OSU In Hot Water

[BUCK3Y3 44]

September 10, 2013

OSU allegations have many fans and former students of Oklahoma State University shocked this week at rumors of football players getting sexual favors, having grades changed, and being paid as recruits, KJRH News reports this Tuesday, Sept. 10. The official investigation, called “The Dirty Game,” is part of a series across Sports Illustrated media platforms that are accusing serious misconduct in OSU’s football program.

The OSU allegations have been formulated after nearly a year of inside research, alleges Sports Illustrated editor John Wertheim, who says the “The Dirty Game” investigation was a "truly shocking .... devastating" find.

“We wanted to take a comprehensive look at a big-time program, particularly one that made a rapid ascent,” he said as the first installment of the five-part series approaches. “There's obviously a steady drumbeat of scandal in college sports – improper benefits here; a recruiting violation there – and plenty of rumor and hearsay about the unseemly underbelly. For this piece, we were more about venturing inside the factory and seeing how the sausage is made."

The initial part of the investigation will be looking at “Money,” or the wrongful payment of OSU football players, particularly for those who received bonus money payments for play on-the-field. The five part series, as a whole regarding the OSU allegations, are described below:

“Part 1: Money ( On SI.com Tuesday, 9/10 and in the 9/16/13 SI issue ): SI finds that OSU used a bonus system orchestrated by an assistant coach whereby players were paid for their performance on the field, with some stars collecting $500 or more per game. In addition, the report finds that OSU boosters and at least two assistant coaches funneled money to players via direct payments and a system of no-show and sham jobs. Some players say they collected more than $10,000 annually in under-the-table payouts.

-- Part 2: Academics (On SI.com Wednesday, 9/11): Widespread academic misconduct, which included tutors and other OSU personnel completing coursework for players, and professors giving passing grades for little or no work, all in the interest of keeping top players eligible.

-- Part 3: Drugs (On SI.com Thursday, 9/12): OSU tolerated and at times enabled recreational drug use, primarily through a specious counseling program that allowed some players to continue to use drugs while avoiding penalties. The school’s drug policy was selectively enforced, with some stars going unpunished despite repeated positive tests.

-- Part 4: Sex (On SI.com Friday, 9/13): OSU’s hostess program, Orange Pride, figured so prominently in the recruitment of prospects that the group more than tripled in size under Miles. Both Miles and Gundy took the unusual step of personally interviewing candidates. Multiple former players and Orange Pride members say that a small subset of the group had sex with recruits, a violation of NCAA rules.

-- Part 5: The Fallout (On SI.com Tuesday, 9/17, and in the 9/23/13 SI issue): SI finds that many players who were no longer useful to the football program were cast aside, returning to worlds they had hoped to escape. Some have been incarcerated, others live on the streets, many have battled drug abuse and a few have attempted suicide.”

Both OSU officials and fans are said to be stunned at the news, and that such allegations (ranging from the sexual favors to the grade changes) could be going on in the esteemed football program at the well-known school. Some former students and athletes have since denied these allegations, while others refuse to acknowledge that they may be true. More details are expected to be revealed on these issues and "The Dirty Game" investigation as the Sports Illustrated platform series’ continues this week, concluded the report, so stay tuned.

 

 

You clicked this because you thought it was Ohio State. Apparently Oklahoma State never heard of SMU.

Edited September 10, 2013 by BUCK3Y3

[SteVo+ 3,702]

The sad thing is that stories like this have become so commonplace in college football, most people will barely bat an eye when they read it. This sort of corruption is exactly what my novel is about, so I must say I like the timing, but it's just the latest reminder of the state of college athletics, unfortunately.

[BUCK3Y3 44]

I don't think stories like this have become common place. One or two players here and there maybe but something on this scale comes to light very rarely. What was said to be going on at Miami rivals this. Certainly you cannot compare trading memorabilia for ink with this. Nor would I compare Manziel's case to this. This is more on the level of SMU. It's a shame to be honest that 1 guy can wreck a football program. Like Reggie Bush. There really is no way to stop that. Unless you can be on the level with your players and get them to understand the consequences of their actions, but that ain't going to happen. I also do not think paying players is going to solve anything. I'm all for paying them. Not ungodly sums of money but enough to get by in college. When they do start giving players money the penalties for receiving money from agents need to become far more severe. Loss of scholarships automatically and even suspensions heading into the league as they did to Pryor. Which in Pryors case it was stupid. These guys need to be held accountable. If a coach can lose his job over covering for you then you should lose your scholarship. The consequences need to be severe because right now they really aren't for the individual players so they really have no reason not to do it.

Edited September 14, 2013 by BUCK3Y3

[Glanvilles Grits 142]

The idea of money or gifts, that's one thing. Hostesses offering and having sex with recruits? What the hell is going on here? Basically open prostitution for college athletes.