I don't think the gambling thing is overblown at all. On a team that stresses culture and character, starters at the two highest profile positions on the team weren't "bought in" to the character-culture mindset (along with other starters). In fact, they were pretty much the opposite of "bought-in". These starters are supposed to be the leaders. And it wasn't just a couple of bets here and there, we are talking about hundreds of bets, and bets made on ISU FB games in which they played. It was certainly stupid, but it was also an oft-repeated blatant disregard for clearly defined rules and the authority of the coaches.
This gambling was going on during the 2021 season, when ISU seriously under-performed with the returning uber-experienced team that won the Fiesta bowl the previous year, and the gambling was going on during the 2022 debacle.
I just hope whatever was going on is purged from the program. Something was not right.
To suggest guys using FanDuel and DraftKings to place small bets aren't bought in to the program is a big stretch.
The amounts and how many weren't earth shattering either. They averaged out to small amounts per bet and nobody dropped like 20K. And then there's the NIL factor too.
Dekkers placed like an "Over" ISU bet when he wasn't even playing. And there is absolutely zero evidence of anyone tanking/fixing a game.
You're making a huge leap here to suggest something nefarious the last 2 seasons like fixing games, etc.
Again, players were stupid to take the risk knowing their eligibility would be at stake potentially. But AFAIK all were in good standing in the classroom, on the practice field, and with their teammates and coaches. To me that shows a player is "bought in".
Players are also not supposed to drink underage. Do you want to kick all the players off the team who imbibe? How about the tokers?
Is it really realistic to expect any young person, athlete or otherwise, to not make any mistakes or do something stupid?
And really, how do we know there wasn't betting going on during the Fiesta Bowl season? There probably was but it wasn't being investigated yet.
I'd imagine this kind of stuff is going on all over college athletics. Other states just haven't investigated it like the DCI in Iowa.