AUSTIN, Texas -- Police told University of Texas Coach David McWilliams in November several Longhorn football players were suspected of gambling, but school officials investigated only one them, it was reported Wednesday.
The Austin American-Statesman said in a copyright story university officials investigated center Tal Elliott, who was identified by several players as the football team's bookie.
Police said Elliott's name appeared frequently on betting slips confiscated Oct. 23 during the raid of a campus-area bookmaking operation and the arrest of three Austin men on gambling charges.
Texas officials said they focused on Elliott because they had no evidence implicating other athletes. But police said they cautioned school officials to carefully check the betting slips for the names of other athletes.
'I told Coach McWilliams I doubted very seriously that Tal was making $200 and $225 bets on his own with just his own money,' said Senior Sgt. Byron Cates. 'Tal was the only one dumb enough to put his name on the (betting) lists. I told them I was sure the players were putting up money through Tal. They said, 'We'll definitely look into it'.'
Elliott, 22, a walk-on deep snapper from Richmond, Texas, quit the football team in early November, citing 'personal reasons.'
Texas officials declined comment Wednesday, except to issue a prepared statement from Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds.
'As we have said, it is our policy to investigate all allegations involving the violation of NCAA rules,' Dodds said. 'Confirmed violations are reported to the NCAA. We are -- and have been -- following that policy.'
Gambling on college games is a serious violation of NCAA rules, but a school is not liable for a penalty unless it is determined school officials knew of the betting and did not report it.
Five Longhorn football players told the American-Statesman last week gambling was widespread among Texas players for the past two years.
One former player said he still owed Elliott $270 from bets placed with him last year and that Elliott often carried his black betting books to football practice and team meetings.
'He was definitely the team bookie, and a lot of Texas athletes went to him to place bets,' said the player, who asked that his named not be used.
The player told the American-Statesman he felt certain Texas football coaches were aware many players were gambling.
'If they didn't know about it, they must have had their heads in the sand,' he said. 'It was talked about during practice, film sessions, team meetings and in the cafeteria. They had to have known because so many people were involved, and it wasn't like people were really trying to be extremely discreet about it.'
