UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham took part in a teleconference to answer questions from the media following UNC’s release of its response to the NCAA’s Amended Notice of Allegations.

Here are some notes and quotes from Cunningham’s teleconference:

*Asked why he doesn’t think the NCAA has jurisdiction here

Cunningham: The NCAA membership, we’ve worked long and hard studying what should and shouldn’t be a bylaw, what is and is not within the manual and the quality of the class. We understand and have said for quite some time the rigor of our classes is something that we have worked with with SACS, but just because it didn’t meet our normal standards doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a violation of a bylaw.

*Cunningham was then asked if it’s fair to say that “UNC is admitting wrongdoing but is very wise in playing a game of sprit of the law versus letter of the law to circumvent punishment?”

Cunningham: What we’re responding to are the five specific allegations. And the allegations in allegation 1 is the actions of a counselor in our academic support unit, and we have addressed that in the response. And then when it comes to failure to monitor and Lack of Institutional Control, I think those do become jurisdictional questions that the committee will resolve.

*Cunningham didn’t want to get into any conversations UNC may have had regarding possible self-punishment. He was asked if he was concerned it didn’t take that action, but Cunningham said that would only happen if the school felt it had violated NCAA rules that justify a punishment, and “we’re not there yet making a determination on self-imposing any penalties.”

*Cunningham was asked what the university did to keep men’s basketball and football from the ANOA when both were in the NOA?

Cunningham: Our response to the ANOA is simply a response made against the allegations made against the institution. What was included or not is a question for the NCAA.

*Cunningham acknowledged that UNC could at any time impose self-punishment until just before the NCAA hands down its final verdict, and while it’s an option, he didn’t want to speculate on that.

*Cunningham clarified that UNC does not agree with Lack of Institutional Control. He also said he does not think UNC failed to monitor academic support to student athletes and that is it not the responsibility of the athletic department to monitor AFAM.

*Furthermore, Cunningham, when pushed on the LOIC charge, said essentially there were three individuals in a 20-year period that were involved, and UNC does not believe that qualifies as LOIC.

*The AD noted that the presidents and faculty academic representatives on the NCAA council that have discussed what role the NCAA relative to academics. And, the answer is, as Cunningham noted, they stay out of it. “They don’t want the NCAA in the classroom nor do I think they should be.” He further said that the University has its accrediting agency and athletics has its agency that have jurisdictional responsibility.

*Regarding the March, 2012, punishment handed down by the NCAA, it deemed the AFAM stuff at the time as being out of its jurisdiction and levied no allegations or punishment accordingly. How does Cunningham balance that with regard to the Wainstein Report that came out in 2014 going from final in 2012 to there was additional information in 2014?

Cunningham: “Well, the additional information that was discovered part of the allegations and we are responding to that. I do think that some decisions that were previously made need to be recognized, and when we met with the Committee on Infractions it will be a discussion point.”

*Asked what he’s most concerned and worried about when it comes to penalties and punishment, Cunningham replied, “Penalties are probably about one thing I worry about every day, I worry about all kinds of things every day, and I haven’t engaged in any speculation about penalties. Our total focus has been responding to the amended notice, we will shift out attention in the coming months to our meeting with the Committee on Infractions, and I will worry about penalties at that time.”

*Cunningham offered a final word once the questioning had concluded. He praised women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell and noted nobody that works with the program was named in the ANOA, and he gave her and the program his full confidence. That said, he did acknowledge that “women’s basketball appears at risk.”