Much like Congress, University of Wisconsin football players are alleged to have mis-appropriated funds intended to assist them with housing and food. Some are alleged to have diverted some of their housing stipends to other purchases, particularly moped bikes and other vehicles. Apparently Madison has a spate of very large men riding around on very small bikes down its streets like a scene out of the narrow corridors of some remote Italian villas.Notably, senior linebacker Jonathan Casillas explained to WKOW news how the practice worked. "Once you get to your second, third year, you start learning what's cheap (housing), what's expensive. Maybe live with somebody and split the rent. And hopefully you can get a moped, or maybe even a car. Some people got cars." The reported monthy stipend at Wisconsin averaged out to $1,009 a month.
When queried, an associate athletic director told WKOW, "our obligation to them is to issue them a check. How they manage that is their business". Its a seemingly mundane transaction that gets exciting when WKOW reveals something of a moped epidemic at the school.
27 News verified at least 22 starting players or top reserves on the roster of the Badger football team which played in last December's Champs Sports Bowl have received traffic citations on mopeds, including tight end Lance Kendricks' conviction for drunk driving on a moped.Madison, we have a problem.
The station is also investigating the transfer of a moped from Athletic Director and former football coach Barry Alvarez's wife Cindy to one of the players on Wisconsin's football team. The story goes something like this: Cindy Alvarez received the red and white Wisconsin themed moped as a donation to be used in a charitable auction.
She later put in the highest bid and purchased the bike but clearly didn't have a need for it.
At some later point it went from her hands into the possession of a Wisconsin football player, either as a gift or via sale. The previous owner, who runs a Scooter store, told WKOW at various times that she had either sold the vehicle to the player or given him it as a gift.
If it was a gift it would be an NCAA violation. When asked about this, Wisconsin told WKOW it had investigated the deal and found no NCAA violation. Vague, but that's what we know in this confused situation. Chances are it was a well-meaning transaction but this is the NCAA we're talking about, acts of institutional goodwill are a quick path to sanction.
Meanwhile -- oh, the terror -- Wisconsin football players remain out there on their miniature motorized scooters purchased with diverted funds, roaming the streets of Madison in a never-ending quest to
