By John Nestor

Chapel Hill, NC

North Carolina took steps to punish its football program for violations. Now it can only hope the NCAA doesn't go any further.

In a response to receiving a notice of allegations from the NCAA, North Carolina announced it will vacate 16 football victories from the 2008 and 2009 seasons and reduce scholarships as part of self-imposed penalties.

The school also put the football program on two years of probation in response to the NCAA inquiry into athletes accepting improper benefits and academic misconduct.

"We have acknowledged our violations, and we've responded in the way you would expect of this University," UNC chancellor Holden Thorp said in a statement. "We think that the sanctions we have proposed accept responsibility and, at the same time, give our current and future student-athletes and coaches every opportunity for success.

"We go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on October 28, and that will be another important milestone."

North Carolina will appear before the NCAA infractions committee on Oct. 28 and then wait to find out if it's self-imposed penalties are deemed enough ot if the NCAA is going to hand out additional penalties.

"I believe the report is a very thorough response to the NCAA," UNC athletics director Dick Baddour said. "The University of North Carolina takes our standing and reputation in the NCAA community seriously and with great respect and our response to the allegations reflects that. We accept responsibility for mistakes that were made in terms that are balanced, measured and fair."

When the scandal broke it resulted in 14 players missing at least one game with seven sitting out the entire season. It eventually cost coach Butch Davis his job.

It appears that the Tar Heels are starting to move beyond the scandal on the field as they are off to a 3-0 start with wins over James Madison, Rutgers and Virginia.

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Tar Heels Football To Vacate Wins and Cut Scholarships