Peterson: Iowa State player allegedly gambling on teammates to lose is as bad as it gets

Iowa State fans can't help but wonder about a culture issue that has broken through the door of the football locker room after four more players were charged Thursday in the state's gambling investigation.

Joining quarterback Hunter Dekkers (who was charged last week) were running back Jirehl Brock, offensive lineman Jake Remsburg, defensive lineman Isaiah Lee and tight end DeShawn Hanika.

That’s the starting quarterback ... the potential starting tailback ... a starting offensive lineman ... a presumed starting tight end ... and a starting defensive lineman.

Is that the kind of culture you’d expect?

Hell, no.

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That’s five of 22 offensive and defensive starters that, if accusations are proven, could miss all or parts of a season in which Matt Campbell’s team is trying to rebound from going 4-8.

That’s 23% of the starters, and to put that in perspective let’s go back to what Campbell told reporters Wednesday about percentages. The eighth-season coach brought that up, when talking about the importance of special teams.

"Seventeen percent of the plays that you play in the football game are special teams plays,” Campbell told us. “But those 17 percent of the plays can be absolutely critical in the result of the football game.”

Nearly a quarter of Iowa State’s offense and defense could miss all or parts of this season. That’s a bunch for anyone, and especially a program not exactly rich in veteran depth. Minimal in numbers, true, considering it’s five of 85 (so far). Minimal as far as their worth to the team? Exactly the opposite, it seems.

And get this: Lee was accused of betting against his own team. I repeat: BETTING AGAINST HIMSELF AND HIS TEAMMATES.

That’s about as bad as it gets, betting against your own team to lose in 2021 against Texas – a game the Cyclones won 30-7 on Nov. 6 at Jack Trice Stadium.

I can’t even imagine how his teammates feel. Teammates like Brock Purdy, who completed 27 of 38 passes for 252 yards. Teammates like Breece Hall, who rushed 19 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns.  Teammates like Xavier Hutchinson, with eight receptions for 96 yards. And defensive end Will McDonald, who had a couple sacks,

Betting against your own team. Betting against guys with whom you share a locker room and a dining space.

That doesn't exactly define being a good teammate. Betting on your own team to win is wrong. Betting on your own team to lose? That’s not the type of culture Campbell wants in his locker room, I guarantee you that.

“The issue at hand is a society issue,” Campbell said last week at the Cyclones’ annual media day, “and the reality of it is society issues are always going to challenge the culture, whether it’s your family culture or your football culture.”

Campbell confirmed Wednesday that Brock, Lee and Remsburg were not practicing. We already knew Dekkers is sitting out fall camp.

At least the coaches have been preparing for the worst, from a practice perspective.

More: Iowa State running back Jirehl Brock, three other starters charged in state's gambling investigation

Rocco Becht or JJ Kohl will start at quarterback on Sept. 2 against Northern Iowa. Cartevious Norton or Eli Sanders will get the first handoff. The starting defensive line and offensive line possibilities aren’t as clear, but it’s safe to assume coaches have been preparing for the worst throughout camp, which started Aug. 1.

Say what you want about rules that prohibit student-athletes from betting on NCAA-sanctioned sports. Whatever your belief, players knew the rules, yet they decided to put themselves ahead of their teammates, the university that pays for their education, and the loyal fans who cheer for them.

They did that with not one iota of respect for the program’s culture that Campbell and his staff worked so hard to build.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Cyclone allegedly betting on team to lose is as bad as it gets