University of North Carolina putting an asterisk on New York Giant receiver Hakeem Nicks

Dec. 27, 2008; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis on the sidelines with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (88) in the West Virginia Mountaneers 31-30 victory against the Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

According to the Associated Press, “North Carolina is vacating former receiver Hakeem Nicks’ statistics from 2008 because he was ineligible that season.” 

In the 2008-2009 season, Nicks caught 68 passes for 1222 yards and had 12 touchdown receptions.  He averaged 18 yards per catch for the season with the longest reception being for 74 yards.  The yards and touchdowns were a Tar Heel record.  Nicks’ most productive game of that season was at home against Boston College at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Nicks had eight receptions for 139 yardsand 3 touchdowns.  Nicks also had 3 rushing attempts for 31 yards and 1 touchdown against the Eagles.  Some believe that game led to Nicks being drafted by former BC head coach and then New York Giant head coach Tom Coughlin.  In addition Nicks, currently a New York Giant receiver, built up a good deal of his total figures from that season catching passes from present Houston Texans quarterback TJ Yates.

North Carolina team spokesman Kevin Best explained that the stats will remain in the football media guide and they will be highlighted with an asterisk.  This seems like a touch of denial, and defiance against the NCAA. UNC could have either removed the statistics from the media guide completely or listed them as vacated.

Either way, vacating Nicks’ 2008 statistics makes him one of several ineligible players who was allowed to play at UNC in a season that the NCAA completely vacated the Tar Heels’ wins and losses.