WASHINGTONUniversity of Maryland starting senior quarterback Scott Milanovich likely will miss one or more games this football season after the school declared him and at least one other player ineligible for betting on college sports events, according to a source familiar with the case.

By Gus Bode

Milanovich’s father, Gary, confirmed that his son’s name is in Maryland’s report to the NCAA, but did not know if he would miss any games.

The identity of any of the other players could not be ascertained.

Under NCAA procedures, if a school discovers that an athlete has violated an NCAA rule, it must declare the athlete ineligible. The school can immediately appeal its own action to the NCAA’s eligibility director for restoration of the athlete’s eligibility and can recommend its own punishment, such as a suspension from practices or games. However, the final decision will be made by NCAA eligibility director Carrie Doyle.

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If Maryland officials disagree with Doyle’s decision, they can appeal to the NCAA’s eligibility committee, chaired by Milton R. Schroeder, a law professor at Arizona State.

Maryland officials have said the violations do not include betting on any Maryland games.

Athletic Director Debbie Yow confirmed Wednesday that the school has declared some football players ineligible, in accordance with NCAA policy, but she declined to say how many. NCAA rules forbid organized gambling by athletes and athletic department staff members on all college sports events.

Yow said of Maryland’s decision to rule the players ineligible:That’s an NCAA mandate; it’s not our choice. It’s part of the process for their eligibility being restored. We’re very confident of their eligibility being restored.

The NCAA’s decision on the players’ eligibility could come next week, Doyle said.

Yow acknowledged that players could miss games, saying, That seems to be the big question.

Doyle said Maryland did submit a report to us, which was a request for restoration of eligibility as well as all the facts of the case and we’re in the process of reviewing all of that and in the process of doing some research in our data base for precedent.We’re asking a lot of questions of our staff to determine what the right answer is.

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Football coach Mark Duffner could not be reached for comment.

Maryland officials began investigating alleged gambling by football players on March 6. Among other players, they interviewed last year’s backup quarterback, Kevin Foley, who has since transferred to another school, and at least three players who also have transferred.

Gary Milanovich said that in the spring, he and his son met with a team of Maryland investigators, including Yow and two attorneys:Susan Bailey, from the office of university president William E. Kirwan, and Douglas Lobel, from the law firm Maryland hired to assist in the investigation.

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