Teams pay for WakeyLeaks scandal
The NCAA’s Atlantic Coast Conference fined Virginia Tech and Louisville $25,000 each on Saturday for accepting leaked game plans from ex-Wake Forest assistant Tommy Elrod, the latest development in the so-called WakeyLeaks scandal that shook college football this past week.
The fine is the maximum amount allowed under conference bylaws.
ACC commissioner John Swofford issued a statement Saturday in which he decried both the leaked game plans and the acceptance of them by assistants from the Cardinals, the Hokies and Army.
“I am deeply disturbed something like this would occur, and regardless of the degree of involvement, the protection of the competitive integrity of our games is fundamental to any athletic contest,” Swofford said.
“The expectation, regardless of the sport, is that any athletics department staff members would immediately communicate with their supervisor if they are approached by someone from another institution with proprietary information.”
Elrod, who was working as a radio broadcaster for the Demon Deacons, has since been fired and barred from Wake Forest. Louisville suspended offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway for the Citrus Bowl in the aftermath of his accepting the leaked game plans from Elrod.
Virginia Tech, which acknowledged accepting game-plan info before its 2014 game against Wake Forest, has not identified who accepted game plans from Elrod, only saying the assistant no longer works at the school.
Army released a statement Saturday announcing a planned investigation, to be conducted by a U.S. army officer, into the service academy’s role in the leaks,
Last Tuesday, Wake Forest announced Elrod’s dismissal, saying: “Based on emails, text messages and phone records, Tommy Elrod, a radio announcer for Wake Forest football games, provided or attempted to provide confidential and proprietary game preparations on multiple occasions, starting in 2014.”