UNC Investigating Alleged Assault on the Football Team, Incident May Have Started Out As Hazing
ByThe University of North Carolina (UNC) is investigating what is being classified as "an assault" among the football team allegedly stemming from a hazing incident.
Unnamed sources told Yahoo Sports that several teammates assaulted Jackson Boyer, a freshman walk-on wide receiver, in a hotel room in early Aug. The team was staying at the Aloft Hotel in Chapel Hill for preseason training camp.
The sources did not give specifics of the incident, but said it began as team hazing and escalated to physical assault. Boyer was apparently left with a concussion. His father, Rob Boyer, only told Yahoo he was "not ready to comment."
"We are aware of an incident involving members of the UNC football team that took place earlier this month," Kevin Best, the school's assistant athletic director for communications, said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "We take this allegation seriously and the University is conducting a thorough review."
Best told the AP Boyer is still practicing with the team and he did not identify which players were suspected of the alleged assault.
Both Larry Fedora, the football team's head coach, and Bubba Cunningham, the school's athletic director, said they were unable to comment on the matter. There have also been no dismissals, suspensions or roster moves that could be an indicator of punishment.
"Nobody's saying secrecy is the best policy," Fedora told the Raleigh News and Observer after his radio show. "We issued a statement today and that's it. That's the statement. I don't think it's secrecy. I mean, you know how I am, I don't even talk about the quarterbacks (competition). So I haven't changed."
UNC is currently battling further allegations of secrecy in their academic fraud scandal. The NCAA recently reopened its investigation into the school's AFAM department, which has allegedly been handing out passing grades to student-athletes to keep them eligible to play.