Latest North Carolina sports

NCAROLINA-AFTER BUTCH Davis' abrupt dismissal leads to tension at UNC CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina's firing of Butch Davis just before preseason camp has divided football fans, faculty members as well as alumni. Some felt Davis should've been fired amid an NCAA investigation into improper benefits as well as academic misconduct. Others felt Davis should've stayed because he wasn't tied to the violation as well as worry this could set the program back years. The change came as the school completes the $70 million upgrade to Kenan Stadium as the symbol of its commitment to football under Davis. The school has heard from ticket holders demanding refunds as well as donors threatening to pull their support. Chancellor Holden Thorp also received emails of support from faculty as well as alumni for protecting the school's integrity. Linebacker Kevin Reddick says players can't worry about the past because "we've still got to win games." BC-CAR-INDYCAR-PROTESTS IndyCar to listen to 2 protests over Sunday's results INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Two IndyCar teams will get the chance to argue their protests next week, league officials say. Newman/Haas Racing as well as Target Chip Ganassi contend IndyCar vice president Brian Barnhart made the wrong decision Sunday in New Hampshire. Newman/Haas' Oriol Servia passed Ryan Hunter-Reay on the restart near the end of the race. But when Danica Patrick slid sideways, causing the big pileup behind the leaders, the race was red-flagged. Barnhart then decided to revert to the previous starting order. That gave Hunter-Reay the win as well as left Servia in second. Ganassi's team is involved because Team Penske driver Will Power was knocked out in the accident but after was easy to fifth place. Power trails Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti ! by 47 po ints. Andretti Autosport, Hunter-Reay's team, also can attend the hearing. GIANTS-BRAVES Delgado shines, Prado wins it in 11th for Braves Rookie Randall Delgado allowed no hits through six innings in his second big-league start, as well as the Atlanta Braves pulled out another last at-bat win on Martin Prado's two-out single in the 11th Tuesday night. Delgado was the star early on, allowing his lone hit on Cody Ross' leadoff homer in the seventh. Prado came through at the end, driving in Brooks Conrad from third with an opposite-field single to right off Javier Lopez (5-2). Arodys Vizcaino (1-0) picked up his first big league win with two scoreless innings. The Braves won for the second straight night in their final at-bat as well as lead the NL with 22 of those victories. MIAMI-NCAA INVESTIGATION Report: Players got gifts from Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, the former Miami booster who is serving the 20-year prison sentence for masterminding the $930 million Ponzi scheme, has told Yahoo! Sports he provided impermissible benefits to 72 of the university's football players as well as alternative athletes between 2002 as well as 2010. Shapiro said he gave money, cars, yacht trips, jewelry, televisions as well as alternative gifts to the list of players including Vince Wilfork, Jon Beason, Antrel Rolle, Devin Hester, Willis McGahee as well as the late Sean Taylor. Shapiro also claimed he paid for nightclub outings, sex parties, restaurant meals as well as in one case, an abortion for the woman impregnated by the player. One former Miami player, running back Tyrone Moss, told Yahoo! Sports he accepted $1,000 from Shapiro around the time he was entering college. Shapiro has said multiple times in the past year, including in the Yahoo! Sports story posted Tuesday, which he ! is angry with several of the players he claims to have helped when they were Hurricanes. Miami officials began cooperating with NCAA investigators not long after Shapiro made claims about his involvement with players last year. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.