UNC's Star Wide Receiver Wants To Violate A Bunch Of NCAA Rules For His Birthday

Dwight Jones is North Carolina's leading receiver this season, heading into the Tar Heels' Independence Bowl matchup with Missouri with more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdown receptions on the season. The senior is projected to be a second- or third-rounder in the upcoming NFL draft. Thus, it's understandable that the young man wants to celebrate his 23rd birthday—which, incidentally, is New Year's Day—in style.

And so, five days after his college career ends at that bowl in Shreveport, La., Jones is holding a party at 778 Sports Lounge in Burlington ( view the full flyer, which is currently the profile image on Dwight Jones's Facebook page and which features a free-floating cigar and hundred-dollar bills raining onto a throne of gold). The promotion offers $500 to "some lucky ladies," not to mention 24 comped admissions and 24 free shots on the hour—an odd choice of number, since Jones is turning 23.

This is great for a number of reasons, not least of which is that the NCAA is in the process of punishing UNC for nine major rule violations, including a "failure to monitor social media" charge (the school is currently serving a self-imposed two-year probation). We're told the hall monitors in Indianapolis would almost assuredly look askance at an event like this—"a violation leading to a suspension for the bowl game," says one source familiar with NCAA bylaws, "though he'd be reinstated on appeal." But what a perfect protest, intended or not. Using his own image on promotional materials encouraging people to buy overpriced tickets to a tacky event? Who does Dwight Jones think he is— the UNC athletic department?

[h/t to James M]