Pittsburgh football coach Pat Narduzzi is not a fan of the NCAA’s recent decision regarding sports betting for its student-athletes.
On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Division II and Division III Management Council voted to approve a change in the NCAA’s sports betting policy, allowing student-athletes and athletics department staff members to make bets on professional sports. Division I adopted the change on Oct. 8.
The new rule goes into effect on Saturday, Nov. 1, just nine days after the NBA started dealing with a major gambling issue of its own.
Narduzzi railed against the decision on Monday, Oct. 27, at his weekly news conference.
‘It’s absolutely one of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever seen,’ Narduzzi said. ‘First of all, it’s a habit. It’s no different than smoking, drinking, doing drugs, it’s a bad habit. I don’t think anyone here encourages you guys to go out drinking and getting smashed on a Friday or Saturday night, or at a ball game.
‘It’s a disease. I mean, you saw the same day that comes out, there’s a disease in the NBA with what’s going on over there.’
Narduzzi also went on to bash the injury reports — which are required by all Power Four conferences as of the 2025 season — as another form of enabling gamblers.
‘It’s the same thing with these availability reports. I mean, what are we doing? We’re encouraging gambling,’ Narduzzi said. ‘People say, ‘Oh, he’s out. Let me put some money down there, see if I can get it done and win.”
Narduzzi said he would talk to his players in a team meeting, but he is not going to encourage his players to gamble on pro sports.
‘I just think it’s not good,’ Narduzzi said. ‘And I am not going to change my tune tomorrow. I’ll talk about it in a team meeting. One of the first things I’ll talk about is, I guess Nov. 1, they can do that. ‘But stay away. Nothing changes in our room. You guys shouldn’t be doing any of that. Save your money, put it in the bank.’ That’s my feelings.’