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Washington Coach Rick Neuheisel Says He Was In Gambling Pool
AP via ESPN ^ | Associated Press

Posted on 06/05/2003 10:23:23 AM PDT by John W

SEATTLE -- Washington Huskies football coach Rick Neuheisel admits he participated in an NCAA basketball tournament gambling pool the past two years, The Seattle Times reported Thursday.

Two NCAA investigators and one from the Pac-10 Conference questioned Neuheisel on Wednesday after receiving a tip that he put up $5,000 and won about $20,000 by picking Maryland in an auction-format pool on the men's basketball tournament in 2002, the newspaper reported.

NCAA officials would not discuss the probe.

The NCAA manual specifies that coaches, staff members and athletes may not knowingly "solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) that has tangible value."

Emerging from a meeting with the investigators, Neuheisel acknowledged that his college coaching career could be on the line.

"I never in my wildest dreams imagined I was doing anything to jeopardize my employment," he said. "I don't think I would ever put myself in that situation knowingly, but I'm hopeful I can be the coach at Washington. I'd certainly like to be."

Huskies athletic director Barbara Hedges said she learned of Neuheisel's involvement in the betting pool late Wednesday and promised "a careful review of all the facts."

"Gambling is a serious violation of NCAA rules," Hedges said. "You can't minimize this. The university will take this very seriously."

Neuheisel said he was part of a four-member "team" that had the overall winner in both years he participated in what he described as a pizza-and-beer gathering. Neuheisel said his group split its winnings but would not discuss dollar amounts.

Under the auction format, participants bid on each team and the highest bid gets that team in the tournament.

"I was there (at the auction) really because most of these people were buddies of mine from my neighborhood," Neuheisel said. "Their kids went to the same school as my kids and I was an invitee ...

"Obviously, it's become a point of contention, but I never imagined that I was doing anything wrong, because we weren't dealing with bookies or lines or anything like that.

"We were just friends, like we were betting on golf holes. It seemed pretty harmless."

He would not discuss the dollar figures.

"I was fortunate to be on a winning team, but the money was of no consequence. It really made no difference," he said. "I was just there to share some social time with some guys in the neighborhood, golf buddies and so forth ... all guys I thought were friends."

Neuheisel, 42, has a 33-15 record in four seasons with the Huskies. Under a six-year contract extension he signed in September, he makes $1.2 million a year, and a five-year option could keep him at Washington until 2013.

The kind of pool Neuheisel described is not against state law unless a bookmaker is involved, but NCAA rules forbid any form of gambling on college sports by athletes and coaching staff.

Institutions can be sanctioned in such cases if violations were known to college officials or if the NCAA finds they should have known.

"There are a lot of questions and we don't have a lot of answers," Hedges said.

"In hindsight, Rick realizes he should have known," she said. "It's clear that gambling is prohibited on any kind of college sports regardless of what the circumstances are. I do believe Rick should have understood the situation. He just didn't relate it to the particular social situation he was in.

"Rick was forthcoming. That is to his credit."

NCAA measures to combat gambling by coaches, players and staff include preseason talks by consortium officials to athletes, locker room posters and efforts to deny credentials to cover major NCAA events to newspapers that publish gambling point spreads.

Many college athletic departments ban even ordinary, small-change tournament brackets that are commonly filled out in offices nationwide during so-called "March Madness."

"If an athlete or coach put $1 in a pool, certainly there would not be a significant penalty," said Bill Saum, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities. "If there is a significant amount of money in the pool, there would be a significant penalty."

The Times reported that the NCAA investigators also questioned Neuheisel about two potential minor violations.

The most recent was in February, when he issued a statement through the university denying he had been interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers head-coaching vacancy -- then admitted he had in fact been interviewed.

Thursday is the deadline for the Huskies to report to the NCAA that Neuheisel has fulfilled all compliance requirements concerning 50 minor violations that were committed while he was coach at Colorado from 1995-98.

As the last requirement on the list, Neuheisel attended a regular NCAA compliance seminar Wednesday with athletic department officials from many schools.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Colorado; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: uw
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To: HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate
So was the House of Representatives Banking scandal, but people were rightly upset that the disHonorable Memebers were check kiting and the amounts didn't matter - it was dishonest.

Everybody in NCAA and Pro sports knows gambling on games is about the worst thing you can do, because it affects the integrity of the game. The guy thinks he is about the rules. So did Rosty and friends.

College basketball players have done Federal time for point shaving. Universities can't have their coaches involved with gambling - period.
21 posted on 06/05/2003 11:17:07 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (The Clintons are like the stench Jerry Seinfeld couldn't get out of his car!)
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To: HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate
So was the House of Representatives Banking scandal, but people were rightly upset that the disHonorable Memebers were check kiting and the amounts didn't matter - it was dishonest.

Everybody in NCAA and Pro sports knows gambling on games is about the worst thing you can do, because it affects the integrity of the game. The guy thinks he is about the rules. So did Rosty and friends.

College basketball players have done Federal time for point shaving. Universities can't have their coaches involved with gambling - period.
22 posted on 06/05/2003 11:17:30 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (The Clintons are like the stench Jerry Seinfeld couldn't get out of his car!)
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To: You Dirty Rats
I've always wished the Huskies the best As a true Husker fan I would try to get a matchup with them on a constant basis. Skippy just has flaws. His appearance is satisfying but he keeps screwing up. Huskie fans sure can do better than him. Of course when Don James left a void appeared just as when Tom Osborne left NU.
23 posted on 06/05/2003 11:27:53 AM PDT by Digger
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To: NittanyLion
"Perhaps the belief is that they're in a position to exert their influence toward affecting the outcome."

You're right. They knew UW was going to lead the Pac 10 this Summer and Fall and the NCAA hates the UW and has for years.

The NCAA needs reformation. (Considering your handle, I assume you have some first hand experience with the NCAA's warped dictates.) Otherwise we are destined to see more LeBron James' and 13 year old soccer players inking big contracts and by-passing college all together. Think we pay high taxes now, just wait when the public schools lose the sports revenue. UW and WAZZU's Presidents have been lobbying the legislators and business leaders for more dough for their schools, look out.

24 posted on 06/05/2003 11:29:05 AM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: bigfootbob
Maybe the size of the bet? Maybe because they think NCAA coaches may have an unfair advantage (insider knowledge) over others?

Bets between Governors are pretty trivial...a sack of oranges vs. a box of lobsters, plus I don't think they have an "in" with NCAA coaches like other coaches do.
25 posted on 06/05/2003 11:31:37 AM PDT by Guillermo (Proud Infidel)
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To: NittanyLion
How does a football coach betting on basketball games do that?

If he broke the rules, he ought to be canned, but a bit of common sense might also be in order.
26 posted on 06/05/2003 11:32:12 AM PDT by hchutch ("If you don’t win, you don’t get to put your principles into practice." David Horowitz)
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To: NittanyLion
There's a sense here in Seattle that Neuheisel might not survive this one - it's been one thing after another with him, and this might be the last straw. Apart from all of his ethical lapses, there is the growing feeling here that Neuheisal is not a top-flight coach, and the doubts about his coaching ability might act synergistically with the ethical lapses to undermine his support to the breaking point.
27 posted on 06/05/2003 11:44:51 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Steve_Seattle
I hear there is a former "Moo U" football coach available after running in to a buzz saw at the "Tide".
28 posted on 06/05/2003 11:49:22 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: bigfootbob; NittanyLion
To further expand on what Nittnaylion said, see following link from the Seattle Times

NCAA might give Hedges (Atheletic Director) no option but to fire Neuheisel

Neuheisel has been a good, not great coach at Univ. of WA. However, from the moment he arrived in Seattle, he been having trouble with recruiting violations, engaging in Clinton-speak when he interviewed with the San Francisco 49'ers and denied it. Even if his behavior was clean up to this point, it sound like the NCAA regulations are explicit about betting on NCAA games. With all the questionable lapses in judgement, no one will be sorry to see him go.

Besides, Univ. of WA can hire the other exemplary collegiate coach from the Northwest, Mike Price. I heard Alabama let him out of his contract.

29 posted on 06/05/2003 11:50:57 AM PDT by eeman
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To: NittanyLion
How could he be so stupid? What kind of ethical blindspot permits a screwup like this?
30 posted on 06/05/2003 11:53:54 AM PDT by Petronski (I"m not always cranky.)
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To: eeman
engaging in Clinton-speak

LOL...plus the defenders here seem to think that he should be exempt from the rules that all the ther coaches seem to know and follow. He is an attorney. Like Martha Stewart who was a stock broker, they should know the rules and allthough they are picky, they need to follow 'em.

31 posted on 06/05/2003 11:57:24 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: bigfootbob
Now you've done it..

I will never ever root for any PAC 10 team after attempt of their death penalty in 1992. Even to this day I argue with UW fans and alumni over this, they always say UW first, WSU second, and PAC 10 third.
32 posted on 06/05/2003 12:01:54 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: shotgun
WSU second

"Moo U" that udder university...

33 posted on 06/05/2003 12:11:05 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Xenalyte
I got in a Super Bowl pool back in 2000, and forgot to watch the game. When I came in on Monday morning, I'd won $150. Talk about a good start to the week!

LOL. That is classic.

34 posted on 06/05/2003 12:14:00 PM PDT by Corporate Law (<><)
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To: Hat-Trick
I think Hedges was an associate athletic director at UCLA when Rick was the quarterback there.
35 posted on 06/05/2003 12:14:12 PM PDT by connectthedots
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To: eeman
Rich has probably done less with more talent than just about any coach in the country.
36 posted on 06/05/2003 12:15:23 PM PDT by connectthedots
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To: Drango
Direction to WSU from Seattle:
Go east to you smell it, then south until you step in it..If that doesn't work just remember all dirt roads lead to Pullman!
37 posted on 06/05/2003 12:15:55 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: Corporate Law
I know, I know . . . total chick story.
38 posted on 06/05/2003 12:19:59 PM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: shotgun
Q: Why does WSU stadium have artificial turf?

A: So the cheerleaders won't eat the grass.

39 posted on 06/05/2003 12:21:11 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Petronski
How could he be so stupid? What kind of ethical blindspot permits a screwup like this?

Pure arrogance would be my guess.

40 posted on 06/05/2003 12:23:07 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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