Preposterous

Before his Twitter account went dark, UNC defensive tackle Marvin Austin posted more than 2,400 updates and built up a following of more than 1,800 people.

The online account provided a social outlet for UNC's outgoing football star, but his Twitter feed has been disabled since news broke Thursday of an NCAA inquiry into the Tar Heels football program. A cached version of Austin's account, ANCHORMANAUSTIN, still exists on Google, with 36 pages of past posts and pictures.

The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer have confirmed that Austin and UNC wide receiver Greg Little were both interviewed as part of an NCAA investigation into possible improper contact with sports agents.

It is not clear whether NCAA investigators were aware of Austin's Twitter account, but his posts provide a portrait of Austin's life off the field in recent months. Austin bragged about trips to Washington, D.C. (his hometown) and Miami and his penchant for shopping sprees.

In a May 29 Twitter post that went up at 3:07 a.m., Austin wrote, "I live In club LIV so I get the tenant rate. bottles comin [sic] like its giveaway," a reference to a 30,000-square night club at Miami Beach and champagne bottles.

In the past four months, Austin also posted pictures of a watch for his younger sister, a bag from an upscale sunglass store in Miami and a $143 bill from The Cheesecake Factory in Washington, D.C..

"Jus got to DC an [sic] I'm feeln [sic] a shopn [sic] spree nobody gon [sic] be fresh as ME!!!" Austin tweeted on April 23.

The NCAA has been cracking down on illegal agent activity since announcing the punishment of the University of Southern California in early June because former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received improper benefits from an agent.

Between Feb. 25 and March 8 (the exact date was not available on Google), Austin also lamented his lack of income.

He wrote: "Im [sic] so tired of being brokesomebody make it rain where is packman [sic] jones when u need em."

"Make it rain" is a euphemism for throwing money, typically single $1 bills, at dancers in an exotic club, a maneuver made notorious by former NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones.

Austin, who's from Washington, could have left for the NFL after his junior season at UNC, which featured a career-best 42 tackles and four sacks.

Given a second-round grade by the NFL's underclassmen advisory committee, he could have entered the draft and expected to receive a signing bonus of at least $900,000.

He chose to return for his senior season, which is now in jeopardy if the NCAA finds he received improper benefits from an sports agent.

Austin referenced money when he announced his decision return to UNC on Twitter on Jan. 1.

" yea I could go get paid but in some things it aint all about the money I love carolina point blank!" he tweeted on New Year's Day.

Between this and trouble over what the basketball players were tweeting during the season, UNC and other area colleges need to take a serious look at setting up a comprehensive social media policy.

I don't want to take Twitter and Facebook away from the players, but they have to understand that everything they say is being read by local and national media outlets. News organizations are using tweets and statuses in stories all the time now. The players have to realize that they are more than just regular students because they are star athletes. They represent the university and what they do and say can reflect badly on the school, not to mention get them in trouble with the NCAA, like above.

I have noticed that the UNC athletes are much quieter than normal, so maybe someone has said something. Well, most of them are quiet.

T.J. Yates decided to try and make light of the situation on Twitter: "just got a nice golf lesson from my man @RBaucs......dont worry NCAA its ok we've got a prior relationship." Funny, T.J. How about you take some football throwing lessons?