NCAA Enters Tulsa U. Athletic Wagering Scandal

The University of Tulsa said this week that it had been in contact with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regarding the suspension of its Athletic Director, Ross Parmley, over suspicions of wagering. While Parmley hasn’t been charged with any crimes, he is an “admitted gambler”, and has reportedly told the FBI that he has wagered on college football and also bet on NFL games. Following his admittance, Tulsa University had no choice but to put the director on administrative leave and contact the NCAA.

Sources say that the NCAA, which is known for taking a hard stand against legal and illegal gambling in the US, will be visiting the campus in the coming days to start its own investigations.

Derek Chance, Parmley’s attorney, said that his client had never places bets on competitions where the University of Tulsa was involved.

Parmley was promoted to the position of Director of Athletics in January this year, and the question remains whether university directors had known about his cooperation with FBI officials in a 2011 investigation of Oklahoma City gambler Teddy Mitchell.

The university would not make any statement regarding Parmley’s suspension, only offering: “As this is an ongoing investigation, the University of Tulsa will not be offering any comment regarding any issues associated with this matter, other than we are fully cooperating with the NCAA.”

Tulsa World newspaper quotes a source as saying that Parmley is “brokenhearted” and that TU is “a very special place to him and his family.” The source also insisted that Parmley had not retired from his post. The 39 year old became interim athletic director when his predecessor, Bubba Cunningham left to become Athletic Director at North Carolina. He became full time director three months later.