Margo Gray

And these academic advisors were right to be worried. Because the very semester after Debbie retired, the football team earned its worst grade point average in more than a decade, a GPA of 2.1. I'm Margo Gray. This week on Campus Files, the decades-long scheme at UNC finally comes to light.

And these academic advisors were right to be worried. Because the very semester after Debbie retired, the football team earned its worst grade point average in more than a decade, a GPA of 2.1. I'm Margo Gray. This week on Campus Files, the decades-long scheme at UNC finally comes to light.

This is Andy. He's an editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and author of Discredited, The UNC Scandal and College Athletics Amateur Ideal. But perhaps most importantly, he went to UNC when the scandal first broke.

This is Andy. He's an editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and author of Discredited, The UNC Scandal and College Athletics Amateur Ideal. But perhaps most importantly, he went to UNC when the scandal first broke.

This is Andy. He's an editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and author of Discredited, The UNC Scandal and College Athletics Amateur Ideal. But perhaps most importantly, he went to UNC when the scandal first broke.

Dean Smith was the legendary head coach of the UNC men's basketball team from 1961 to 1997. Over those 36 years, he transformed the team into a national powerhouse with a record-setting 879 victories. But if you ask anyone at UNC, they'll tell you Smith is remembered for a lot more than just his accomplishments on the court.

Dean Smith was the legendary head coach of the UNC men's basketball team from 1961 to 1997. Over those 36 years, he transformed the team into a national powerhouse with a record-setting 879 victories. But if you ask anyone at UNC, they'll tell you Smith is remembered for a lot more than just his accomplishments on the court.

Dean Smith was the legendary head coach of the UNC men's basketball team from 1961 to 1997. Over those 36 years, he transformed the team into a national powerhouse with a record-setting 879 victories. But if you ask anyone at UNC, they'll tell you Smith is remembered for a lot more than just his accomplishments on the court.

In the 1980s, college sports were rocked by one scandal after another. Everything from academic cheating to pay-for-play schemes. But at UNC, coach Dean Smith was championing a different path. He called it the Carolina way, a commitment to doing things the right way. Andy says it's a philosophy that long outlived Smith's tenure as head coach.

In the 1980s, college sports were rocked by one scandal after another. Everything from academic cheating to pay-for-play schemes. But at UNC, coach Dean Smith was championing a different path. He called it the Carolina way, a commitment to doing things the right way. Andy says it's a philosophy that long outlived Smith's tenure as head coach.

In the 1980s, college sports were rocked by one scandal after another. Everything from academic cheating to pay-for-play schemes. But at UNC, coach Dean Smith was championing a different path. He called it the Carolina way, a commitment to doing things the right way. Andy says it's a philosophy that long outlived Smith's tenure as head coach.

UNC actually seemed to practice what it preached. While athletic programs at other universities weathered scandals and sanctions, UNC stood apart, boasting a pristine reputation. From 1961 all the way to 2010, UNC managed to avoid a single NCAA violation.

UNC actually seemed to practice what it preached. While athletic programs at other universities weathered scandals and sanctions, UNC stood apart, boasting a pristine reputation. From 1961 all the way to 2010, UNC managed to avoid a single NCAA violation.

UNC actually seemed to practice what it preached. While athletic programs at other universities weathered scandals and sanctions, UNC stood apart, boasting a pristine reputation. From 1961 all the way to 2010, UNC managed to avoid a single NCAA violation.

That changed in July 2010, the summer before Andy's sophomore year, when a UNC football player took to social media bragging about his experience at a Miami nightclub.

That changed in July 2010, the summer before Andy's sophomore year, when a UNC football player took to social media bragging about his experience at a Miami nightclub.

That changed in July 2010, the summer before Andy's sophomore year, when a UNC football player took to social media bragging about his experience at a Miami nightclub.

Once investigators stepped in, the floodgates opened. They uncovered that several football players had been accepting free plane tickets and hotel stays, a clear violation of NCAA rules prohibiting outside gifts. Then came another revelation. A tutor had written portions of players' papers. UNC administrators responded swiftly, hoping to snuff out the scandal before it grew.

Once investigators stepped in, the floodgates opened. They uncovered that several football players had been accepting free plane tickets and hotel stays, a clear violation of NCAA rules prohibiting outside gifts. Then came another revelation. A tutor had written portions of players' papers. UNC administrators responded swiftly, hoping to snuff out the scandal before it grew.

Once investigators stepped in, the floodgates opened. They uncovered that several football players had been accepting free plane tickets and hotel stays, a clear violation of NCAA rules prohibiting outside gifts. Then came another revelation. A tutor had written portions of players' papers. UNC administrators responded swiftly, hoping to snuff out the scandal before it grew.