The College Football thread

“Can't wait!”

“Allegations involve on-campus gambling
By James L. Rosica and Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITERS

Officials at Tallahassee's major universities confirmed Thursday that state and local authorities are looking into several unrelated reports of on-campus gambling, including one involving former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson.

Florida State Police Chief Carey Drayton said his department is working with Tallahassee police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, adding that one investigation might have "connections elsewhere in the state."

None of the police officials would say whether the investigations involve student athletes other than McPherson.

Also Thursday, a Tallahassee Police Department spokeswoman said that officers searched a townhouse Wednesday in connection with an ongoing investigation, but she would not release details or comment on any items seized.

But ex-FSU baseball player Mike Futrell said the home searched was one he shared with 23-year-old Derek Delach, a bartender at Ken's, a West Tennessee Street bar. Founder Ken Ayers opened the bar in 1966, and for years it was a popular hangout for Florida State athletes and fraternity members. In 1999, the Ayers family sold the bar to Matt Owens.

Futrell said he moved into the townhouse in August after he was introduced to Delach through a friend. Delach was seeking a roommate and Futrell, whose athletic eligibility ended in the spring, needed a place to stay.

Futrell said police questioned Delach a week or two ago, but he didn't know why.

Delach wasn't home Wednesday night when eight law enforcement officers came to the High Road residence with a search warrant, but Futrell was. "It was for Derek," he said.

When asked whether the law enforcement officers made any reference to sports gambling while they were there, Futrell answered, "Oh, yeah."

Futrell said he neither made nor took bets.

"I'm not involved," he said.

Futrell said the officers took a computer that belonged to Delach and also showed interest in notebooks belonging to him. Futrell said none of the items seized belonged to him.

Copies of the search warrant and accompanying affidavit, which usually are public once the search has been completed, were sealed by order of Circuit Judge John Crusoe until the investigation is completed, TPD spokeswoman Rhonda Scott said in a prepared statement.

Crusoe would not confirm or deny he had signed such an order, and workers at the Leon County Clerk of Courts' felony division could not locate the order.

TPD Investigator James Besse, who is handling the case involving Wednesday's search of the townhouse, is the same investigator on the check theft charge against McPherson, police records show.

McPherson is charged with taking a check from R&R Truck and Auto Accessories and giving it to 20-year-old Melvin Capers, who reportedly cashed it for $3,500 at Capital City Bank. Capers, a high school friend from Bradenton, told police he then gave all but $30 of the money back to McPherson.

The auto parts store where the check was stolen is co-owned by two sons of the board chairman of the Seminole Booster Club.

FSU's Drayton said his department was investigating two allegations: One is a complaint by an unidentified man on campus who said he was being shaken down over an unpaid gambling debt.

Unrelated inquiries

That investigation, he said, involved TPD and FDLE and may have statewide illegal gambling connections.

The other is a "due diligence inquiry" into persistent rumors that McPherson was involved in gambling, Drayton said, adding that the investigations are unrelated.

"Our university has made an attempt to attack gambling head on," Drayton said. "We'll put together what we have at some point, and hopefully that will result in some arrests."

On Thursday night, Browning Brooks, director of media relations for FSU, released a statement on Drayton's behalf: "The Florida State University Police Department, along with the Tallahassee Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, are looking into rumors and some stories about gambling in the community. If you have any information about such activity, please call 644-1750."

Florida A&M University is also investigating rumors of gambling.

FAMU Police Lt. Louis Wichers, commander of criminal investigations, said his department's investigation is not related to the others.

"We have an allegation of gambling we're looking into," he said. "This is going take some work. We're still trying to sort out what we got, but we can't ignore it."

Wichers said, however, the allegation he was looking into was bigger than a "penny-ante card game in a dorm room." He would not elaborate.

FDLE spokeswoman Jennie Khoen said the department "is jointly doing an investigation of gambling in the Tallahassee area with FSU and TPD. FSUPD is the lead (agency)."

Compliance issues

A man who answered the door Thursday night at the townhouse said Futrell wasn't home and Delach had left town, and he did not know when he would return. He declined to answer further questions.

A man who answered the locked front door at Ken's shortly before 8 p.m. only said, "No comment," then closed and locked the door.

Florida State requires all of its student-athletes to sign an eligibility form that addresses all NCAA compliance issues, including a ban against gambling that is covered by NCAA Bylaw 10.3.

FSU is considered a leader in educating all students about the problems that can arise from sports wagering and other gambling. It held its first gambling symposium in the fall of 1998. The athletic department's compliance office and the Florida State Commission on Gambling developed a campus-wide education program that kicked off during the 2001-02 basketball season; it featured FSU athletes in promotional spots that were shown on the scoreboard television screen during games.

Associate Athletic Director Bob Minnix said the school's recent investigation into gambling rumors had not uncovered any evidence implicating student athletes. He said he had not reported any findings to the NCAA, but he said the investigation that began last summer was not considered closed.


Things could get ugly at FSU.”

“I hope it gets ugly for them in the Sugar Bowl.”

“chili, I read that article this morning. This is going to be a very intense off season for FSU. I looked up State's Evidence in the dictionary and they had a picture of Mike Futrell, the ex-FSU baseball player, as the definition.”

“Yeah, hyway. I think they are in for a very rough off season.”

“All schools in the South cheat, recruit thugs, and say mean things about their mothers. There is no hope.”

“Just sit back and wait,,,when the NCAA moves out of the Southeast, I am sure they will find a way to spend some quality time in the Mid West.”

“I think Notre Dame should be investigated. They have an unfair advantage. I've heard that the Church has a price list for how hard they will pray for a Golden Domer win.”

“hyway have you been talking to lizs?

no reason for the catholic bashing till after we kick NC State's butts.

Go Irish!”

“I don't know about kicking our butts, but your punter will spend the day kicking our punt blockers in the chest, then falling on his butt as our guys score yet another special teams TD.

Whooohooooo, Go Pack!!!!”

“Bama gave up waiting on Riley. They told him that he is out of time and that Bama is moving on. Thanks to this screwup we could have had Jim Leavitt. 5 years from now we'll all know who Leavitt is. I just wish he could be in Crimson.”

“Telling Riley so long was the best decision Mal has made thus far.”

“I hear George O'Leary has a real good resume. Bama might want to give him a call.”

“I heard he upgraded his resume to include his Ph.D in Physics from MIT.”

“I hear the rumor that Nix is suspended for the Bowl Game. Does FSU even have a third string QB?”

“Ok, here it is, the winning lotto ticket! I have purposely avoided logging onto the site so that I wouldn’t be tempted to view the other picks. Although statistics is not my expertise, I wanted to avoid the temptation of using someone else’s bowl order for my own benefit.

What? Nobody has posted any picks? The first bowl game is tonight at 7:00pm. If nobody posts by 7:00, I WIN BY DEFAULT. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. You folks are as sorry as your sorry teams! NUF SAID!


1/3 Fiesta- Miami
12/27 Holiday- Kansas St.
12/30 Seattle- Oregon
12/31 San Fran.- Virginia Tech.
12/25 Hawaii- Hawaii
12/30 Music City- Arkansas
12/31 Humanitarian- Boise St.
12/27 Houston- Oklahoma St.
12/31 Liberty- Colorado St.
1/2 Orange- USC
12/17 New Orleans- Cincinnati
1/1 Cotton- Texas
12/23 Tangerine- Texas Tech
1/1 Outback- Florida
1/1 Gator- Notre Dame
12/26 Insight- Pittsburgh
12/18 GMAC- Marshall
12/28 Continental- West Virginia
12/25 Las Vegas- UCLA
12/28 Alamo- Colorado
12/31 Silicon Valley- Fresno State
12/27 Independence- Nebraska
12/26 Motor City- Toledo
12/31 Peach- Tennessee
1/1 Capital One- Auburn
1/1 Rose- Washington St.
12/31 Sun- Washington
1/1 Sugar- Florida State


For those of you who believe in prayer, my last order as this year’s football god is to have you pray that the magnificent 2001 football god has a chance to continue in office as the dedicated and beneficent public master that I have proven to be. I do not wish to suffer the fate of the titans. Although, if one of the women were to win, maybe we could work something out.”

“it worked gang,,,we were patient and he finally made the first move”

“I would like to wager 1,000,000,000,000,000 goats on Boise State. What is line please?”

“I win because arc left off the most important bowl of them all.

Bama Bowl - Bama vs Hawaii - BAMA!!!
Sugar - Georgia
Orange - Iowa
Fiesta – Miami
Cotton – Texas
Peach – Maryland
Capital One – Auburn
Humanitarian - Boise St
GMAC - Marshall
Hawaii - Hawaii
Holiday - K-State
Insight – Pitt
Continental - W. Va.
Music City - Arkansas
Houston - Okla. St.
Rose – Oklahoma
Gator - N.C. State
Silicon Valley - GT
San Fran. - VT
Liberty - Colo. St.
Tangerine - Tex. Tech
Motor City - B.C.
New Orleans - Cincy
Las Vegas - N. Mexico
Independence - Neb.
Alamo - Colo.
Seattle – Oregon
Sun - Purdue
Outback - Florida”

“12/27 Holiday- Kansas St.
12/25 Hawaii- Hawaii
1/3 Fiesta- Miami
12/31 San Fran.- Virginia Tech.
12/17 New Orleans- Cincinnati
1/1 Cotton- Texas
12/30 Music City- Arkansas
12/23 Tangerine- Texas Tech
12/25 Las Vegas- UCLA
12/28 Alamo- Colorado
12/31 Humanitarian- Boise St.
12/27 Houston- Oklahoma St.
12/30 Seattle- Oregon
12/31 Liberty- Colorado St.
1/1 Rose- Oklahoma
12/26 Motor City- Boston College
1/2 Orange- USC
12/31 Sun- Washington
12/31 Silicon Valley- Georgia Tech
1/1 Capital One- Penn St.
12/27 Independence- Nebraska
12/28 Continental- Virginia
12/18 GMAC- Marshall
12/26 Insight- Pittsburgh
12/31 Peach- maryland
1/1 Gator- NC State
1/1 Outback- Florida
1/1 Sugar- Georgia



Hope i have these written right. I was in a hurry”

“ROFLMFAO @ Mpeti!!!!!!!”

“MPETI, I mean Buddha, is that you?”

“We no worship buddha here. we pay homage to almightly allah, and in some remote parts of country, goats.”

“1/1 Sugar- Georgia
1/3 Fiesta- Miami
12/27 Holiday- Kansas St.
12/30 Seattle- Oregon
12/31 San Fran.- Virginia Tech.
12/31 Peach- Tennessee
12/25 Las Vegas- UCLA
1/1 Gator- Notre Dame
12/18 GMAC- Marshall
12/25 Hawaii- Hawaii
12/26 Insight- Oregon State
12/31 Sun- Washington
1/1 Cotton- Texas
12/28 Alamo- Colorado
12/27 Independence- Nebraska
12/23 Tangerine- Texas Tech
12/31 Humanitarian- Iowa St.
1/1 Capital One- Penn State
1/1 Outback- Florida
12/27 Houston- Oklahoma St.
12/31 Silicon Valley- Fresno State
12/31 Liberty- TCU
12/26 Motor City- Boston College
12/30 Music City- Minnesota
1/2 Orange- USC
1/1 Rose- Oklahoma
12/28 Continental- UVA
12/17 New Orleans- Cincinnati”

“Ok, one of you excel wizards can keep score on this.”

“Comin' in under the wire!!!!

Holiday-Kansas St.
Alamo-Colorado
Rose-Oklahoma
Cotton-Texas
Sugar-Georgia
Fiesta-Miami
Tangerine-Texas Tech
Independence-Nebraska
Seattle-Oregon
Peach-Maryland
Hawaii-Hawaii
Outback-Michigan
Orange-Iowa
Continental-West Virginia
Insight-Pittsburgh
Las Vegas-UCLA
Capital One-Penn St
Gator-Notre Dame
Humanitarian-Iowa St
Motor City-Toledo
New Orleans-North Texas
Houston-Oklahoma St
Music City-Arkansas
Sun-Washington
Silicon Valley-Fresno St.
San Francisco- Virginia Tech

You conducted your reign as Football God with all the decorum of a typically obnoxious deity. I loved it. Should I become your new God, I will rule with all the partiality I can muster, while ignoring any facts that do not support my heavenly position.
Let the games begin!”

“There is still time for arky to jump in.”

“Sob.

Bronco Mendenhall, the UNM defensive coordinator, is leaving after our bowl game for BYU.”

“what do you think? it looks like we have a winner. my aunt is from washington and my cousin went to school at WSU. she called me before i heard the decision and couldn't believe he was going to bama. she said he was a great coach and they are going to miss him.”

“his record isnt too bad either and looks like he's really excited about going to UA. he's also been at WSU for 12 years, that says something!”

“Ah-HA! You freakazoids! The way you folks done sneaked up on me, I'll be hiking at the back of the pack with y'all thankyouverymuch.

Obnoxious? Moi? Not so fast my no-place-like-home friend. I would like to think I have been a complete and utter butt-head ugly obnoxious sports fanatic (sorta like those Spurrier haters who have never met the man). I’ll have to try harder to get that point across if I win again.

I know one thing fer sher, no women entered the contest, so if I lose, no one gets to EAT ME!”

“Hey, Dunadan. It'll be hard for you to win this year considering you only posted 26 bowls instead of 28. Ooops.

Seems you forgot the GMAC and Liberty Bowls. Make your picks and we'll add them as your 1 and 2 point bowls.”

“I waited to long. I would have already missed the 1st game anyway. Plus I'm intimidated by Dunadan. His powers of prognostication are just too strong.”

“And by having no faith in Cincinnati, it looks like chili takes the early lead...that one only cost me a point boys...”

“The more I hear the more I like, but I'm still not overly excited. I felt that Leavit, Pinkel, or Rodriquez would have been better. The thing about Price is that he's had to build in an environment that is tough to build in. Pullman is 2 hours from the nearest interstate. It's further out than the middle of nowhere. The thing that concerns me is that in his 22 hear career he is 9 games over .500. That won't cut it in T(itle)-town.”

“not so fast chili, it looks like dunadan earned himself a cool 6 points.

While the new guy decides to start decorating his quarters at the back of the pack. He may be spending quite a bit of time back there.”

“Correct you are hyway. Well dundadan, this proves even a blind hog can root up an acorn every now and then.”

“dayhiker I think your right that Leavitt, Pinkel, or Rodriquez is a much better fit. I have yet to meet a northwesterner living in the Deep South who is not really homesick. Price stood out above the rest because there was some interest in coming to bama. Not to bash the guy before coaching his first down and with the understanding only time will tell Price appears to be a 3 season coach, which may be a blessing given the current NCAA sanctions. Of course, IMHO he will lose 3 to 4 each year (if the SEC is strong) regardless of the sanctions.”

“I think they did a really good job of dismissing Parcells so quickly. Where do I send my donation to the althletic fund?”

“I'm actually glad that they weren't interested in Parcels. He hasn't dealt with NCAA rules in forever. We'd get the death penalty within 3 years of his arrival.

I'm reading more and more about Price and feel better. He was evidently picked based on his ability to do more with less. Before his arrival they were 2-9 every year. He rarely has over 75 on scholarship at any one time due to the difficulty in getting kids to come to Pullman. Only being able to sign 18 is his norm. The current class already has 15 committments. We only need to get the last 3 on board. His coaching the Rose Bowl shouldn't hurt us too bad since he only has to keep the ones we have and get 3 more. There is a good article at this address if anyone is interested.

Price info

Here's the URL in case my link didn't work http://alabama.theinsiders.com/2/82591.html”

“I think they could have hired a rules guru and attached him to Parcell's hip.

I would have been afraid, very afraid, of Parcell's recruiting ability.”

“If Dunadan posts ALL of his bowls, we can give him 8 points. Does everyone agree to let him post his missing two bowls as his 1 and 2 point picks? The other way, he only gets 26 points for his top pick. Ooooo that would be nasty”

“That'll work. Actually I don't see anything wrong with letting him put them anywhere, as long as they haven't been played yet.”

“I concur with dayhiker.”

“Holy fumbles, Batman!
GMAC was my 12th pick with Louisville.
Liberty was my 19th pick with Colorado State

Hope this is still legit!”

“I thank you for letting me post those games!
Just because I knocked up Matt's sister and then didn't marry her, you wouldn't think he would mess with something as sacred as football picks, would you? Matt! Put those picks back where I had them!
Chili, very funny. Just get used to beseeching me when you kneel by your bed each night. Hold it, I didn't mean it THAT way.
Anyway, I'll take the tardy picks any where that the current God says they should go.
Good luck........chumps!”

“OK Mr Munchkin man, we'll let you have Colorado St. as your 19 point pick and Louisville as your 12 point pick even though you posted pretty late last night. You must have been somewhere in OZ because Louisville was a looooser. We trust you.... hmmmmm, but knowing you, I could have seen you having Louisville as your 28 point pick.

THE FOOTBALL GOD HAS SPOKEN

(I'll be gone until 12/30 so you guys behave yourselves. A happy, healthy holidays to you all))”

“Hey, the Louisville pick proves my integrity.
I thought Louisville was going to play like they did against Florida State.”

“I had enought confidence in Marshall to make them my 20 point pick!”

“hey trailhound. email me at dayhiker@tidefans.com”