Iowa University head football coach Kirk Ferentz has a lot going for him in the world of athletics in the Hawkeye State.
Ferentz is the highest paid state employee, earning almost $5.4 million a year. He is the longest tenured FBS coach in the nation, but neither of those make it easier to deal with sports betting. He recognizes that colleges and the NCAA have not had the kind of success needed to help student athletes.
“Gambling is going to exist. It always has,” he told PlayIA. “I hope eventually the policies will reflect what’s best for college athletics. Certainly not betting on college athletics would be a good starting point.”
What Ferentz wants is the NCAA to enhance its education of players when it comes to betting with each state dealing with differing circumstances. Online sports wagering is legal in Iowa, as is betting on college sports.
But…
The NCAA bars student-athletes from making bets. The rules have come home to roost in the two universities that bear the state name: Iowa and Iowa State, according to PlayIA.
A trio of current and former Hawkeyes who allegedly bet on sports were charged with record tampering to hide their identities. They include current football player Aaron Blom, former baseball player Gehrig Christensen and former basketball player Ahron Ulis.
Blom also allegedly placed bets under the age of 21.
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, teammate Dodge Sauser, wrestler Paniro Johnson and former Cyclone and current Denver Broncos player Eyioma Uwazurike are accused as well.
More could be named in the future.
College betting is just another stress point in college sports, Ferentz said. With conference realignment, school transfers and controversies around name, image and likeness rules, he recognizes how much has changed with the collegiate level.
“I think our world’s changed dramatically,” he told PlayIA. “Anybody who does pay attention to gambling knows that better than I, certainly the last couple of years. We live in a real different world right now.”
Ferentz said schools and the NCAA have not done a great job of educating student-athletes on their policies and the potential punishments.
“I’m hopeful this is an opportunity with the NCAA to maybe reconsider two things: What the punishments or penalties might be that are, I would say, fair and relevant to the world we’re living in right now. And then probably the bigger thing is there’s an opportunity right now, I think, for better education process, if you will.”
The NCAA cut back on the penalties. Student-athletes who bet on their sport, but not their team, can face a loss of half their season. Bet on sports they don’t play, the penalty relates to the amount bet. Bets up to $500 could cause loss of 10 percent of the season; up to $800, players lose 20 percent; over $800, expect 30 percent.
“It’s not going away,” Ferentz said. “It’s going to continue to grow. Certainly, we want to educate our players and kind of compare it to maybe marijuana policies, those types of things.”
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban agreed education is the answer. He took a more controversial step by flying in Pete Rose to speak with the athletes.
Who better than the all-time hits leader who has to live under a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for betting on games.
Alabama’s head baseball coach Brian Bohannon lost his job after an investigation after an investigation into bets placed on Alabama’s April 28 game at LSU.
