The college football news cycle has been a title wave over the last several days. With the Big Ten’s potential expansion to 20 teams, which would see Oregon, Stanford, California, and Washington jump ship from the Pac-12, there is also the opposite side of the coin, or, as it shall be said, a dirtier side.
Within the last 24-48 hours, the fortunes of Iowa, Nebraska, and Iowa State athletics have been turned upside down. At the center of it all are Ahron Ulis and Hunter Dekkers, two antagonists caught in hot water after being charged with record tampering. It was alleged the pair, plus several other student-athletes from both Iowa institutions were accused of betting on games, including those involving their school.
This allegation or potential loss of eligibility is nothing new. In fact, there is an entire Netflix documentary about the mid-90s Arizona State basketball point-shaving scandal. It’s not only shocking when viewing it for the first time, but almost unfathomable in today’s sports climate amongst college athletes and the importance of integrity on and off the playing surfaces.
In saying all of this, though evidence is pointing toward a loss of eligibility for Dekkers and Ulis, this responsibility of teaching right from wrong falls on the coach of the team, which, in this case, is Matt Campbell of Iowa State, Fred Hoiberg of Nebraska, and Fran McCaffery of Iowa (Ulis transferred to Lincoln in the spring).
Ultimately, from a football perspective, although Campbell is now cooperating with the ongoing investigation put forth by Story County Attorney’s Office, he should know better when looking after his players.
Should he know everything about their lives? No. But a potential violation of NCAA and team rules? 100%.
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Regardless of whether or not Dekkers was using different names to hide his identity when betting, it is the most unethical thing he could have done as a member of the football program. Not only is he not admitting his wrongdoing, which he has the full right to do, but Iowa State is making itself look worse by not taking further action, nor making a swift statement reassuring this behavior isn’t acceptable in any form.
Hunter Dekkers was caught on camera
And the video that was released Wednesday morning of Dekkers drunk at a bar placing a bet with an unidentified woman? C’mon, man.
https://twitter.com/clones_sports/status/1686884505057968128
The quarterback is the most important position on a football field, full stop. Dekkers had to lead by example for his team to be successful in 2022. He, nor his team, met expectations, finishing 4-8. Dekkers also threw fourteen interceptions, and his offense scored ten fewer points per game than any other Big 12 team.
With one month until Campbell and the Cyclones face Northern Iowa in Ames, the University shouldn’t worry about a football game, it should worry about the future of its athletic programs, giving better education as to why gambling is not a responsible choice, and the importance of being a good teammate to those people around them.
Campbell could and should be fired for this happening on his watch. In 2023, it’s one of the worst acts of self-destruction a college athlete can put upon themselves, and with Dekkers originally slated to return as the starting quarterback, this story will only continue to get uglier.
The future of someone’s life and well-being is more important than a touchdown pass, and the blame has to fall on Campbell and Dekkers as the two main faces of the Iowa State football program.
