By R.J. Anderson
Coaches, administrators, players, and many others at the University of Toledo are holding their collective breath as the details regarding an alleged point-shaving scandal continue to filter in. In the immediate fallout, Harvey “Scooter” McDougle, a running back on the football team, was charged with conspiracy to bribe sporting events. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court, McDougle, who pleaded innocent to the charge, is also accused of recruiting other Toledo athletes to influence the final scores of football and basketball games.
FBI agents say a Detroit-area man named Ghazi "Gary" Manni contacted McDougle and other Toledo athletes, offering cash, groceries, merchandise and other gifts in exchange for affecting the outcomes of specific games. An affidavit from an FBI agent said phone calls to and from Manni’s home were monitored from November 2005 to December 2006. When interviewed by the Toledo Blade about the matter, Manni denied having any involvement in the alleged scandal, but admitted that he does know McDougle.
The affidavit also indicates that McDougle instructed Manni to place a $2,000 bet on a Toledo game for him, that a Toledo football player was offered $10,000 to sit out games, and that football and basketball players were recruited to help Manni win bets on games in which Toledo competed.
The FBI says during an interview in December, McDougle admitted to receiving a car, telephone, and other things of value from Manni, but that he insisted that he never changed the way he played to affect the outcome of games. The criminal charge against McDougle carries a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. McDougle, 22, who would have been a fifth-year senior this fall, is suspended from the football team indefinitely.
This article in the Toledo Blade indicates that Las Vegas gambling insiders saw warning signs in 2004 and 2005—specifically that there were irregularities surrounding University of Toledo football games.
"A lot of people saw the signs that something was up," one Las Vegas sports bookmaker said, adding that no domestic gambling operation would want its name associated with this matter. "A lot of money was coming in on one side in some games, and there were a lot of winners. It did more than raise a few eyebrows."
Despite the suspicions in Las Vegas gambling community, University of Toledo officials say they weren't aware of the investigation until FBI agents met with Toledo president Lloyd Jacobs on Friday, March 30 to apprise him of the situation. At a news conference last week, Toledo Athletic director Mike O'Brien said he did not know if the FBI would talk to other Toledo athletes or officials. He also indicated if any other players were involved, they would also be suspended. In the meanwhile, the university has closed spring football practices to the media until further notice and made all Toledo athletes off-limits to the media.
"We take the current allegations of misconduct by one of our student-athletes very seriously and will cooperate with any potential entities in any way possible," O'Brien told the Toledo Blade. "We consider the UT athletic department a family, so when one of our family is accused of wrongdoing, it affects all of us."
This editorial from the Toledo Blade examines the black eye the scandal has already caused, and how it could affect the university in the years to come. The article also warns that the worst may be yet to come.
Michigan man denies UT sports scheme
Gamblers claim Toledo football drew 'red flags'
No early warning of betting probe, University of Toledo officials say
Betting scam will hurt UT