Massive cover up?

McPherson's lawyer says gambling 'widespread' at FSU

Adrian McPherson Timeline Nov. 25, 2002 McPherson booted from FSU amid blank-check investigation Nov. 26, 2002 Fish: Bowden bucks trend as laissez-faire disciplinarian Nov. 27, 2002 McPherson turns himself in to Tallahassee police Nov. 27, 2002 Fish: Shop owner says McPherson sought damage control too late Dec. 19, 2002 McPherson at center of gambling probe into Florida State Dec. 20, 2002 McPherson to ask NCAA to investigate Florida State Jan. 14, 2003 Troubled Ex-FSU QB enrolls at Murray State Jan. 24, 2003 Fish: This quarterback's tale just gets curiouser and curiouser Jan. 30, 2003 Two more charges filed against McPherson Feb. 5, 2003 Moving on, again: McPherson drops out of D-II Murray State Feb. 13, 2003 Fish: Even more bad check charges filed against ex-FSU quarterback March 4, 2003 McPherson charged with betting on Florida State games March 4, 2003 Fish: McPherson flat-out denies gambling on Seminole games March 5, 2003 Attorney: McPherson will plead innocent to gambling charges March 6, 2003 Prosecutors: McPherson could be charged with additional crimes April 4, 2003 Fish: How much did FSU know about McPherson's gambling? April 10, 2003 Attorney: McPherson was Seminoles' 'scapegoat' June 3, 2003 Fish: Trial could be dicey for FSU coaches June 4, 2003 Trial opens, friend testifies McPherson bet on FSU June 4, 2003 Fish: McPherson's ex-friends could have final word June 5, 2003 Bowden's testimony prompts failed request for mistrial June 5, 2003 Fish: Bowden testimony highlights second day of trial June 6, 2003 Judge declares mistrial in McPherson gambling case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida State is making former quarterback Adrian McPherson the "scapegoat" for what actually is a widespread gambling problem at the university, his attorney said Thursday.

McPherson, 19, is facing a misdemeanor charge that he placed bets on FSU games last season, including the four in which he started. He also is facing felony charges alleging he cashed worthless checks and stole a blank check and forged it for $3,500.

His trial on the stolen check charges is scheduled to begin July 14, a judge ruled during a hearing Thursday.

"This [gambling] problem is much more widespread than Adrian McPherson. It's much more widespread than an 800-page report. You should not hold one young man out as being a scapegoat," attorney Grady Irvin said.

Calls made to university spokespersons for response to Irvin's comments were not immediately returned.

Irvin was referring to a report released last week by a multi-agency task force that investigated gambling allegations at the school. The task force included members of the University Police and Tallahassee Police departments and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The task force also filed felony bookmaking charges against two Tallahassee men, Dereck Delach and Jeffrey Inderhees.

Prosecutor Paul Driver said he rejected a request from Irvin a few weeks ago to consider a plea agreement. Irvin did not return a phone call seeking to confirm the conversation.

If McPherson is convicted on the stolen check charge, he likely would receive probation, Driver said.

In the report, task force investigators criticized school officials for how they handled the earliest gambling allegations. The school's NCAA compliance director, Bob Minnix, told investigators he did not take written notes at first because that would make the information open to the public.

Irvin suggested revelations of "a far more widespread problem" would surface if he were to depose Minnix in a lawsuit, but he would not elaborate.

 

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