Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz addresses ongoing sports betting investigation

Iowa Football 2023 Media Day Coach Ferentz News Conference

University of Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz told the media that he was aware of ongoing investigations into his players’ involvement in illegal gambling for weeks. However, he was surprised at the recent revelation that some players were allegedly betting on their games.

“It can’t be compromised, the integrity of the game, that’s first and foremost,” Ferentz said. “That’s got to be protected, and that’s where everything should start.”

The charges, which include tampering with records, have been brought against former players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy. There are also charges against current player Jack Johnson and kicker Aaron Blom, all in separate incidents.

According to court documents, Bruce, Bracy, and Blom are facing suspicion of having placed bets on Iowa football games in which they took part. Meanwhile, Johnson is accused of betting on football games he did not participate in and other Iowa sports events.

Ferentz clarified that the consequences would not be light if the charges were proven true.

“I think the key point there is betting on our games, and that is, to me, it’s a deal breaker if that is, in fact, proven to be true,” Ferentz said. “So, we’ll deal with that when we get there. But, I think as we move forward, I think, at least in my opinion, it’s been a learning process.”

Ongoing investigation since May

The investigation has been ongoing since last May when Iowa announced that they were investigating 26 athletes across five different sports for violating NCAA rules by participating in sports betting.

Not just athletes, a student staffer in Iowa is also facing charges. A total number of 15 athletes and staff members from Iowa’s universities are now facing charges.

The players placed their bets on FanDuel and DraftKings accounts under the identities of other individuals, often close relatives above the age of 21.

The tampering offense is a serious misdemeanor with potential penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a fine. These consequences are separate from any potential sanctions imposed by the NCAA.

Ferentz highlighted that his team undergoes annual training regarding NCAA regulations that explicitly prohibit gambling. He also said that they might need to “ramp up” the educational efforts in light of recent events.

While not all individuals implicated are facing state charges, defensive lineman Noah Shannon revealed his involvement in the NCAA’s gambling investigation in July. Ferentz said that Shannon and the other players implicated are unlikely to disrupt the team’s season preparation.

“It’s really not that big of a deal right now, quite frankly. I’m not trying to be coy, but it just isn’t,” Ferentz said. “Noah is injured; he would be the most prominent player, to my knowledge, that’s involved in this. Let’s say he was 100 percent healthy, which he’s not. If we got closer to games, that’s something we’d have to weigh and measure.”

Ferentz mentioned that the players implicated are currently in a state of uncertainty alongside the NCAA’s involvement. Except for a single player, they are actively participating in team practices.

Per the NCAA’s revised gambling regulations, athletes who bet on their own sports or school teams could lose eligibility. Those who bet on their sport but not on their school might forfeit up to 50 percent of a season, with other infractions resulting in penalties based on the total value of their wagers.