Margo Gray

So at this point in your chancellorship, would you have described yourself as a believer in the Carolina way philosophy?

The first crack in the Carolina way came in May 2010, when a football player tweeted about getting bottle service at a Miami nightclub. For the first time since 1961, NCAA investigators were heading to Chapel Hill. Initially, Thorpe thought the scandal might be manageable. It looked like a handful of players had accepted outside payments, but things quickly escalated.

The first crack in the Carolina way came in May 2010, when a football player tweeted about getting bottle service at a Miami nightclub. For the first time since 1961, NCAA investigators were heading to Chapel Hill. Initially, Thorpe thought the scandal might be manageable. It looked like a handful of players had accepted outside payments, but things quickly escalated.

The first crack in the Carolina way came in May 2010, when a football player tweeted about getting bottle service at a Miami nightclub. For the first time since 1961, NCAA investigators were heading to Chapel Hill. Initially, Thorpe thought the scandal might be manageable. It looked like a handful of players had accepted outside payments, but things quickly escalated.

Thorpe soon learned that a tutor had been writing papers for football players, meaning this was now a case of academic fraud and a direct threat to the Carolina way.

Thorpe soon learned that a tutor had been writing papers for football players, meaning this was now a case of academic fraud and a direct threat to the Carolina way.

Thorpe soon learned that a tutor had been writing papers for football players, meaning this was now a case of academic fraud and a direct threat to the Carolina way.

On August 26th, 2010, Thorpe held a last minute press conference to break the news to the university. Wearing a Carolina blue tie, he told the crowd, to everyone who loves this university, I'm sorry about what I have to tell you.

On August 26th, 2010, Thorpe held a last minute press conference to break the news to the university. Wearing a Carolina blue tie, he told the crowd, to everyone who loves this university, I'm sorry about what I have to tell you.

On August 26th, 2010, Thorpe held a last minute press conference to break the news to the university. Wearing a Carolina blue tie, he told the crowd, to everyone who loves this university, I'm sorry about what I have to tell you.

In an effort to show that the university was taking the scandal seriously, Thorpe suspended 12 football players from the opening game against LSU. While the team battled it out on the field, Thorpe spent that game lying on the floor of his box.

In an effort to show that the university was taking the scandal seriously, Thorpe suspended 12 football players from the opening game against LSU. While the team battled it out on the field, Thorpe spent that game lying on the floor of his box.

In an effort to show that the university was taking the scandal seriously, Thorpe suspended 12 football players from the opening game against LSU. While the team battled it out on the field, Thorpe spent that game lying on the floor of his box.

But the drama was only beginning to unfold. This was the moment when Dan Kane, the News & Observer reporter we heard from last episode, uncovered trouble in the AFAM department. He published a story revealing that a football player had taken a senior-level AFAM course before his freshman year and earned a good grade in the class. Thorpe had a bad feeling.

But the drama was only beginning to unfold. This was the moment when Dan Kane, the News & Observer reporter we heard from last episode, uncovered trouble in the AFAM department. He published a story revealing that a football player had taken a senior-level AFAM course before his freshman year and earned a good grade in the class. Thorpe had a bad feeling.

But the drama was only beginning to unfold. This was the moment when Dan Kane, the News & Observer reporter we heard from last episode, uncovered trouble in the AFAM department. He published a story revealing that a football player had taken a senior-level AFAM course before his freshman year and earned a good grade in the class. Thorpe had a bad feeling.

I want to pause here for a moment. Thorpe is acknowledging that in August 2011, long before the university publicly admitted to the paper class scheme and years before the investigations were concluded, he had a clear understanding of the scheme that had been taking place. He understood that the AFAM department was offering fake courses that never actually met and required no work.

I want to pause here for a moment. Thorpe is acknowledging that in August 2011, long before the university publicly admitted to the paper class scheme and years before the investigations were concluded, he had a clear understanding of the scheme that had been taking place. He understood that the AFAM department was offering fake courses that never actually met and required no work.

I want to pause here for a moment. Thorpe is acknowledging that in August 2011, long before the university publicly admitted to the paper class scheme and years before the investigations were concluded, he had a clear understanding of the scheme that had been taking place. He understood that the AFAM department was offering fake courses that never actually met and required no work.

He understood that the primary purpose of the scheme was to keep athletes eligible, primarily basketball and football players, and he knew it had been going on for decades. Instead of coming clean about what he already knew, Thorpe chose to buy the university some time. He launched an internal investigation, a move he now describes as putting the problem on a credit card.