Here's a sample of reaction in the wake of Sports Illustrated publishing its first installment in a series on the Oklahoma State football program:
"I never got money. Everybody that was in the program when I was there, nobody got money. I was one of the top players, so if anybody was getting money it probably would have been me or probably one other cat. ... Nobody was getting money. If they were, I would have known about it."
- Former OSU running back Tatum Bell (2000-03)
"I really don't think there's any way this could go on right under our nose and us have no knowledge of it going on. It's a pretty tight-knit group when you're in season. We would have heard something. You know about guys' girlfriends, who is broke and who is not and who is rich. There's no way a guy spending a lot of money would go unnoticed."
- Former OSU center Ben Buie (2000-03)
"Well, it is very disturbing and disappointing news of the reports that have come out of Sports Illustrated about some concerns of OSU and its football program and past coach and some of the people who have been employed at OSU and the athletic program itself.
"I did talk to (OSU) President (Burns) Hargis early in the weekend when he was notified and gave me an early heads up that there would be a story coming out, a series of stories coming out. He wasn't sure of all the details and reassured me that they were going to take quick action to personally look into every allegation, to do everything they could to remedy any potential problems that might be ongoing, but once again they need the time to be able to look into the allegations to read those to investigate within themselves."
- Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin, an OSU alumna
"Our goal has always been to take young people from where their families, their parents, have gotten them and to make them better over a four- or five-year period. We're very proud of that in many ways. Until further time, which the university obviously will make that decision, there's not any comment we would have on the Sports Illustrated article."
- OSU head coach Mike Gundy in a news conference Monday
"I never once during my time there saw for myself any kind of extra payment going on with an envelope the way it is described in that article. I never saw a booster handing out envelopes on an airplane. I never saw them walking up and down aisles. I never saw any of that. It's all news to me. If that stuff is true, it's the best-kept secret ever."
- Former OSU tight end Billy Bajema (2001-04)
"Everything that happened during my tenure with Oklahoma State University, any allegation of wrongdoing in the athletic department that came to my attention was investigated and appropriate action was taken. During my tenure as athletic director, a second full-time compliance officer was hired to beef up internal investigative capabilities.
"My reaction to the current article is I believe the university and NCAA are both conducting full investigations to determine validity of any and all of the allegations."
- Former OSU athletic director Harry Birdwell (2002-05)
"Wish somebody would have offered me 25k at #okstate lol ... If I didn't get paid I'm damn sure nobody else got paid."
- Former OSU receiver Dez Bryant (2007-09) on Twitter
"This article is a joke. Come on... Former players who were kicked off the team is a credible source? Good try Sports Illustrated. No respect."
- Former OSU cornerback Andrew McGee (2009-10) on Twitter
"This article is focusing on (an) extremely small group of players that were given an opportunity to continue their football dream, but feel cheated and refuse to accept responsibility for mistakes they have made. What better time for a group of disgruntled players that left the university for one reason or another to talk down on an amazing university that has worked the right way to put itself on the map and help young athletes succeed not only on the field but in life."
- Former OSU linebacker Andre Sexton (2005-08) on Facebook
"Sad that players making wrong decisions such as multiple drug use and detrimental conduct have been deemed credible sources."
- Former OSU offensive lineman Russell Okung (2006-09) on Twitter
"I have the obvious take (on the series) that I'm tired of these stories. We've been reading these stories for 30 years and I'm tired of people pointing out how corrupt participants are in a system that has been proven to be corrupt. The NCAA amateur system is corrupt, so we should not be surprised that there is corruption among the participants. I would like to see more of the focus on the NCAA and the system and fixing that, and then I'll get upset about the corruption. I think the story is a cliché and bogus and suspect and just the wrong angle."
- ESPN writer Jason Whitlock on The Franchise fm107.7 in Oklahoma City
Original Print Headline: What They Said
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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.
