Wake Forest Demon Deacons has concluded that their radio announcer Tommy Elrod has been "providing or attempting to provide" confidential game plays to rival football teams since 2014. The university issued this statement on Dec. 13, 2016, citing emails, text messages, and phone records as proof of Elrod's treachery.
USA Today reports that the school launched the investigation after an equipment manager discovered documents left behind inside Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, one day before Wake Forest is set to go against Louisville. The incriminating materials showed that Louisville was prepared for game plays that the Demon Deacons have not run before. Wake Forest went on to lose the game, 44-12.
Players and athletic staff of the university expressed their disbelief and subsequent disappointment when the news broke. Wake Forest's current head coach Dave Clawson said via ESPN, "It's incomprehensible that a former Wake Forest student-athlete, graduate-assistant, full-time football coach and current radio analyst for the school would betray his alma mater."
Some players choose to extend Elrod the benefit of the doubt. Former quarterback Riley Skinner commented how he's known Elrod as a "straight-up character guy" and that the announcer influenced his decision to choose to play for Wake Forest. Skinner says he's praying that "something has been blown out of proportion or there's some miscommunication."
On the other hand, the Louisville Cardinals admitted that they did receive "a few plays", but denied that they benefited from the scandal that is now known as "#WakeyLeaks." Louisville's athletic director Tom Jurich disclosed that their offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway had been close friends with Elrod since 2007. "Galloway received a call from Elrod during the week of the Wake Forest game, and some information was shared with him that week."
This is not the first time that college football has made it to national news on matters that put the sport in bad light. In 2012, Jobs & Hire reported that Hall of Fame coach Jim Donnan was charged with fraud after enticing players and coaches in an $80-million Ponzi scheme.
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