College athletes ran tax-refund fraud scheme

January 11, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

A former University of South Dakota football player who recruited student-athletes, his girlfriend and others to defraud the IRS is set to be sentenced more than two years after he was indicted.

Alphonso “Rico” Valdez will be sentenced on federal fraud charges Monday in Sioux Falls. All 11 people that were part of the ring that prosecutors say filed bogus tax returns to the tune of $1.1 million have pleaded guilty.

Authorities busted the fraud ring after it had already netted about $400,000.

Valdez and five others involved were USD football players while the scheme was going on. USD athletic director David Herbster says the student-athletes “didn’t exhibit” signs or the spoils of such fraudulent activity.

DL Day returns to ND for senior year

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Defensive lineman Sheldon Day announced Saturday he will return to Notre Dame for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft.

Day said in a statement released by the university that he made his decision after talking with his family, friends and Notre Dame coaches. He called the decision difficult, saying: “I just felt it was in my best interest to play another year for Notre Dame.”

Day was one of the captains this past season as the Irish finished 8-5. He finished eighth on the team in tackles with 40 despite missing two games with a sprained knee. He finished tied for second in tackles for loss with 7.5.

The 6-2, 285-pound junior from Indianapolis is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in information technology management.

Birdies vault Johnson into four-way tie

KAPALUA, Hawaii

Zach Johnson putted for birdie on every hole and made seven of them Saturday for a 6-under 67 that put him in a four-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Johnson was halfway home to becoming the first repeat winner at Kapalua who wasn’t from Australia — Stuart Appleby and Geoff Ogilvy were the others. But not only is the first PGA Tour event of the year only through 36 holes, it’s extraordinarily crowded.

Jimmy Walker dropped a stroke late and shot 68. Russell Henley got off to a sluggish start before a solid back nine for a 70. Bae Sang-Moon closed with eight straight pars for a 69. They joined Johnson at 11-under 135.

Hideki Matsuyama and Charley Hoffman shot 66 — the best rounds of the day — to match Brendon Todd (67), Patrick Reed (69) and Robert Streb (69) at 10 under.

Bode Miller on track for Tuesday return

ADELBODEN, Switzerland

Bode Miller should return from back surgery to Alpine skiing’s World Cup circuit on Tuesday, just three weeks before the world championships.

United States men’s head coach Sasha Rearick says Miller is scheduled for an official downhill training run at Wengen, Switzerland.

Rearick says “it’s a step-by-step process to get the stability and the mobility back.”

Miller underwent surgery in November to repair a herniated disk yet is targeting the worlds at Beaver Creek, Colorado, where he has won two World Cup downhills.

The 37-year-old racer also twice won the classic Lauberhorn downhill at Wengen, which is scheduled next Saturday.

Rearick says “Tuesday is the next step up in intensity” for Miller’s comeback.

Miller is expected to train Sunday for a fourth day in Austria before traveling to Switzerland.

Watson now reportedly to join NIU staff

Ross Watson, who was YSU’s director of football operations last season and in line to become a defensive backs coach this season, will reportedly accepted a defensive coaching position at Northern Illinois University, according to FootballScoop.com.

Staff/Wire reports