COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State is looking into a report that a benefactor of Maurice Clarett was gambling while in daily contact with the running back.
Athletic director Andy Geiger said Wednesday he was "obviously concerned" about the allegations against Bobby Dellimuti, who calls himself a father figure and friend of the Clarett family.
Clarett was suspended in the fall for accepting money from Dellimuti, who runs a catering business. Ohio State officials said that Clarett also lied to university and NCAA investigators.
Cell phone records obtained by ESPN.com showed that Dellimuti made 27 calls during the Buckeyes' national title season in 2002 to a prominent sportsbook in Costa Rica, SBG Global.
Ten calls were made in the three weeks before Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami.
USF PLAYER ENDS CAREER: South Florida offensive lineman Kenny Huebner, a former Gaither standout, learned he has four fractured vertebrae and decided to end his career.
"I'm going to help out the team chaplain, do some Bible studies," said Huebner, a backup guard who would have been a junior this fall. "It's hard to know I'll never dress or play again, but I'll still be a part of the team."
Huebner said he sustained a hairline fracture of a vertebrae at midseason and played through it. The injury occurred during a special teams play late in the season finale at Memphis. Huebner said he could spend a year rehabilitating and try to play again but was told he would be risking a lifetime of chronic back pain.
South Florida begins spring football practice March 15. The spring game is April 10.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Skip Holtz's exact role remains unclear nearly two months after his father, coach Lou Holtz, said he was taking over the team's offense. Lou Holtz deflected questions.
- Times staff writer Pete Young contributed to this report.
