Let’s not act like gambling isn’t fun. Unfortunately, the pleasurable pastime has led to major migraines for NCAA Football coaches, including Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel.
NCAA rules prohibit athletes, coaches and staff from betting on amateur, collegiate and professional sports that the NCAA oversees a championship in. The strict guideline has led to a fair share of conflict.
In May, Alabama fired its baseball head coach over gambling allegations connected to the program. Now, Iowa is being investigated for similar accusations.
After a two-hour presentation on the controversial subject at SEC Spring Meetings, Heupel gave the press his thoughts.
“Everyone in college sports, college football, has to continue to find a way to put their arms around the situation and make sure we try to navigate it in a really, really good way,” Heupel said.
Easier said than done, especially in a state like Tennessee where sports gambling is legal. In fact, the Volunteer state was the first in the country to legalize sports betting before any other form of gambling.
The move seemed to pay off — literally. Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Advisory Council reported a record $405.3 million handle for sports betting in October 2022. NIL can’t bring in that kind of cash. Due to the lucrative temptation, Heupel is focusing on educating his players of the risks.
“We constantly educate the players. It’s part of our team rules. You try to bring that up every week when you’re with them in your team meetings,” Heupel said. “Understand that the people you come into contact with might be trying to draw information from you.”
Education is one thing, enforcement is another. With the current state of online gambling, policing the action has proven difficult. Like all of us, players are constantly bombard with endless advertisements for the latest betting app. Heupel, along with every NCAA coach, is fighting an uphill battle.
“Gambling has spread in a completely different way. Sports gambling, where you’re able to do it on your phones,” Heupel told the press. “At the end of the day, try and find a way to protect the players in our program.”