By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Trying to follow the NCAA’s investigation into a college programs potential violation can oftentimes feel a lot like watching a M. Night Shyamalan movie.

They usually drag on much longer than needed, and while you think you’ve figure out a logical conclusion, the ending is almost always different; and I don’t mean that in a good way.

After the penalties came down for Louisville’s own version of Risky Business, there has been a lot of speculation that the University of North Carolina should be worried. If these are the consequences for what happened on the Cardinals’ campus, then the hammer must be coming down on the Tar Heels, right?

Logically, that would make sense. But, like I said, when does anything the NCAA ever does make sense.

One of the reasons I’m a little skeptical about what the NCAA’s ruling towards North Carolina is because of the defense the university seems to be taking- that because other students, not affiliated with an athletic team, were able to take the classes it is not an athletic problem, but rather an academic one.

Now, I won’t even begin to pretend that I have read every single rule in the NCAA rulebook, or that I’ve spent time reading all the different Notice Of Allegations letters (I believe there are three) that UNC has received.

From what little I do know, this apparently is a legitimate argument that could realistically lessen whatever punishment the NCAA decides to levy. (I’ll let you insert your own analogy here to exemplify how ridiculous that actually is).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame Carolina at all for going this route. It’s actually pretty smart. I just think it’s ridiculous they can make this argument. This may be the first time in history the “Well, everyone else is doing it” rebuttal actually wins a disagreement.

The second reason, and this is the most obvious, is that it’s North Carolina; specifically the Men’s Basketball team.

The NCAA can pontificate about how much they care for the student-athlete and how everything they do is in the best interest of the student. All they care about is money; pure and simple. If there is a way they can not punish one of the most storied programs in the history of collegiate athletics, they will gladly take that avenue and not look back.

As Jerry Tarkanian once said, “The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky it will probably slap another two years probation on Cleveland State.” In this case, the Carolina Women’s team better watch out.

I understand everything I’m saying about the lack of punishment is purely speculative on my part. Who knows, the NCAA may very well use North Carolina as an example. If Louisville does happen to be stripped (no pun intended) of their 2013 championship the precedent will have been set if the NCAA wants to go after either of UNC’s 2005 or 2009 titles.

However, it’s highly unlikely it will ever come to that, no matter how much people think Louisville’s punishments should indicate.

And if Carolina does happen to skate by with minimal infractions there is a very valuable lesson to be learned for every single collegiate athletic program out there.

If you are going to throw a party and pay for prostitutes, please make sure it is open to the entire student body, not just your basketball team. In the eyes of the NCAA, you’ll probably be able to pass it off as a sex education class.