Oklahoma State quarterback Josh Fields throws a touchdown pass to Rashaun Woods during the first quarter of the Cowboy's 38-10 win over the Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2003. JOHN CLANTON / Tulsa World
A Sports Illustrated story detailing alleged improprieties in the Oklahoma State football program alleges that former quarterback Josh Fields - the hero of two Bedlam victories - was among Cowboy players who received illegal payments during their college careers.
Not true, said Fields, who was offended not only by the allegation but that it came from an unnamed source.
"I never, ever accepted money nor did I ever see it when I was in college," Fields said during a Tuesday telephone interview.
"This whole thing is completely just kind of out of left field and baffling to me."
Fields wasn't interviewed by the investigative team, but he said SI contacted his agent for a comment regarding the allegation. His denial was included in the story.
"I'm a credible source on any of this," he said. "I am willing to do any interview. I gave them a statement, which was exactly what I said. I never received money, nor did I see it. My parents were right there in Stillwater with me the entire time. I was more than taken care of by them. I had no reason to accept money from anyone, nor did anyone ever come with the offer."
One of Fields' backfield mates, Tatum Bell, also was cited as a player who allegedly received money. SI reported that Bell denied receiving money.
"I was one of the top players, so if anybody was getting money it probably would have been me ... ," Bell said during a Tuesday interview with the Tulsa World. "... Nobody was getting money. If they were, I would have known about it."
After the first story in SI's five-part series surfaced Tuesday morning, two former players quoted in the story said their words were not used the way they intended.
"I read the article and I was in complete shock because, No. 1, that was nothing that I said," former quarterback Aso Pogi said during an interview with a Norman radio station.
"It was completely misinterpreted. It was out of context. Nothing was spoken in that way. It just kind of threw me off. I was like, wow, he really did that."
Pogi claims that he was asked about an allegation and responded by saying "Man, that would have been a big deal because I was the starting quarterback." The quote which appeared in the story was "It's a big deal. I was the starting quarterback."
Johnson was quoted about "bonus" payments to players orchestrated by assistant coach Joe DeForest.
Johnson did not return a Tuesday phone message from the Tulsa World, but posted this on Facebook: "Let me say this to all of you. I was never paid or said anything negative about OSU. That (Thayer) Evans is trash for what he wrote. He took what I said and flipped it to his own words ..."
Continued Johnson, "I am embarrassed and ashamed of this article. I was lied to about what this article is about and for that I apologize to everyone... This is something that will get resolved and I will see to that myself. The guy wrote lies. So for all of you flipping out on me, don't believe everything you read just because it's in a book or magazine."
SI writer George Dohrmann indicated to Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports that the interviews were recorded.
Fields was asked if he is curious about what will appear in subsequent chapters of the five-part series.
"After seeing this first one, I'm really not," he said. "I'm not too worried about it just because I was there. And when you were there and you witnessed it, you know the truth - unless I was just blind beyond belief to not seeing any of this stuff happen."
Fields said he saw no evidence of claims players made to SI, including cash payments made by boosters to players.
"Besides the security guards that we had all the time, the only two guys I can remember being in our locker room were Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas," Fields said.
Fields said the truth will eventually emerge.
"It's not a laughing matter," he said. "But it's hard not to sit there and chuckle a little bit just seeing how unbelievable and almost made up this story is."
Jimmie Tramel 918 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Josh Fields refutes SI claims
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.
