http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2003/0605/1563467.html What a dumbass. Did he leave the NCAA rulebook in his briefcase again, or in his closet when not on a recruiting trip?
Ooops. I don't buy that he didn't know this was against the rules. He just thought that he wouldn't get caught.
With all due respect it was an NCAA hoops pool. Sure this is technically not allowed by the NCAA, but come on this is absurd. But then again, the NCAA is absurd.
Agreed on all counts. But, this is Neuheisel, who is a shady character to begin with, and has a history of rules violations. He should know better. Then again, I should know better, given his history.
I don't think "I wasn't aware of that rule" is a great defense. He might want to realize that it could be agains the law in his local jurisdiction also!!!
Indeed. NCAA Tournament pools are illegal in most places in this country, no? Most people get away with it because pools are generally harmless, but most people aren't head coaches at high profile Division 1-A football programs.
Re: Re: Read the article, people Yea me too. Damn them for making the article so long and causing me to not read the whole thing!!!
So we know that what Neuheisel did is not against state law. Not to steer the thread off topic but how do you define a bookmaker? People generally have his image of a backalley bookie with a baseball bat and mob connections. But in reality, all you need to be to become a bookie is a list of phone numbers and a willingness to knock on doors to collect money. There is very little difference between a college kid who takes all the bets from his frat brothers and the sports nut in your office.
Took mere minutes to find this.... Washington State Law: RCW 9.46.0213 "Bookmaking." "Bookmaking," as used in this chapter, means accepting bets, upon the outcome of future contingent events, as a business or in which the bettor is charged a fee or "vigorish" for the opportunity to place a bet.
Re: Took mere minutes to find this.... Therefore the pool wouldn't apply unless the organizer took a cut of the pot, correct?
I'm no lawyer, but you'd think. But he and the school risk problems from the NCAA, not necessarily local or state law enforcement.
As a Husky football fan, "Skippy" needs to go. He got caught with recruiting violations at Colorado, he lied about interviewing for the 49ers job, and now he's gambling on NCAA hoops. How many mistakes can this guy make without getting into big time trouble? Washington deserves a coach with a better character than "Skippy." I sincerely doubt this guy's loyalty to the university, program, and players. Hedges should have fired him months ago when he lied about the 49ers ordeal so we could've had a replacement in before spring ball. If he goes now it has the potential to ruin chemistry on the team and completely screw up the upcoming season, which could be a very good one with two top Heisman candidates in QB Cody Pickett and WR Reggie Williams (and a season opener at Oho State, which if UW won could make them legit nat'l title contenders).
This is so incredibly stupid on all counts. Stupid that he's taking heat for doing what millions of people all across the country do. Also stupid that he did it -- he should have been extra careful about rules violations given his history. Just. Plain. Stupid. Maybe UW will replace him with Mike Price
Given that NCAA President Miles Brand today basically told UW to fire him, I'd expect that he'll be gone in the next few days. The last thing UW wants is another NCAA investigation or more sanctions put on Neuheisal. I'd be surprised, given the existing sanctions, if Neuheisal had much current support in the AD's office. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/news/2003/06/06/neuheisel_update_ap/
He's taking heat because he bet $5,000 on college sports and he's a college coach. Millions of people across the country don't do that.
Millions of people bet on the NCAA tournament an amount commensurate with their income. IIRC, he makes 1.2 mil per year. Him betting 5,000 is like a guy that makes 25,000 betting 100.
The difference is, thousands of people don't pay to watch what your job entails, and your job probably doesn't have a national governing body that needs its employees and participants to be above the perception of gambling. That's why.
Take what I said literally. That's how I intended it. I didn't say he shouldn't be taking heat for it. Nor was I wondering why he was taking heat. You inferred that. I said it was stupid that he was taking heat for it. And it is stupid. The rule is stupid. But it exists, and, in light of that, the heat is warranted. I understand that the conduct of NCAA coaches -- rightly or not -- comes under increased scrutiny, and that, accordingly, they should be particularly vigilant. It will be interesting to see if anybody screams "double standard" when he gets fired. UW hoops coach Lorenzo Romar violated NCAA recruiting rules, yet, IRRC, wasn't disciplined.
Most of the NCAA stuff is stupid. I think it's stupid when you can't turn right on red, but in some places, that's the law. Neuheisel should know better, and he doesn't get a free pass because he's pretty much proven that he's a dishonest character. There are a lot of arcane things in the NCAA regs, but I think gambling $5,000 on an NCAA event isn't exactly a gray area.