suspension.

In March 2017, UNC announced its partnership with Jordan Brand and its football program. During the 2017 football season, UNC, which had previously worn Nike, wore the Jumpman logo on its jerseys. In January, UNC’s equipment staff tweeted out a video showing an exclusive pair of Air Jordan 3 retros that its coaches and players had received.