North Carolina coach Butch Davis has been fired, the school announced on Wednesday. Davis was informed by chancellor Holden Thorp and Director of Athletics Dick Baddour of the decision.

Davis "To restore confidence in the University of North Carolina and our football program, it's time to make a change," Thorp said in a prepared statement. "What started as a purely athletic issue has begun to chip away at this University's reputation. I have been deliberate in my approach to understanding this situation fully, and I have worked to be fair to everyone involved. However, I have lost confidence in our ability to come through this without harming the way people think of this institution. Our academic integrity is paramount and we must work diligently to protect it. The only way to move forward and put this behind us is to make a change."

Instant reaction: Wow. Can't get over the timing of this. We just got back from media days, where Butch Davis represented the university and spent a good chunk of his time addressing the issue. I absolutely agree with the decision, but it should have come earlier. A lot earlier.

ESPN.com will have more analysis to come on this, so stay tuned this evening.