"The Money," Sports Illustrated's first story in a five-part series on Oklahoma State football published Tuesday morning, included one reference to its biggest donor.
"T. Boone Pickens, the school's most prominent booster, was not implicated in any improprieties by SI's sources."
According to SI, coaches and boosters paid OSU players thousands of dollars in bonus programs and for work not performed.
Pickens, who has given more than $300 million to OSU athletics, responded with a video statement Tuesday.
"There's one word I have for the Sports Illustrated reporting on Oklahoma State University: disappointing," he said. "This series is not reflective of Oklahoma State University today. Many of their sensational allegations go back a decade ago.
"There have been wholesale changes at the school in recent years in leadership and facilities. During that time, I have given more than $500 million to OSU, for athletics and academics. Have I gotten my money's worth? You bet.
"We have a football program that has a commitment to principled sportsmanship. They understand the expectations we, as fans and supporters, have for the program. We have an incredible and growing fan base, and a loyal group of alums that believe in the character of our players, coaches and administrators."
The majority of the allegations in SI's series occurred in 2001-07, according to a statement Saturday from the university. OSU has contacted the NCAA, which athletic director Mike Holder said will assign an investigator.
Before his $20 million gift in 2003 for the football stadium's renovation, Pickens had not given large amounts of money to the program, and that was in part because he disapproved of rules violations in the 1970s and '80s.
"Mr. Pickens has always been very clear on this - that he will always help Oklahoma State unless we cheat," Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said in 2011. "You can't build a consistent, winning program when you have setbacks (related to NCAA sanctions)."
Holder, who took over as OSU athletic director in 2005, told the Tulsa World in 2007: "This is the first time we've committed the resources necessary to win in football. We won't cut corners and try to cheat to win.
"The only thing that could derail us from eventual success in football is if we break the rules. We don't need to cheat, and we're not going to cheat."
KEY PLAYERS IN THE OKLAHOMA STATE SI INVESTIGATION
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.
Tatum Bell (RB in 2000-03): Denied
receiving money.
Calvin Mickens (CB in 2005; dismissed from team): Says he was given cash from boosters after games and witnessed teammates also
receiving money; says he was paid for
stadium work he didn’t do.
Holder says apology was for negative publicity
Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder issued a clarification Tuesday about a comment he made one day earlier.
"In Monday's news conference, I apologized to our fans and mentioned phone calls I had made to other Big 12 athletic directors prior to the release of the first article from Sports Illustrated," Holder said in a release issued by OSU sports information.
"To clarify, my apology was in regards to the negative publicity that was coming our way. My apology was in no way an admission of wrongdoing by OSU athletics."
- JIMMIE TRAMEL, World Sports Writer
Oklahoma State up next
Vs. Lamar 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Radio: KFAQ am1170
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Program Shaken
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OSU football investigation
On Monday, Oklahoma State announced the hiring of Charles E. Smrt to lead an independent review of alleged misconduct in the OSU football program.
