The off-season of College Football is, for most, less than desirable. Nearly as soon as the College Football season ends, a countdown to the next opening day will begin.
Anticipation always builds for Saturday’s with friends, family or strangers. The smell of the grill firing up, the high fives from people you do not know, but wear a like jersey, the sound of cracking open your brew of choice, or whether it is just a release from your everyday life; College Football – for many – is important to American’s all across this country.
I do not envision seeing the excitement or anticipation for College Football end, but this 2011 season, may be one to forget.
Reports are starting to emerge from Hawaii that the Honolulu Police Department is looking into allegations of point shaving by “a member or members of the University of Hawaii football program”.
The investigation into Hawaii was born from a November 3rd anonymous letter that alleged point shaving by unnamed football players for Hawaii.
Hawaii has since alerted the NCAA about the anonymous letter, and a police investigation has been launched.
The Hawaii Warriors are in the midst of a 5-6 season and are 3-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. Hawaii is coached by Greg McMackin – who took over for June Jones in 2008.
I do not think we need a history lessen on how morally reprehensible point shaving is. We can look back to Boston College basketball in the late 70’s, CCNY in the 50’s and then, of course, similar situations that surround the legacy of the 1919 Chicago White Sox and legendary Pete Rose. If these allegations are true, this may, very well, be the darkest year College Football has ever witnessed.
From the investigation in to the Miami Hurricanes, to Ohio State, Penn State and now Hawaii, College Football fans now desperately yearn for a return to a sense of normalcy.
Please.
**UPDATED** 11/23
The NCAA has issued a statement regarding the point-shaving allegations made versus Hawaii
We are extremely concerned by the point-shaving allegations involving University of Hawaii football student-athletes and have been in contact with the school since early November. We take any allegation of point shaving very seriously as it is a crime that threatens two core NCAA principles – the well-being of student-athletes and the very integrity of intercollegiate sport.
The threat of sports wagering is real and no campus is immune. For this reason, the NCAA and its members conduct forward-leaning national and targeted educational outreach, as well as strong enforcement efforts for all divisions and sports. In addition, the NCAA is regularly in contact with local, state and federal law enforcement and Nevada gaming officials to identify and rout out sports wagering and point shaving wherever it may occur.
