[1][9] Kane is credited for unearthing substantive academic fraud in conjunction with whistleblower Mary Willingham regarding student-athletes who were directed towards phony classes, according to allegations.
According to The New York Times, Kane was subjected to "violent threats, angry screeds, and Twitter flame campaigns" in response to his reporting.
[1] He "first uncovered a pattern of lax oversight and risibly easy or nonexistent classes disproportionately benefiting athletes".
[5] The team also won a National Headliner Award for education writing from the Press Club of Atlantic City.
[6] With Jane Stancill and J. Andrew Curliss, he won the Duke University/Green-Rossiter award for "distinguished newspaper work in higher education.