University of Washington fires Neuheisel over pool winnings

UncleButternutts · Jun 11, 2003

SEATTLE -- University of Washington head football coach Rick Neuheisel has reportedly been fired after twice participating in an NCAA Tournament gambling pool, something strictly forbidden for college athletes and staffers.

The accusations began last week when a pair of NCAA investigators and one from the Pac-10 Conference, of which Washington is a member, were in Seattle to meet with Neuheisel and university officials. They were acting on a tip that the Huskies coach wagered $5,000 on Maryland in an auction-format March Madness pool before the 2002 men's basketball tournament, winning some $20,000 when the Terrapins pulled out a victory last March.

The widespread pools are popular come tournament time and are not against Washington state law when a bookmaker isn't involved, but the NCAA prohibits collegiate athletes and staffers from taking part.

Allegations of wrongdoing are nothing new for Neuheisel, whose four-year tenure at Washington has been rocky. Most recently, in February of this year, he issued a statement denying that he'd interviewed for the vacant San Francisco 49ers head coaching position, even though he had met with the NFL team.

Journeyman · Jun 11, 2003

NCAA CRACKDOWN CONITNUES! HE WON`T HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB..

NOTRE DAME, ALABAMA, WASHINGTON, and IOWA STATE in Hoops...

HOW MANY MORE COACHES WILL LOSE THEIR JOB FOR STUFF THEY TAKE FOR GRANTED?

WildBill · Jun 11, 2003

The stupid thing is that there were a few articles that actually quoted the supposed rules he broke and a lawyer would clearly point out that he didn't. It says that a coach cannot participate in parlay cards or wagers that are "ordinarily run by organized crime". I can't find that article, but its quite clear to me that this was far from a rule violation and I can see why he didn't realize he was breaking a rule. The NCAA tells everyone don't bet on anything with a bookie or in Vegas, or whatever. A calcutta type pool that it appears he got into isn't run by bookies, no one takes a profit from the pool and its done merely as a fun activity amongst associates. And of course someone has to prove to the public that a coach causes any harm or has any influence on an event that his school isn't even involved in! They can't do that, but they are in such an anti-gaming thing right now, their schools run amuck with bookmakers and offshore accounts they are going to find scapegoats.

Sad really, being a UW alum he brought us pride as we had been so ravaged by the last run-in of trumped up charges by all the schools tired of losing to us. The coach brought in national talent and then in just 2 seasons got us near the top of the heap. To have him forced out by this petty thing is an absolute outrage to almost all of us. If a man does something that brings shame to the school and the program that is fine, go ahead and fire him. But engaging in betting on something over half the country does is not a shame, but his firing surely is as big a shame as anything.

Journeyman · Jun 11, 2003

well said Wild Bill

jateeluv · Jun 11, 2003

duplicate

jateeluv · Jun 11, 2003

A-men in that non religious type way

Railbird · Jun 12, 2003

Why is Rick Pittino allowed to own horses? Rick Nehuisal maybe one of the best coaches in any sport on any level, humongous loss for the kids at UW. No better qb tutor alive, he goes on ski trips with the players, I would like to see that lardass Parcells try to ski down a mountain.

max1234 · Jun 12, 2003

Rail,

How many horses are on NCAA scholarships? And didn't your super coach have NCAA problems at Colo and Wash? Hell, you're touting a cheater.

WildBill · Jun 12, 2003

Problem for Neuheisel is he takes over the recruiting himself too much. He just has to change his ways, visiting fewer players and only after low level guys have made inroads with the players. Then again that is some of his success, he meets the players and spends time with them to prove he really is a good coach to be with. I think its the rules themselves that are causing trouble, not the coach. But the rules are the rules and he will follow them at some point because lets face it he isn't cheating any more than probably 50 other schools. He isn't giving money, he doesn't have boosters run amuck giving favors, bottom line is he is a solid coach that clearly has a lot of pull on athletes that would not consider going to his school otherwise. After all there is no way Florida HS players Reggie Williams and Rich Alexis end up at UW without Neuheisel getting them on board. That is where the team loses the most, because Keith Gilbertson is a nice guy and has a great offensive mind, but he isn't going to convince too many players outside the Pacific time zone to come to UW and I suppose it means more lean years for the team.

I am just wondering when they nab USC, those guys are getting every player left and right now. Don't even try to tell me they play by all the rules and don't do anything illegal. How many millionaire alums they have who don't think twice about travelling to every home and road game and would spend thousands on getting a better team? Every school bends the rules, its just some get dumped and others somehow keep their image clean.

Railbird · Jun 12, 2003

USC is clean, all the La talent grows up wanting to be like AD and OJ. Norm Chow is the best.

Scoob · Jun 12, 2003

Wildbill - Reggie Williams is from Tacoma, WA not Florida.

Railbird · Jun 12, 2003

Mike Williams who will probably win the Heisman is from Florida.

max1234 · Jun 12, 2003

USC cheats, they're just not as dumb as Neuheisel. I really don't mind coaches cheating just don't be so f*cking stupid you get caught at it all the time.

miked429 · Jun 12, 2003

mike williams wins the heisman if every player in division 1 dies.and then it still is 50/50.

ICHIROTUIASOSOPO · Jun 12, 2003

Wild Bill- the other 2 Huskies that where from Florida on last years team, along with Rich Alexis, were K John Anderson and WR/KR Charles Fredrick.

WildBill · Jun 12, 2003

Sorry, I meant Fredrick, I just got emotional

Anyone that thinks SC doesn't cheat is delusional. What they think all those millionaire alums were happy with the string of subpar seasons and did nothing financially about it? This is the school that has already paid for its scholarship and coaches, they got million dollar endowments that generate the interest to pay for about 30 scholarships and a bunch of others to pay the coaches. The place is swimming in money. You are going to tell me that car dealers in Alabama and Oklahoma were willing to sacrifice lots of money, but these SC millionaires were not because they played by the rules??? Come on, thats a joke.

Good point about not getting caught, but its just ironic that anyone that reads rules will see that Neuheisel didn't break the rule he supposedly did. Even though it could hurt my school, I hope he sues their tail off and wins, get Hedges and the worthless administration out. We have people not committed to winning, just people committed to spending the $15 million in profit the department gets on "striking a balance between athletics and academics". Screw that, I want to win and think most alums are with me on it. Our basketball program is a joke because Hedges won't spend any money on a real coach, the football team has bled away a lot of the quality of staff under the head coach that used to separate us from the Pac 10, and worst of all it too frickin Paul Allen bringing his lousy team to the stadium to get upgrades like a decent field and a replay screen. What the hell is that, we make MILLIONS every year, we could sell 90,000 season tickets if we ever got someone willing to take some heat and increase the capacity, we have the best franchise in all of the Northwest and Hedges is sitting on her ass in her cozy office telling us that athletics need to be balanced with the desires of the community and the academic standards of the school. We got plenty of smart people coming out of school irregardless of our athletic program and half the players aren't even there to study anyway. Its pathetic, but that is the people of Seattle and the Northwest for you. They drive slow, they do everything cautiously, and they usually hate to ruffle feathers. To think a lot of people were really upset about Neuheisel "oh thats too much to pay a coach". Any wonder I don't live up there anymore? Whatever, its time to clean house. Why couldn't Hedges take the ax too, she needs to stop pretending its Ivy league standards there and either accept the demands of being in one of the toughest football and basketball conferences or get out and put in someone that does understand it.

max1234 · Jun 13, 2003

Anyone that thinks SC doesn't cheat is delusional

Well, we are talking about Rail's opinion so I guess you're correct.

JoeyC · Jun 13, 2003

Next thing will be petitions to remove Governors and Mayors who wager with each other over who's team will win the Super Bowl or World Series.

This shit is frikking stupid.

Do these sick fuk, right wing Bible Beaters think they will stop people from even making friendly wagers, or do they just get their collective nuts off this way?