Margo Gray

Instead, Thorpe spent the next year dodging questions from reporters and clinging desperately to the Carolina way. But even he knew he couldn't hold on forever. On September 17, 2012, Holdenthorpe announced he was resigning as chancellor of UNC. The final blow wasn't tied to athletics, but instead to a separate scandal, one involving university fundraisers using school funds for personal trips.

As the Chronicle of Higher Education put it, it was death by a thousand cuts for Holdenthorpe.

As the Chronicle of Higher Education put it, it was death by a thousand cuts for Holdenthorpe.

As the Chronicle of Higher Education put it, it was death by a thousand cuts for Holdenthorpe.

Thorpe's resignation was met with sadness on campus. The university's board of trustees urged him to reconsider, writing, But Thorpe had reached his limit. So I believe when you broke the news to the faculty chair that you were resigning, you said it was because, quote, they wore me down. Who exactly wore you down?

Thorpe's resignation was met with sadness on campus. The university's board of trustees urged him to reconsider, writing, But Thorpe had reached his limit. So I believe when you broke the news to the faculty chair that you were resigning, you said it was because, quote, they wore me down. Who exactly wore you down?

Thorpe's resignation was met with sadness on campus. The university's board of trustees urged him to reconsider, writing, But Thorpe had reached his limit. So I believe when you broke the news to the faculty chair that you were resigning, you said it was because, quote, they wore me down. Who exactly wore you down?

When Thorpe talks about sports trustees, he's referring to UNC board members with close ties to the athletic program. This group was a major headache for Thorpe throughout the scandal.

When Thorpe talks about sports trustees, he's referring to UNC board members with close ties to the athletic program. This group was a major headache for Thorpe throughout the scandal.

When Thorpe talks about sports trustees, he's referring to UNC board members with close ties to the athletic program. This group was a major headache for Thorpe throughout the scandal.

Thorpe was stuck in the middle. Sports fans, on the one hand, blasted him for working with the NCAA, while journalists accused him of covering up the truth. But the main force shaping his decisions wasn't either group. It was the crisis management team around him. They influenced his every move.

Thorpe was stuck in the middle. Sports fans, on the one hand, blasted him for working with the NCAA, while journalists accused him of covering up the truth. But the main force shaping his decisions wasn't either group. It was the crisis management team around him. They influenced his every move.

Thorpe was stuck in the middle. Sports fans, on the one hand, blasted him for working with the NCAA, while journalists accused him of covering up the truth. But the main force shaping his decisions wasn't either group. It was the crisis management team around him. They influenced his every move.

The crisis management team held so much power, partly because Thorpe had no experience handling scandals. He's an academic, like most university leaders.

The crisis management team held so much power, partly because Thorpe had no experience handling scandals. He's an academic, like most university leaders.

The crisis management team held so much power, partly because Thorpe had no experience handling scandals. He's an academic, like most university leaders.

In other words, there's often a disconnect between the skill sets of college presidents and the actual demands of the role. Thorpe experienced this firsthand during the athletic scandal. Despite having no background in college sports, he was tasked with leading the institution through the crisis.

In other words, there's often a disconnect between the skill sets of college presidents and the actual demands of the role. Thorpe experienced this firsthand during the athletic scandal. Despite having no background in college sports, he was tasked with leading the institution through the crisis.

In other words, there's often a disconnect between the skill sets of college presidents and the actual demands of the role. Thorpe experienced this firsthand during the athletic scandal. Despite having no background in college sports, he was tasked with leading the institution through the crisis.

Thorpe writes about this disconnect in a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Education, titled, Where Does the College Presidency Go From Here? The Job is Increasingly Untenable. Change is Needed.