Back in 2013, Sports Illustrated published a five-part report on Oklahoma State with a number of wild allegations against the football program, including widespread academic fraud, rampant drug use and illicit money dealings to players. The report, which received criticism from former players interviewed and scrutiny from ESPN, received attention from the NCAA, who began investigating the claims in July.
NCAA, Oklahoma State say Sports Illustrated accusations ‘fundamentally unfounded’
The investigation did uncover three possible Level II violations.
Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday, more than four months later, the NCAA and Oklahoma State released a joint statement calling the allegations “fundamentally unfounded.” The statement says investigators “reviewed approximately 50,000 e-mails and interviewed nearly 100 individuals,” uncovering three possible Level II violations. Here’s how a Level II violation is defined:
A significant breach of conduct is one or more bylaw violations that provide or are intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage; includes more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit; or involves conduct that may compromise the integrity of the NCAA.
Three possible Level II violations may sound bad, but if the NCAA spends four months poring through your power-conference program and only have a handful of potential violations to show for it (especially after the allegations thrown around in SI’s piece), you’re breathing a sigh of relief.
Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis released a video statement about the joint statement.
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