Marvin Austin Dismissed From UNC Team

Marvin Austin has been dismissed from the North Carolina football team as a result of the team's player agent scandal. Two other players, Greg Little and Robert Quinn, were ruled permanently ineligible by the school's student-athlete reinstatement staff.

According to the school, the decision was based on information gathered via a joint investigation with the NCAA.

"It's a sad day when three young men are no longer able to represent their school based on actions they have taken and decisions they have made contrary to NCAA rules," UNC athletic director Dick Baddour said in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately, they made serious mistakes in judgment in accepting extra benefits and then not being truthful with our staff and NCAA representatives."

"As an institution, we must learn from these mistakes and work with the NCAA and others who love the game of football to repair the environment in which they occurred," Baddour said. "College football is a wonderful game, but we need to closely examine and address the agent-related problems. The University of North Carolina pledges to do all it can to do that."

Coach Butch Davis added at a Monday press conference: "I'm also very sad and disappointed that these individuals made these extraordinarily poor choices," coach Butch Davis said during a news conference. "Not only did they jeopardize themselves in their lives, they certainly have jeopardized this team, the university and I know that they're very remorseful about that. But it doesn't diminish the fact that these actions were poor choices in these kids' lives."

The NCAA found unethical conduct charges against Little and Quinn, saying they were not truthful during interviews with the university and the NCAA. The school did not seek to have Austin reinstated.

In July, it was learned that Austin was a possible target in an NCAA investigation. Since, a storm has surrounded the UNC program. Austin was eventually suspended, and NFL agent Gary Wichard found himself tied to the program financially. Davis has found his job in question, but has no plans to step down.