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Toledo officials unsure if more will be charged

College football player allegedly tried to recruit others in point-shaving

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updated 4:24 p.m. ET April 2, 2007

TOLEDO, Ohio - Athletic officials at the University of Toledo said Monday they don’t know if any more players will be charged in what the FBI says was a point-shaving scheme.

Federal authorities arrested running back Harvey “Scooter” McDougle Jr. on Friday, charging him with participating in a bribery scheme to influence sporting contests.

McDougle, 22, and a senior from East Cleveland, recruited Toledo football and basketball players to participate in the scheme orchestrated by a Michigan man identified only as “Gary,” according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

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Athletic director Mike O’Brien said he has no plans to interview any other athletes and that federal authorities are taking the lead on the investigation.

“We just found out about this Friday,” O’Brien said.

The criminal complaint does not say whether any players changed the outcome of games. O’Brien said he did not know if that happened.

McDougle told FBI investigators he received a car, telephone and other items of value, but insisted he never changed the way he played to affect the outcome of games, according to the complaint.

“Gary” allegedly invited the athletes to gamble and dine at Greektown Casino in Detroit. One player was offered $10,000 to sit out a football game, while others received cash, groceries, merchandise and other gifts, the complaint said.

Authorities listened to phone calls between McDougle and the man.

During one call in December 2005, McDougle said he would talk to other players and see if they could make money on a game between Toledo and Texas-El Paso, the complaint said.

In a call later that month, McDougle said another player would be helping and asked “Gary” to make a $2,000 bet for him on the game, the complaint said.

The Rockets went on to beat UTEP 45-13 in the GMAC Bowl. McDougle was injured much of the 2005 season and did not have any carries in the bowl game.

McDougle was arraigned Friday and released on $10,000 bond. He was suspended from the team but is allowed to attend classes, O’Brien said.

He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

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The school meets with its athletes at the beginning of each season to warn them about gambling, O’Brien said. Posters that say “Don’t Bet on It” hang in the locker rooms.

“We spend a lot of time talking to young men about how to behave on and off the field,” football coach Tom Amstutz said.

University President Lloyd Jacobs sent a letter to faculty members on Monday and said the school will begin reviewing how well the athletic department instructs athletes about gambling rules.

“While I am aware that currently these are only allegations, I want to register my own deep disappointment,” Jacobs said.

FBI officials met with the school president Friday, which was the first time university officials were told about the investigation.

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