Northwestern Focus of Investigation

A federal investigation of sports betting at Northwestern resulted in guilty pleas from six people, including three former student-athletes, and revealed a point-shaving scheme in basketball.

Now, federal investigators are scrutinizing at least two 1994 football games for possible point-shaving by Northwestern players, and charges could be handed down within weeks, according to a source familiar with the investigation who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

One of the games allegedly was a 1994 contest at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium. Midway through the third quarter, Northwestern was inside the one-yard line with a chance to cut into Iowa’s 35-13 lead. But running back Dennis Lundy fumbled a handoff from quarterback Steve Schnur, losing the ball before reaching the line of scrimmage.

A Northwestern defensive player, Rodney Ray, allegedly knew Lundy had a gambling habit and complained openly that Lundy fumbled intentionally. A coach overheard Ray’s accusation and an internal investigation was launched, the findings of which were quickly passed on to federal authorities.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office will only say they’re still investigating sports betting at Northwestern. But the source confirmed the probe is focusing on a football season just one year before Northwestern’s stunning Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl trip.

According to the source, the activities of Brian Ballarini, a former Northwestern quarterback turned campus bookie, “were central to what was going on” in the alleged football scheme.

Ballarini, 25, has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the federal investigation. He declined to discuss his alleged role in football betting.

Authorities will not say if Lundy is a target of their investigation. He did not return telephone messages left at his home in Tampa, Fla.

Lundy did not play in the season’s final game, against Penn State, after being confronted by school officials and admitting betting on college games other than Northwestern’s.

FAMILY MATTERS

It was a rough weekend for the Bowden family.

On Friday, Terry Bowden quit as Auburn’s coach with a record of 47-17-1 in five-plus seasons.

Bowden’s dad, Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden, said he could not advise or counsel his son Friday because of the events surrounding the delay of the Seminoles’ charter flight to Atlanta for their game against Georgia Tech. As the plane taxied down the runway, it experienced engine trouble and was called back to the terminal. Earlier, the same plane had taken Mississippi State’s football team to Baton Rouge, La., for Saturday’s game against LSU.

Nine Seminole players, including wide receiver Peter Warrick and kicker Sebastian Janikowski, asked to travel by bus to Atlanta and were allowed to do so. Bowden and the team departed by plane three hours after their scheduled departure.

Terry Bowden’s situation was so unsettling, his brother, Tulane Coach Tommy Bowden, could not fully enjoy his team’s 52-24 victory over Rutgers on Saturday, a win that gave the No. 22 Green Wave a 6-0 record.

“I’m glad the concentration is there with the staff,” Tommy Bowden said, “because mine has been elsewhere lately.”

BYU SYNDROME

Tulane players and their fans have reason to be happy. After all, the Green Wave is 6-0 for the first time since 1973.

That season, Tulane finished 9-3.

This season, the Green Wave could go unbeaten. Seriously.

Remember, Tulane is in mighty Conference USA and plays one of the weakest schedules among major colleges. Remaining games are against perennial powers Southwestern Louisiana (1-6), Memphis (1-6), Army (2-5), Houston (2-5) and Louisiana Tech (4-5).

“I feel like we are the number one team in the country, until somebody beats us,” Tulane quarterback Shaun King said. “I wouldn’t ever say another team is better than us.”

Shaun, can you say O-H-I-O S-T-A-T-E?

CALL TOMMY HILFIGER

Alabama Birmingham had the misfortune of meeting Virginia Tech the week after the No. 23 Hokies were embarrassed in a 28-24 loss to previously winless Temple.

Virginia Tech’s defense dressed down the Blazers in a 41-0 win.

“It was just a total mismatch,” Alabama Birmingham Coach Watson Brown said. “We couldn’t handle them in any shape, form or fashion.”

SHAY-HEY KID

In case you missed it, Brian Shay of Emporia State (Kan.) became college football’s career rushing leader on Saturday.

Shay ran for 213 yards and scored four second-half touchdowns in a 56-24 victory over Central Missouri State.

Shay’s 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave him 6,367 career yards, breaking the mark of 6,320 by Johnny Bailey of Texas A&I; (now Texas A&M; Kingsville) from 1986-1989. Shay, who is 5 feet 9, 218 pounds, finished the day with 6,428 career rushing yards.

Shay added to his NCAA all-division career records for all-purpose yards (8,661) and 200-yard rushing games (15).

Shay’s 496 career points moved him past Joe Dudek of Plymouth State into second place on the all-time NCAA scoring list. The record is 528 points, by Carey Bender of Division III Coe College from 1991 to 1994.

“I hate to be told I can’t do something,” Shay said earlier this week. “People don’t realize how much that motivates me.”

Shay rushed for 678 yards as a freshman, 2,103 as a sophomore. Last year he ran for 1,912 yards and 29 touchdowns.

HEISMAN HANDICAP

1. Ricky Williams, Texas: Blazed to 259 yards and two touchdowns in victory over Baylor and became all-time leading scorer in Division I.

2. Cade McNown, UCLA: Passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards in Bruins’ victory over California.

3. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin: Rumbled for 164 yards in 39 carries and scored a touchdown in win over Iowa.

4. Michael Bishop, Kansas State: Completed 14 of 21 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in victory over Iowa State.

5. Tim Couch, Kentucky: Threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in Wildcats’ loss to Georgia. Pardon the yawn: It was Couch’s eighth consecutive 300-yard game.

6. Daunte Culpepper, Central Florida: Completed 21 of 28 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for two scores in victory over Southwestern Louisiana.

7. Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech: Nation’s leading receiver did not catch a touchdown pass for the first time this season, but scored on a 68-yard run in loss to Auburn.

8. Akili Smith, Oregon: Threw a 55-yard touchdown pass and scored game-winning touchdown on a 62-yard run in fourth quarter in victory over USC.

9. Ricky Williams, Texas Tech: Now confused in name only with the Longhorn front-runner after gaining 94 yards--72 below his season average--and scoring one touchdown in loss to Texas A&M.;

10. Brian Shay, Emporia State: C’mon. How would you feel if you were college football’s all-time rushing leader and you were left off the list?

NOTABLE

Ohio State receiver David Boston broke a school record with his 27th and 28th career touchdowns receptions as the Buckeyes beat Northwestern for the 21st consecutive time. Boston broke Cris Carter’s record of 26 touchdown receptions.

Eric Hickson became Kansas State’s career rushing leader in the Wildcats’ 52-7 victory over Iowa State. Hickson gained 117 yards, giving him 2,268. He eclipsed the mark of 2,265 set by Michael Lawrence from 1994-97.

North Carolina’s Dre’ Bly established an Atlantic Coast Conference career record with his 18th interception in the Tar Heels’ victory over Wake Forest.

--Compiled by Gary Klein.