Fath' Carter playing for OSU against Texas A&M in 2003. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World file
The Tulsa World has confirmed portions of an ESPN report that pointed out inconsistencies with a former Oklahoma State player’s statements in a Sports Illustrated story published this week.
Fath’ Carter, a Cowboy safety in 2000-03, was prominent in Wednesday’s SI piece on alleged academic misconduct at OSU and was listed among players who said they had work done for them by tutors or received some other improper assistance.
In addition to Carter’s allegations that a professor wrote papers for him and teammates, the article said Carter “returned to Stillwater years later without a scholarship and got a degree in education.”
As first reported by ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Carter attended OSU in 2000-05 but did not earn a degree, according to documentation provided by the university Thursday afternoon.
Carter also was quoted in Tuesday’s Part I about players getting cash from boosters and being paid for work they didn't do.
When asked by CBS Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb about Carter’s allegations, Sports Illustrated co-author George Dohrmann said: “Fath’ is a somebody who played four years at Oklahoma State, has two degrees from Oklahoma State, spoke on the record, recorded. I have no reason to believe he lied about that. And he’s certainly not disgruntled. He still talks to people at Oklahoma State.”
In an interview with KOTV, Carter said he stands by his statements.
He also told SI that he took two courses with teammate Tatum Bell from the same professor, including one taught in spring 2004, and although they received unearned A’s in the first course, they failed the second. Carter’s explanation was that because his and Bell’s eligibility had expired, there was no pressure on the professor to pass them.
Bell, a former running back at OSU, told ESPN he quit school after the Jan. 2, 2004, Cotton Bowl and didn’t take any classes in spring 2004. Documentation from the university shows Bell was enrolled in 2000-04 but doesn’t list exact dates.
Attempts to reach Bell on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.
OSU
Browns third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Sunday against Minnesota in place of Brandon Weeden, who sprained his right thumb last week.
The Big 12 Baseball Championship will be May 21-25 at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.
