Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, whose transcript was leaked on the University of North Carolina website Sunday night, discussed his academic record and his dismay at the leaking of his transcript in a press release distributed Saturday:
"I'm terribly disappointed in the fact that my privacy has been violated, as well as frustrated with whoever negligently and carelessly committed such a flagrant error."
Peppers' transcript leaking has placed him at the center of questions raised by an internal UNC investigation that found poor oversight in 54 African-American Studies classes at the school between the summers of 2007 and 2011. Peppers attended UNC between 1999 and 2001; his statement does admit that he wasn't the most diligent student:
During my undergraduate years, I, like many other students, was trying to find direction and adjust to being independent for the first time as a young adult. With this new freedom and unfamiliar environment, I will admit that, at times some of my priorities were not always aligned properly. Luckily, I had a great support system, including Dr. Carl Carey and the athletic academic department, who gave me much needed counsel.
Peppers has appeared in Pro Bowls the last four years.
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