Marilyn Middlebrook, associate athletic director of academic affairs, shown with Terry Henley, senior academic counselor, says she would have stopped any misconduct she discovered. Sports Illustrated did not contact her for the story. Tulsa World file
STILLWATER - In the aftermath of Sports Illustrated's Wednesday article that alleged academic misconduct involving Oklahoma State football players, the university's associate athletic director for academics said she would have put a stop to any improprieties she discovered.
"If (a professor writing papers for athletes, as alleged) were happening, we didn't know about it, nor would we have condoned it," said Marilyn Middlebrook, who was not contacted by SI or mentioned in the story. "I would say that about anybody.
"If somebody is doing (coursework) for somebody, I'm not going to condone that at all and would address it immediately if I found out about it."
Because of student-privacy laws, Middlebrook could not detail the story's allegations about specific players but addressed a variety of topics while meeting with reporters in her office Wednesday.
On allegations tutors did homework for players:
Middlebrook said the academic center inside Gallagher-Iba Arena is an open environment designed with large windows so that "there is always somebody watching what's going on."
"It would be virtually - not impossible, because nothing's impossible - but it would be very difficult for a tutor to be sitting there doing somebody's work not being seen," she said. " ... I've never heard of a tutor being reported to me that they're doing papers. I've not heard innuendos about it. I've not heard it from students. I've not heard it from staff. And I'm adamant about that we keep an eye on it."
On the allegations of professors giving preferential treatment to athletes:
Middlebrook said she tells faculty members to give athletes the grades they have earned, even if it's an 'F.'
"We will have kids that will go to a professor (and) say, 'Man, this is going to make me ineligible,' and the professor will call me and I say, 'Well, then that's too bad. Then they're just gonna be ineligible. Give them the grade that they deserve.'
"... I don't think student-athletes should be singled out as anything other than a student who happens to be an athlete. They shouldn't get special privileges, nor should they be denied."
On an allegation that OSU funneled athletes into majors that would allow them to remain eligible:
Middlebrook said that "absolutely does not" occur. She said OSU checks the academic records of incoming student-athletes and, through consultation, attempts to place them in areas where they best fit. If a kid says he wants to be an engineering major, but has math scores that suggest he is not prepared to succeed in that field of study, another option might be presented or the student will be eased into classes that correspond with that major in order to encourage success.
"We don't tell them they can't," she said. "Let them take a chance at it."
On allegations that online coursework is an easy path to a degree:
Middlebrook said online courses are being offered moreso than in the past and sometimes you can't even get a specific course unless it's offered online. It's a benefit for "regular" students who are working and players who are juggling the time demands of being a student-athlete.
Middlebook said that OSU puts a lot of kids in online classes "and we have them do them here so we can supervise to make sure that they are the ones that are doing the work. We want to be absolute certain that they are doing it."
Added Middlebrook: "We are holding their feet to the fire and making somebody sit there and watch to make sure they do the work. ... It's far more work than sitting in a classroom, (where) you can sit in the back and go to sleep. But that has created, for whatever the reason (a perception) that (online classes are) a bad thing. And it's not a bad thing. We're actually able to keep track more of them this way."
Asked if it is mandatory that online classes be taken at the academic center, Middlebrook said student-athletes "could do something somewhere else as well."
But, added Middlebrook, "The bulk of them are taken right here where we could view and we can see and make certain that they are doing the work."
On the insinuation that anyone in OSU academics is not qualified for their job:
While Middlebrook is not permitted to discuss anyone implicated in the story, she said everyone on her staff is "100 percent qualified" for their jobs.
"I wouldn't replace one staff member," she said. "Not one. They are excellent. Top of the line. I have bragged about them until I can brag no more. They are honest. They have high integrity. They would not cheat."
On the differences regarding academics under former head coach Les Miles and current coach Mike Gundy:
According to Middlebrook, Gundy works more with the students than did Miles, who came to OSU from the NFL.
"I won't say anything bad about Les, but I do think that Mike is very focused on the total student, not just winning," she said. "Of course he has to win. But he is about making certain that he runs a clean program."
On areas where her department could be better:
"If I had my (dream situation) ... I would like all students who want to come to college, who want to be in school and who want to get a degree. I would love that. That would make my life simple.
"But that isn't going to happen. As long as football is the big business that it is, they are going to bring in talent. And I don't think Oklahoma State is one bit different than any other school that has football. And I'm speaking of all schools, unless they have a very stringent strict admissions policy where they would not bring in exceptions.
"So they are doing with the same population we are and they are dealing with the same problems they are. We are not any different than other campuses."
Jimmie Tramel talks SI investigation.
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389 Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Academic AD responds to allegations
