CAST OF CHARACTERS
Names in the first two parts of Sports Illustrated's series on OSU football.
Former players used as sources in the stories
Calvin Mickens (CB in 2005; dismissed from team): Says he was given cash from boosters after games and witnessed teammates also receive money; says he was paid for stadium work he didn't do; says he saw tutors perform course work for Dez Bryant; says he received improper academic assistance.
Javius Townsend (OL in 2010; transferred): Says he did not receive payments but knew others who did.
Thomas Wright (DB in 2002-04; dismissed from team): Says players earned bonus money based on performance; says players were paid for work they didn't do; says he received improper academic assistance.
Brad Girtman (DT in 2003-04; dismissed from team): Says ex-assistant Joe DeForest explained rates paid for specific plays; says he received a $5,000 debit card from DeForest; says he received improper academic assistance.
Rodrick Johnson (LB-DE in 2004-07): Says DeForest set rewards of $100-$500 for big plays; says he was paid for stadium work he didn't do. Johnson issued a denial on Facebook.
Chris Wright (CB-WR in 2001-03): Says he saw DeForest hand stacks of bills to certain players based on performance; says players were paid for work they didn't do.
Seymore Shaw (RB in 2002-04; suspended and transferred): Says teammate Tatum Bell bragged about getting bonus money; says DeForest paid players for work they didn't do. Shaw released statement Wednesday to Tulsa World that read, in part, "I very clearly let him (SI reporter Thayer Evans) know I did not want to be a part of his story and that he did not have my permission to use any part of our conversation or my name."
Fath' Carter (S in 2000-03): Says some players received up to $500 in the locker room after the 2001 Bedlam win; says he was paid for work he didn't do; says goal at OSU was to keep best players eligible through any means necessary. Carter told KOTV he stands by his story.
Doug Bond (OL in 2002-04; dismissed from team): Says certain players were given money by boosters but denies receiving payments; says football was stressed above academics.
Ricky Coxeff (CB in 2003-04; dismissed from team): Says he knew of two teammates who visited DeForest at home and returned with money; says he knew of teammates who were functionally illiterate.
Artrell Woods (WR in 2006-08; transferred): Says teammate Bobby Reid received bonus money while starting QB but was later cut off; says he was paid for stadium work he didn't do; says he received improper academic assistance.
Aso Pogi (QB in 1999-02; transferred): Says he and a teammate lived at an FCA director's home for a summer rent-free. Told the World on Wednesday, "I can only be accountable for me and what I saw and what happened. But I didn't see anything."
William Cole (WR in 2007-09, dismissed from team): Says school would find a way to get classwork done for players.
Victor Johnson (S in 2008-10, dismissed from team): Says staff members escorted Dez Bryant to class and tutors did his course work; says he received improper academic assistance.
Larry Brown (DT in 2005-06): Says he received improper academic assistance.
Jonathan Cruz (OL in 2002): Says he received improper academic assistance.
LeRon Furr (LB in 2009-10): Says he received improper academic assistance.
Chris Massey (S in 1999-2002): Says he received improper academic assistance.
T.J. Minor (DE in 2005-06): Says he received improper academic assistance.
Marcus Richardson (LB in 2007): Says he received improper academic assistance.
Herschel Sims (RB in 2011, dismissed from team): Says he received improper academic assistance.
Andre McGill (QB in 2000-01): Says other players had papers written for them.
Kevin White (RB in 2005-06, dismissed from team): Says he was steered toward an easier major.
Dexter Pratt (RB in 2009): Says he was given passing grades in online classes for work he didn't do.
Coaches, athletic department personnel and boosters mentioned in the stories
Joe DeForest (assistant, 2001-11): Accused of orchestrating a bonus system for players, giving them payments and paying them for work they didn't do.
Les Miles (coach, 2001-04): Said to have given boosters more access; was head coach while players were allegedly receiving cash payments; was said to have not promoted academics. On the Wednesday SEC teleconference, Miles said he "revered" his time in Stillwater and said, "I can tell you that staff, families and friends and anybody that sat in our meeting rooms knew that this thing was done right."
Mike Gundy (coach, 2005-present): Was head coach while payments to players allegedly continued through as recently as 2011; was said to have continued to de-emphasize academics.
Larry Porter (assistant, 2002-04): Accused of making cash payments to players and letting incoming freshmen stay at his apartment
Kay Norris (athletic department member, 1990s and 2000s; died from cancer in 2006): Accused of overpaying players for work. Her family released a statement Wednesday, saying "All allegations that Kay Norris ever violated NCAA rules by paying Oklahoma State football players are utterly untrue."
John Talley (area FCA director; close to program since at least 2002): Accused of overpaying players or paying them for work they didn't do.
Terry Henley (academic adviser for football since 2000): Say Miles didn't promote academics; was said to have been under-qualified for role in athletic department and to steer players into easy classes.
Ronald Keys (assistant professor, 1996-2005): Said to have done course work for football players.
Former players who teammates say received bonus payments
Darrent Williams (CB in 2001-04; shot to death in 2007)
Tatum Bell (RB in 2000-03): Denied receiving money
Victor DeGrate (DE in 2003-06): Denied receiving money
Josh Fields (QB in 2001-03): Denied receiving money
Vernon Grant (S in 2002-04; killed in car accident in 2005)
Adarius Bowman (WR in 2005-07): Did not respond to requests for comment
Bobby Reid (QB in 2004-07): Denied receiving money
Former players who teammates say received improper academic assistance
Dez Bryant (WR in 2007-09): Denied having work done for him
Tatum Bell (RB in 2000-03): Denied having work done for him
Prentiss Elliott (WR in 2004): Denied having work done for him
Josh Fields (QB in 2001-03): Denied having work done for him
Vernon Grant (S in 2002-04; killed in car accident in 2005)
Darrent Williams (CB in 2001-04; shot to death in 2007)
Kevin Williams (DE 1988-2002): Denied having work done for him
