
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 7, 1995                   TAG: 9507070043
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, MD.                                LENGTH: Medium

MARYLAND QUARTERBACK SUBJECT OF GAMBLING PROBE

The University of Maryland has declared at least one football player ineligible for gambling on college sporting events, but the school has submitted an appeal to the NCAA, athletic director Debbie Yow said Thursday.

Yow would not disclose any names, and would not say how many football players were involved. However, a source said the school's lengthy in-house probe of student-athlete gambling was started March 6 because of allegations that starting quarterback Scott Milanovich placed bets on college basketball games.

``I do not think it would be in the best interest of the school to reveal the number of athletes involved, or the details of the alleged violations,'' Yow said.

School officials have said the violations do not involve betting on any Maryland games.

``To me, this is in the category of an athlete stubbing his toe. It is not a broken bone,'' Yow contended. ``We take all violations seriously, but there is a difference between a major and minor problem. These are not serious violations.''

The Washington Post reported in Thursday's editions that Milanovich, a senior, likely will miss at least one game. However, any sanctions against a player or players will not be known until the NCAA completes its review of the internal probe.

``The university has submitted appeal material for the NCAA to review,'' Yow said in a telephone interview. ``Any athlete who violates an NCAA rule, no matter how minor, must be declared ineligible. We have done that. The pending restoration of their eligibility will be based upon the NCAA's response.''

The final decision will be made by NCAA eligibility director Carrie Doyle. Maryland officials can appeal the decision.

Asked if the player or players could miss some games, Yow responded, ``That seems to be the big question.''

Not that the internal probe is over, Yow said the school plans to implement a program to teach student athletes about the negatives of gambling, beginning this fall.

``It's something good we can do for their lives,'' she said. ``We'd like to have an FBI agent come in and address the real world of gambling.''

Milanovich has not commented on the probe since it began.

Milanovich, a key factor in coach Mark Duffner's run-and-shoot offense, last year passed for 2,394 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also punts for the Terrapins.

by CNB