Greensboro, N.C. ? Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford said Monday college athletics need a major overhaul, that tweaking the status quo isn’t going to get it done.

“Over the years what’s happened is you try to put in a rule that keeps those that would cheat from cheating, and you end up trying to close every little loophole,” Swofford told The Associated Press on Monday. “I think we need to be addressing the felons, if you will, as opposed to the jaywalkers and get ourselves out of this maze of rules that are unenforceable.

“Although well-intended, I’m not sure whether somebody got a text on a day they weren’t supposed to get a text is a huge problem in reality.”

A quarter of Swofford’s ACC schools are mired in NCAA troubles.

The commissioner said league officials have talked with Miami, where a former booster claims he provided cash, gifts and other improper benefits to athletes over an eight-year period. North Carolina has spent the past year coping with an NCAA probe of improper benefits and academic misconduct. Georgia Tech recently was forced to give back its 2009 ACC football championship trophy because of rules violations.

“The last thing I want to see in our league are NCAA problems,” Swofford said. “So yes, whether it’s one or two or three, anytime they’re there, it’s disappointing.”

Miami is reviewing the eligibility of 15 players as part of its probe. Last season’s investigation at North Carolina forced 14 players to miss at least one game and seven to sit the entire year.

“When we have any particular school that has a significant NCAA issue, it’s disturbing and we take it very seriously and expect the institutions to — which they do,” Swofford said. “Certainly it’s something that’s not who we are nor do we want it to become who we are.”

Swofford also addressed reports that ACC schools Clemson and Florida State were possible realignment targets of the Southeastern Conference this month. He said leaders at every ACC school have told him they’re “committed to the league and we’re a stable group.”