Posted on 09/30/2010 10:58:17 AM PDT by Constitution Day
Prominent NFL agent Gary Wichard and former University of North Carolina assistant football coach John Blake have engaged in multiple financial transactions since May of 2007, a four-month investigation by Yahoo! Sports has found.
Wichard and Blake are now at the center of NCAA and North Carolina Secretary of State probes, which are seeking to determine the nature and scope of alleged agent tampering involving the football program. Those investigations have also focused on Tar Heels defensive tackle Marvin Austin, who has made at least five trips that have come under scrutiny. Two of those trips included training at a California facility less than two miles from Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management. Yahoo! Sports has obtained a hotel receipt from one of those trips, which lists Austin’s name above Pro Tect Management, as well as an address and Marriott Rewards number belonging to an NFL marketing agent who represents two current Pro Tect clients.
(Excerpt) Read more at rivals.yahoo.com ...
Gary Wichard: One of the NFL’s most prominent agents, Wichard is being investigated by the NCAA and North Carolina Secretary of State, in probes that are seeking to determine if agent tampering occurred in the University of North Carolina football program. The name of Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management, appears on a July, 2009 hotel bill linked to Tar Heels defensive tackle Marvin Austin. Multiple sources have also told Yahoo! Sports that documents show a history of financial transactions between Wichard and John Blake, Austin’s former position coach at UNC.
John Blake: A longtime friend of Wichard, Blake had been the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the Tar Heels, until his resignation on Sept. 5. He is currently being investigated in the NCAA and state probes. Blake was the position coach for former Tar Heel player and current Wichard client Kentwan Balmer. An August report by Yahoo! Sports found Blake had been previously employed as the vice president of football Operations for Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management. Sources have detailed a history of financial transactions between Wichard and Blake since 2007.
Marvin Austin: The Tar Heels defensive lineman who has become a prominent part of NCAA and state investigations into potential agent impropriety at UNC. Austin has five cross-country trips under scrutiny, including two to California and three to Miami. His name appears on a hotel receipt that contains the name of Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management, as well address and Marriott rewards account information of NFL marketing agent Fadde Mikhail.
Kentwan Balmer: A former teammate of Austin’s at UNC and current member of the Seattle Seahawks, Balmer trained with Austin in California in March and July of 2009. Representatives for Balmer say he allowed Austin to share a hotel room with him during the March workout, and paid for Austin’s room during the July workout.
Fadde Mikhail: An NFL marketing agent and self-described CEO of Creative Sports International, Mikhail represents two players who are clients in Wichard’s agency – Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller, and New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. An address and Marriott Rewards number linked to Mikhail appear on a July 2009 hotel receipt, along with Austin’s name and Pro Tect Management.
"...Three sources said documents show the relationship between Wichard and Blake also extended into the financial realm several times over the past three years. Those instances included:Copies of receipts for Marvin Austin, Kentwan Balmer hotel stays.• At least six wire transfers from Wichard’s private bank – The First National Bank of Long Island – to Blake.
• A $45,000 personal loan to Blake from The First National Bank of Long Island.
• A Pro Tect Management credit card issued in Blake’s name."
Wait! North Carolina has a football team?
They do at the time of this posting. ;)
LOL
Mack Brown vs Butch Davis on program responsibility:
Mack Brown after loss to UCLA
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/ 092510aan.html
“As a head coach, I’m responsible for everyone in this program – from the trainers, to the managers, to the walk-ons, to the kids, to the coaches - everybody.”
Butch Davis said that not until recently has his staff tried to keep tabs on where his kids are at all times.
“In the past we haven’t monitored where they’ve gone. Kids have said ‘I’m hanging around here, or I’m going with a particular player to his house,’ so no one monitors,” Davis told Sports Drive. “But we have already implemented as measures to try to improve some of the things so that we do know.”
Davis was also asked if he felt that he should’ve known more about some of the things that were going on.
“There are some things that it’s impossible to know. The private lives of people, what people do, it’s still America.”
Well, this was supposed to be their year. They have been playing with about a dozen starters short because they are under investigation for NCAA rule violations.
And when did they become a member of the SEC?
You know you're screwed when when even a diehard Hole homer like the N&O's Tudor is calling for your head.
No wonder Blake is a great recruiter. Still thankful that he is gone from OU. What an embarassment.
I’ve read about that and how he earned the derisive nickname “Black Santa.”
He was dirty before he came to UNC and so was Butch Davis. The powers that be there knew it and hired them anyway.
Win at all costs...it’s The Carolina Way.
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