NEWTON, Mass. (AP) - Boston College suspended 13 football players yesterday for gambling, including two who bet against their school last month in a game with Syracuse.
Thomas Reilly, the Middlesex County district attorney, said the two players did not influence the outcome of the game, which the Orangemen won 45-17.
While a violation of NCAA rules, it is not the point-shaving scandal the school had known once and feared again.
"We have found absolutely no evidence, no indication, of any game, the outcome of any game, the score of any game, being compromised ... by players at Boston College,'' Reilly said.
The suspended players include tight end Scott Dragos, starter, and linebacker Brian Maye, who had been a starter before he dislocated his elbow.
The others suspended were identified as running back Jamall Anderson, offensive lineman Marcus Bembry, defensive back Paul Cary, defensive linemen John Coleman and Dan Collins, wide receivers Chris Cosenza, Steve Everson and Brandon King, center Kyle Geiselman, linebacker Jermaine Monk, and tight end Rob Tardio.
The list does not differentiate between those who bet from $25 to $1,000 on the World Series, college football or pro football and the two who placed $200 and $250 on Syracuse, giving 13 points against their own team on Oct. 26.
Coach Dan Henning said the two would not be allowed back on the team.
The others will miss Saturday's game against No. 17 Notre Dame, but could apply to the NCAA for reinstatement.
"I will not, and the team will not, accept back to the program anybody that has bet against Boston College,'' Henning said. "We want every player on our team this weekend to be those that are interested in winning the game.''
Boston College was at the center of a point-shaving scandal in1982 when Rick Kuhn was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in fixing six basketball games during the 1978-79 season.
Initial reports indicated there might have been a similar problem this time, but Henning took solace in the fact that most of the players involved had not betrayed their teammates.
"I'm thankful that this university has passed muster,'' he said. "We can play without any taint this weekend.''
Athletic director Chet Gladchuk did not comment on whether the school would rescind the scholarships or take further action against the athletes. But he said that question arises "any time a student athlete renders himself ineligible.''
"When it comes to the moral and ethical conduct of our players and when it pertains to the integrity of our university, there will be no compromises at Boston College,'' Gladchuk said.
Although the players who bet against Boston College were not identified, Reilly said one did not play in the game and the other played on special teams.
NCAA rules forbid athletes from betting on any intercollegiate or professional sporting event.
King, grandson of boxing promoter Don King, and Anderson have not played this season because of injury.
Henning said rumors of gambling or point-shaving first surfaced after the Syracuse game, in which the Orangemen trailed 14-7 before rallying for 17 points in the final 1:43 of the first half. Syracuse got the ball for those three scores on two Boston College punts and an interception.
Speculation intensified after last Thursday's 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh, a game in which the Eagles were favored by 11 1/2 points. Speight, Monk, Anderson and King were confronted by Henning and the team's student captains on Saturday.
Later that day, Gladchuk announced that the school would investigate the rumors with the goal of clearing the program's name.