I-Team: Notre Dame investigating 4 football players in cheating probe

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team is investigating a scandal in South Bend, Ind., as four Notre Dame football players have been suspended for what the university says is evidence of cheating on classwork.

The story of a Notre Dame cheating investigation leaked out Friday afternoon on Disney news partner, Yahoo, with more sordid details of the emerging scandal popping up on other websites, until finally about 4 p.m. the university put out a press release confirming the basic facts. And then late Friday afternoon, Notre Dame officials in South Bend held a news conference to discuss.

"Let me emphasize something. At this juncture, no one has been judged responsible for academic dishonesty," said Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame president.

The investigation involves four players - Keivarae Russell, Davaris Daniels, Ishaq Williams and Kendall Moore - who are being prevented from practice and game play.

Notre Dame officials say there is evidence other students prepared their class assignments and homework for them, a violation of this "honor code" at Notre Dame, which states: "Students may not copy work from another student; any dishonesty related to academics is a violation; it cites an ethical and moral commitment against dishonesty; and it must not be tolerated from other students."

Three of the players are certain or likely starters on the Irish football team, and Keivarae Russell is considered one of the top defensive backs in the nation. Russell is from Everett, Wash.

DaVaris Daniels is from northwest suburban Vernon Hills and is the team's leading receiver. He was a standout football player at Vernon Hills High School.

The other two players embroiled in the cheating scandal are Ishaq Williams from New York and Kendall Moore of North Carolina.

Notre Dame students haven't yet returned to campus for fall classes, but football drills are in full swing. The first Irish game is two weeks from Saturday against Rice.

"You know nothing to report that would cause anybody to miss any time," said Brian Kelly, Notre Dame head football coach.

Two days ago head coach Brian Kelly described preparations for the season as normal, and Friday night Notre Dame officials say Kelly just learned of the investigation.

One of the suspended players, Ishaq Williams, tweeted in January 2012 when the cheating occurred: "I see people studying on the second day of classes and I wonder if I'm missing something."

Last April, Kendall Moore tweeted: "Homework, homework, homework. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel."

These are all potential NCAA violations. Notre Dame said it has notified the NCAA as of Friday.

All four students played on the 2012 team in the BCS National Championship Game. Notre Dame officials Friday night said they will forfeit all victories from that season if its determined those players were ineligible because of cheating. Unanswered still is whether athletic personnel knew about the arrangement and what was in it for students to help football players cheat.