TWTW: Style Points Again For Boise In Win Over Toledo...

((HT: KTVB-TV Boise))

But, then again, it is Toledo...
Is there such a thing as "style points" against Toledo...???

Jeremy Avery ran for three, Kellen Moore passed for three and the defense forced four turnovers to give Boise State an easy 57-14 win.

They now have the nation's longest win streak at 19...
Bully for them...

Here's your highlights...

TWTW: Toledo Screws Up Big 10/11/12-MAC Challenge, Beats Purdue

((HT: MyFoxToledo.com))

Austin Dantin rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more to lead Toledo past Purdue 31-20. Not bad for a school that came into the game last in Division I in total offense. They wrapped up the game with 378 yards- almost 40-percent more than what they're used to seeing in the box score...

Dantin completed 21 of 31 passes for 209 yards for the Rockets, who won at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette for the first time since 1992, and are now 3-1.

Rob Henry, filling in for an injured Robert Marve again, threw for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Boilermakers who are now 2-2.

Here's your postgame from Coach Beckman...

TWTW: Toledo Takes Out Colorado- Hawkins In Trouble

((HT: Toledo Blade/Silka))

“I think this gets our players to start to believe a little bit” Toledo Head Coach Tim Beckman said. “All the hard work that we put them through – that's exactly what I said to the guys downstairs [in the locker room] – it's going to pay off.”

Often left unmentioned among the best signal callers in the conference, Opelt has proved he belongs just two games into his senior season. He finished 15-of-23 passing against the Buffaloes (0-2), a week after completing 41 of 67 passes for 423 yards in the season-opener at Purdue.

“I was pleased with the way I played,” Toledo QB Aaron Opelt said. “Like I said from Day One, we have playmakers. It's easy for me to get the ball to them and watch them make plays.”

Opelt threw for 319 yards and ran for another 109...
All we have to say to Dan Hawkins is "It's Division 1 Football..."
Here's your post-game, thanks to our friends at WTVG-TV

Those of us at OSG HQ would like to remind Coach Hawkins that this ain't intramurals, brother...you may be first to go ((or pretty close thereafter))

Toledo Point Shaving Indictments

*****BREAKING NEWS*****

A follow up to a story that OSG Sports has been reporting on for over a year now. Six former athletes from the University of Toledo and 2 alledged businessmen from Detroit were indicted this afternoon in Federal Court in Detroit. Among the charges included in the 20 count indcitment: Conspiracy to commit Sports Bribery in regards to the point shaving scheme on Football and basketball games.

Check out the story from the Toledo Blade here

((pictured: Ghazi "Gary" Manni, Scooter McDougle, Kashif Payne and Keith Triplett. Photo Courtesy: Toledo Blade))

The 2 Detroit area "Businessmen", Ghazi "Gary" Manni and Mitchell Edward Karam also were charged with seperate counts of Sports Bribery and unlawful use of interstate facilities along with a Jockey, Richardo Alfredo Perez. The scheme there, paying to get inside information on the ponies at Tampa Downs Racetrack in Florida.

Mike Thompson from MyFoxToledo identifies the players...

Former Toledo Football Player Admits to Gambling Scheme

((HT: WUPW-TV/Myfoxtoledo))

Adam Cuomo, a former football player at the University of Toledo, admitted to alleged point shaving according to an affidavit unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

In the criminal complaint, federal investigators allege the 31-year-old Cuomo, "conspired to carry into effect a scheme in commerce to influence in any way, by bribery a sporting contest with the knowledge that the purpose of such scheme was to influence by bribery that contest, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 224(a)."

The criminal complaint was filed August 11, 2008, and unsealed this week. The affidavit was filed five days after FOX Toledo News first uncovered that Sammy Villegas, a former Rockets basketball player, was charged in a point-shaving scheme.

Villegas will be sentenced June 18 in federal court in Detroit. Federal prosecutors charged Villegas of felony conspiracy to influence a sporting contest by bribery.

Former Rockets running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle, had charged dropped on a similar gambling offense.

When contacted, University of Toledo spokesman Matt Lockwood had no comment on the latest allegations.

On Friday, Lawrence Burns, Vice President of External Affairs for the university, commented on the latest allegations.

"We are aware of the criminal complaint and if the allegations are proven to be true, they certainly do not fit within the university’s values system," Burns said. "We take this matter seriously, however, we also consider it past history. The UT Athletic program has a very bright future and we are moving forward."

According to the complaint, the FBI believed Cuomo ((pictured, thanks Toledo SID)), who wore No. 32 for the Rockets, was a go-between for UT players and "with a known individual who went by the name of 'Gary,' and with others known and unknown, to influence the outcome of University of Toledo men's basketball and football contests through bribery."
Records state "Gary," is from the Sterling Heights, Michigan, in northern Metro Detroit.

Cuomo, from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was a student-athlete for the Rockets from 2001-04. He only had 24 yards on six carries during the 2003 football season, but federal investigators allege he was integral in assisting gamblers.

Cuomo played in three games in 2002 for UT - Aug. 29 against Cal Poly, Sept. 7 against Eastern Michigan, and Nov. 17 against Central Michigan, all wins. He rushed 17 times for 40 yards and had three receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Federal agents believe the alleged point shaving scheme started around the fall semester of 2003.

The federal complaint mentions in addition to Cuomo, federal agents have interviewed three other unnamed former Toledo student-athletes. Two of the interviewed played football while the other person played men's basketball. They all admitted they had been involved in the alleged point shaving scandal with "Gary" and other unnamed people.

Federal agents believe the alleged point shaving scheme started around the fall semester of 2003. In the complaint, it says Cuomo met a coworker of "Gary's, who operated a cellular phone store in Toledo." In 2007, the FBI said in a statement that "Gary" and the cell phone store operator "regularly wagered on University of Toledo football and basketball games."

Additionally, the FBI said that Cuomo was introduced to "Gary," and the running back "introduced (the store operator) to other University of Toledo football and basketball players who gave him (the store operator) information to use in placing wagers on University of Toledo football and basketball games."

During a phone conversation on December 21, 2005, Cuomo "told 'Gary' that (Cuomo) was going to use a senior University of Toledo football player already participating in the point shaving scheme as an intermediary in an attempt to recruit a senior offensive lineman to help shave points in an upcoming football game by committing penalties during the game."
The Rockets defeated UTEP, 45-13, December 21, 2005, in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. - UT's only December football game.

No court date has been set. Federal authorities could issue an indictment in the coming month and start extradition proceedings.

The Cuomo complaint can be found by clicking in black...

OSG Sports Radio's Cory Kessler was out front on this story when it broke last year.
Here's the initial coverage from our end...

Holy Toledo, Rockets Stun Michigan At The Big House

Michigan Stadium has seen some stunners the past 2 years. Appalachian State last year, Utah this year and now put the Toledo Rockets on that list. Toledo became the first Mid American Conference team to win at the Big House with a 13-10 win over Michigan. The Wolverines were 24-0 against MAC teams heading into this game.

Michigan had a chance, K.C. Lopata could have tied the game with 4 seconds left but missed a 26 yard field goal.

“This is obviously a great win. They all feel good, but this is a special one for us as a team.” Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz said.

“Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to play in the Big House." quarterback Aaron Opelt said. "My first time ever being here was playing today. So that was exciting, seeing all the fans. It felt great. It was an awesome accomplishment.”

Michigan is now in a world of hurt. The Wolverines are 2-4, their worst 6 game record since 1967. For the first time in 3 decades, Michigan fans are probably not making any post season bowl plans. The last time the Wolverines didn't go to a bowl was 1974 and that streak is in danger.

Saturday was a new low point in the storied history of Michigan football. It a cold dose of reality to 1st year head coach Rich Rodriquez.

"I'm just extremely disappointed and embarrassed." Rodriquez said. "The guys, everybody in that locker room is hurting. They're all disappointed. They're playing hard. They're just not playing well."

Photo Courtesy: Toledo Athletics

Your post-game coverage is courtesy of our friends at WTOL-TV...

Toledo Athletics Gambling Charges Related

The charges brought on former University of Toledo basketball player Sammy Villegas ((pictured, thanks nbc24.com)) have now been linked to the investigation of former football player Harvey "Scooter" McDougle, Junior, according to the FBI.

The McDougle investigation, highlighted on OSG Sports Radio last season, has now expanded according to an article by Joe Vardon in the Toledo Blade newspaper.

It had long been thought that the McDougle investigation was the only one occurring surrounding the Athletic Department.

Now, not so much...

Villegas is accused of taking bribes in order to shave points in his junior and senior season at UT- the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. The indictment also alludes to another unnamed player Villegas recruited for the same purpose, and to an incident where it alleged Villegas missed two free throws in a contest against Central Michigan.

In March of 2007, McDougle was charged with betting on a Toledo football game and recruiting fellow athletes for the purpose of shaving points. Those charges were dropped the following month, but both sides in the investigation admitted the investigation itself had not been concluded.

It is still believed that McDougle will not face any further charges.

WTVG-TV has coverage hyah
WNWO-TV has coverage hyah
((NB- Kristi Branam has her story in the video section))