What they're saying: Thursday reactions to the Sports Illustrated investigation of OSU
By KELLY HINES World Sports Writer on Sep 13, 2013, at 2:29 AM Updated on 9/13/13 at 4:20 AM
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.
Here is a sample of the reaction Thursday to Sports Illustrated's investigation into the OSU football program.
"When you really break it down, I don't think the improprieties alleged are that surprising to anyone who follows college football. What do they got? They've got cash payments. Well, a lot of guys are getting paid out here. They've got women and sex. That's why people pick up instruments and that's why people play sports to a large degree - go get the girls. Not a surprise there. They've got boosters who are giving money for work that wasn't actually done? Oh, are you kidding me, that actually happens?
"I'm not trying to belittle the story here, but I think if you really dove in to just about every major athletic department in the country and found unhappy players and former coaches, you could find all sorts of stories about that."
- Clay Travis, Fox Sports college football insider
"Not only did he lie about me attending those classes, he's trying to degrade everybody."
- Former OSU running back Tatum Bell to ESPN. Bell was responding to a comment from former teammate Fath' Carter, who said they had classes together in 2004. Bell was not enrolled at OSU in 2004.
The more I think about it, marijuana ... so what ... it should be legalized in every state in the union, probably will be someday. And I would guess that 99.9 % of colleges and universities have players who smoke pot. Now if players were shooting up heroin, that would be a story.
- Joe Harris, of Tulsa, a comment on tulsaworld.com
As for the SI stories, I continue hearing a lot of denials from OSU and will continue to reserve judgment until the NCAA has completed their investigation.
- Ann Franklin, of Broken Arrow, a comment on tulsaworld.com
"(Against) teams we knew we were going to roll, a couple of guys would get high. Some of the guys (it) didn't matter what game it was, they were going to get high."
- Calvin Mickens, a cornerback who was dismissed in 2007 for a violation of team rules, in Thursday's Sports Illustrated piece.
"For the record, sir, my son did not receive any cash. No kind of cash whatsoever."
- Vernon Grant Sr. on his son, Vernon Grant Jr.
"Drugs were everywhere."
- Donnell Williams in Thursday's Sports Illustrated story. Williams was a linebacker on the 2006 team who told SI he didn't use drugs but observed other players who did.
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.
