Elton and Delton

Football recruiting the old fashioned way

*Tradition like no other….Ilini recruiting package deals.

Illini recruiting tradition the package deal...taking one player to get his more highly recruited buddy to Champaign...this week Elton and Delton.....Illini football recruiting class of 1982 Elton Veals a 5-foot-11, 230-pound blue chip running back out of Merritt Community College in Oakland, California and his JC teammate/buddy 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker Delton Edwards (attended Oakland High School) were committed to Mike White's program....remember whole saga....researching the recruitment forgot how friggin' bizarre it was.....twists and turns....'lots of shady characters lots of dirty deals'-Glenn Frey 'Smuggler's Blues'

*How it started-It was a bitterly cold weekend in January 1982 when California junior college standouts Elton Veals, a running back, and Delton Edwards, a linebacker, visited the campus. Both apparently enrolled at Illinois, but four days later they were on a plane back to California.

That weekend visit triggered a 2 1/2-year NCAA investigation into nearly 175 allegations of recruiting violations by members of White`s staff.

A hotly contested recruiting war for a California junior college running back that some compared to O.J. Simpson led to the NCAA investigation into the University of Illinois football program.

Elton Veals rushed for 3,051 yards in 1980 and 1981 at Merritt Junior College in Oakland, Calif. Besides Illinois, other schools that had shown intense interest were Southern Cal, California-Berkeley, Louisiana State and Arizona State.

The choice came down to Cal and the Illini, and just when it appeared Veals would go to California, he found out he wasn't immediately eligible to attend the Berkeley campus.

Linebacker Delton Edwards was recruited with Veals and the two made their first trip to the University of Illinois campus on Dec. 11, 1981. But it was their second trip to Champaign-Urbana, the plane trip they made to enroll at the Big Ten university, that led to the probe and is one of the most serious violations cited by the NCAA Friday.

The NCAA placed the Illini on two years probation and banned the football team from playing in a post-season bowl game this year (1984-85).

Perhaps the most revealing information came from an investigation conducted by television staff employed by Golden Gate Productions in San Francisco. They interviewed many of the principals in the case late in 1982, including Veals and Edwards.

Veals said assistant head coach Max McCartney paid for their airplane tickets from California to Illinois. 'Coach McCartney called us and told us the tickets would be there,' Veals said. 'He said just go by and tell them our names and pickup the tickets.'

NCAA rules allow a member institution to finance only one trip for a prospective student-athlete. Rules also prohibit the institution from paying for the trip a student-athlete makes to enroll at the institution.

By paying for Veals' and Edwards' trip in early January 1982, McCartney violated both rules.

'Coach McCartney told us if anybody asked us where we got the tickets that we worked for Abe Rose for a couple of days,' Veals said.

Abe Rose, who ran a travel agency, said he was an old friend of Coach Mike White's from his days in California.

Veals also said the two were given 'jobs' when they arrived in Illinois.

'Coach White said we could make some easy money. You know, just by doing nothing. We got out there and we started to ride snowmobiles and a little later I think Delton got paid $100.'

John Green, president of Merritt Junior College who counseled the young athletes, told a story that meshed with some of Veal's story.

'Mike (White) indicated to me that they could not pay for the kids to come back there. I was very surprised to learn that and I said to Mike 'How are they going to get there?' He said 'Well maybe we can get them a job and they can work it off to pay for it.'

'It was getting closer to the time, I talked to Max McCartney who was here, and Max said the 'time was getting close,' and that's when I said 'do you want me to go ahead and purchase the tickets and he said 'No, they've already been taken care of.''

Veals eventually attended Tulane in his home state of Louisiana. He rushed for 792 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons there. (story courtesy UPI)

*Comment-'Riding snowmobiles' in Champaign and getting 100 bucks....Veals name in the same sentence as OJ......lot to unpack here....Background: Mike White played/coached at Cal.…White was a senior when Kapp was a frosh quarterback at Cal....White was coaching the Cal d-line 1958 when then head coach Pete Elliott/Kapp led the Golden Bears to the 1959 Rose Bowl....Elliott would later lead the Fighting Illini to the 1964 Rose Bowl….Max McCartney was on White’s staff at Cal/Illinois, the Illini’s junior college recruiter in California.

'Spin' always was Delton/Elton left Champaign cause of the cold/didn't have warm coats etc......yeah temps were single digits to below zero few days pair was in Champaign....old White staffer once admitted indeed the cold bothered the pair but in reality, the 'deal' they thought they were getting in terms of payment/housing/clothing wasn't quite what they thought it would be and....pair voiced their displeasure 'reportedly' to then Oakland bail bondsman/Cal booster Rudy Ealy....Ealy supposedly paid for the plane tickets to get the two back to Oakland....Pair back on the west coast hold a press conference at Merritt where they deny the weather was the reason they left...'didn't treat us right' in Champaign....was why they left....neither worried that the NCAA was going to investigate their recruitment 'all above board.'

Then Merritt JC head football coach Ike Keiffer was not happy about the pair leaving Champaign....head coach was on the side of the Illini....had given his word to White the pair were committed to playing football at Illinois but when they came back, Kieffer was quoted as saying, 'outside influences from other schools got into their heads' why they left Champaign.....Kieffer called for an NCAA investigation into the recruitment indicated he wanted Cal and Tulane's tactics looked at....with all the publicity surrounding Elton/Delton's recruitment NCAA already on White's trail no need for another school to 'turn Illinois in' this time....you knew what was coming next in Champaign.

Elton/Delton January 1982 enroll at Diablo Valley Community College about an hour north of Oakland in classes that will help get them into Cal that coming fall....Kieffer whole time told the pair/media 'no way' Elton/Delton getting into Cal cause neither had the grades/classes needed to get accepted into that school cause the school's admissions department had beefed up academic standards for junior college players after...wait for it...the academic shenanigans pulled by Mike White/his staff when White was head coach at Cal mid 70's....shenanigans that led to White being fired/Cal going on NCAA probation...Kapp insisted he could get the pair in as 'special action' students but the Merritt JC coach knew better said that idea was all 'bull'....FYI, those days a letter of intent signed by a junior college prospect didn't go into effect till that player had stepped foot into a class of the school he had signed with.

*The twist-(summer 1982) The strange odyssey of Elton Veals has added one more chapter as the gifted junior college halfback may now want to attend Tulane University.

Veals, who was raised in Louisiana but attended and starred for Oakland's Merritt College, attracted national attention when he announced his decision to attend Illinois and then backed out and traveled to the University of California, where he signed a national letter of intent.

The standout halfback's new plans were first leaked out by California coach Joe Kapp on Monday.

Kapp said he learned of Veals' leaning toward Tulane when Green Wave head coach Vince Gibson called him.

Gibson told UPI in a phone interview Wednesday that Veals had not told him that he was coming to Tulane.

'No we have never spoken to him,' Gibson said. 'We understand that he has to take some classes this summer before he can attend the University of California.'

Gibson would not elaborate on his phone conversation with Kapp.

Monday's revelation of Veals intentions to go to Tulane was not the first time the running back and the Green Wave have shown an interest in each other.

Gibson said the university signed Veals to a national letter out of high school.

However, after the phone conversation, Kapp flew immediately to Veal's fhome town of Baton Rouge (Veals attended Baton Rouge Istrouma High School).

'Joe and I thought he should immediately fly down there and check out the situation,' said California athletic director Dave Maggard. 'We want to solve a problem before one occurs.'

An Oakland Tribune story Wednesday quoted Veals' mother as saying Elton definitely was not going to attend California.

Gloria Veals said her son was 'coming home and won't be playing football for California.'

Mrs. Veals said Kapp had met with Elton for three hours Tuesday night in the family home but it was to no avail.

'I know where he's going,' Mrs. Veals said. 'Maybe I shouldn't say, but its not the University of California. Mr. Kapp knows how we feel. A lot of promises were made -- not money, but living arraignments and things -- and it just didn't work out.' (story courtesy UPI)

*(Summer 1982)-Kapp had learned that very morning that the heavily recruited Veals, whose family lives in Baton Rouge, La., had decided to forgo summer school and enter Tulane, closer to home, in the fall. The Cal letter of intent wasn't binding, it seems, because Veals had not yet enrolled or even been accepted at Berkeley. (courtesy Sports Illustrated)

*Comment-Rumor had it when Tulane boosters came up with a couple of 'big' shoe boxes full of cash...that sealed the deal for Elton/Delton with the Green Wave....Veals recruitment over but the NCAA investigation into Illinois was just taking shape.

*Fall 1982-In June, an NCAA investigator visited the Champaign-Urbana campus and talked with members of the Illini football coaching staff. Questions were asked about the recruitment of two former California junior college football players, Elton Veals and Delton Edwards.

Veals is playing for Tulane this fall and was the team's leading rusher Saturday with 54 yards in the team's 17-10 victory over Memphis State.

Veals and Edwards, transfers from Merrit Junior College in Oakland, Calif., arrived at Illinois last January in sub-zero weather with the intention of enrolling in school. But they abruptly changed their plans and returned home to California.

University athletic department lawyer John Nowak and Illinois Athletic Director Neale Stoner said they both believe the inquiry is still focusing on the Elton-Delton affair, but neither are positive.

'They could have found something in the women's volleyball program for all we know,' Nowak said.

Stoner said the only people not interviewed in June were the student athletes who played host to Veals and Edwards, so the NCAA may want to interview them.

'But that's pure conjecture on my part,' Stoner said.

When the inquiry was announced last May, the NCAA set a six-month time schedule, which is now nearly exhausted.

But Nowak and Stoner said they don't expect an announcement from the NCAA about its findings until February and possibly later.

'This could drag on until the end of the school year,' Stoner said.

The length of time the inquiry has taken so far has Nowak both frustrated and a little worried.

'The wheels of justice turn very slowly,' he said. 'We have no reason to believe it's serious, but the amount of time it's taking could indicate they've found something more serious.'

But Stoner, who is concerned about the effect on recruiting, said he is confident Illinois' role in the Elton-Delton incident is above reproach.

'Based on what I know, there's no reason to believe they have anything that would warrant any kind of sanctions,' Stoner said. (story courtesy UPI)

*Comment-'Based on what I know, there's no reason to believe they have anything that would warrant any kind of sanctions,' Stoner said......Stoner was a peach of an AD...'whatever it takes' to win his motto...AD knew what White's staff was doing/all the Elton/Delton stuff....how the NCAA was going hard after the football program....the Stoner stories....big Illini football win and Stoner shows up at an Urbana bar filled with boosters/recruits/families of Illini players, announces, 'drinks are on me' everyone cheers....Stoner pays for it with the athletic department credit card....a big NCAA rules 'no no'...he knew that was wrong but he didn't care ‘catch me if you can’’ attitude….everyone played along till Stoner wanted to make more money on Illini media rights and then the local media ‘caught him’...but that's a story for another time.

*December 1982- Illinois football coach Mike White has accepted an interview with the Los Angeles Rams, fueling speculation White is considering leaving Illinois, the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette reported Thursday.

The paper reported two job offers White is said to be pondering.

The Illini coach has been on the West Coast this week on a recruiting trip and has been unavailable for comment.

The paper said White is involved in discussions about the top job with both the Rams and a new USFL football franchise, the Phoenix Wranglers.

The newspaper also quoted an unnamed Illinois assistant coach as saying, 'I know it may sound as though White is leaving, but I am certain that no decision has been made. In a situation like this, he owes it to himself and his family to look into it. This kind of opportunity doesn't come along very day. Mike is happy at Illinois and he sees the program improving. He's on the verge of a tremendous recruiting year.'

The assistant coach went on to say, 'On the other hand, in one sweep he could wipe clean all the negative innuendoes, get away from people critical of him over junior college transfers, leave behind the little hassles about summer jobs or eligibility or getting good basketball seats for recruits. Some of these things gnaw at Mike.'

White also reportedly is upset about the continuing NCAA inquiry into the recruitment of two California junior college football players, Elton Veals and Delton Edwards. The inquiry has dragged and U of I athletic officials have said it may not be resolved until early next year. (story courtesy UPI)

*Comment-'getting good basketball seats for recruits' remember certain assistants on Zook's staff bitching about their seats at the Hall for football recruits....White's buddy Loren Tate at the News Gazette carrying the head coaches water that story…..of course White didn't leave.... next fall (1983) magical Illini football season ending in a Big Ten championship/Rose Bowl appearance.....winter 1985 White supposedly turned down the head coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons to stay in Champaign....anticipated another Illini Rose Bowl run that coming fall.

*The ending-That weekend visit triggered a 2 1/2-year NCAA investigation into nearly 175 allegations of recruiting violations by members of White`s staff. When the NCAA finally issued its findings in July 1984, it let stand 47 violations. Most charges concerned meals and housing accommodations in the Champaign-Urbana area.

The Illini were placed on two years` probation, barred from a postseason appearance in 1984, and banned from TV during the 1985 season. After Illinois officials conducted their own investigation into the matter, White and assistant head coach Max McCartney were barred from off-campus recruiting for a year, both had their salaries frozen and scholarships were reduced from 30 to 20 for one year. (story courtesy UPI)

*Comment-Housing and meals after a two and a half year investigation...nothing about the 100 dollar snowmobile rides or other 'work' done by the pair......far from a conspiracy theory/'pander monkey' Illini type White/Mad Max gave no fucks about following NCAA recruiting rules/deserved to be sanctioned but c'mon.....no NCAA investigation into Cal/booster Ealy's actions in regard to Elton/Delton.....who paid for their tickets to get back to Oakland from Champaign? Who paid for their housing/transportation in Oakland when the pair were commuting to Diablo Valley Community College classes an hour away? Nothing about Joe Kapp's staff before the pair had signed anything with Cal setting up their admission/classes at Diablo Valley.....No NCAA agents looking into Cal's recruiting of the pair....nothing.

Those days Green Wave boosters 'reportedly' giving out cash like candy to football/hoops recruits (remember hoopster John 'Hot Rod' Williams?) not hiding it either again no NCAA investigation of Tulane football recruiting practices....as we know Bo/NCAA had a hard on for White/Illinois cause of the head coaches/Illini's past and brought down the hammer...well at least Illini fans had that 1983 football season.

*Final-Watched some clips of Veals playing at Tulane on YouTube....he was a bull of a runner...lot of inside yards seldom went down after first contact....averaged 4.2 yards per carry for the Green Wave...11th round draft pick of the Steelers 1984....played a year in Pittsburgh, bounced around the USFL for a couple of seasons....found Veals living/working in Roshawn, Texas.

-Delton Edwards was 'committed' to Tulane....no sign that Edwards ever got any of that supposed shoe box cash, went to a class at Tulane much less played football there....He stayed out west becoming long time head football coach at Oakland Tech High School....at Tech coached future NFL'ers Josh Johnson and Marshawn Lynch....Edwards died last summer 58 years old.

*As the former football play by play man/late Dick Martin once said during that era of Illini football, 'Illinois will win some game they shouldn't win and lose some games they shouldn't lose but with Mike White as head coach, they will never be boring on or off the field'....truer words never spoken.