As many as 30 members of the Oklahoma State football program admit using drugs over an 11 year period from 2000 to 2011 and at least 20 others "including some of the program's biggest names" have also been fingered as perpetrators of such infractions, according to a Sports Illustrated ongoing expose of the program.
In the third installment of the magazine's five-part series "The Dirty Game," SI reports drug use and "even some drug dealing" went "largely unexamined, unchecked and untreated" within the program.
"Drugs were everywhere," former linebacker Donnell Williams told the magazine. In addition, three former players admitted to SI they sold marijuana in 2001, 2004 and 2006. Another seven players have also been accused of dealing drugs from 2001-12, a period spanning the tenures of both former coach Les Miles and current coach Mike Gundy.
According to SI, one player on the 2001 roster claims he made $100 a week selling marijuana and a player on the 2006 team admits bringing "pounds" of the drug from out of state and selling it to his teammates and other OSU students.
Former cornerback Calvin Mickens even told SI it was not uncommon for players to use marijuana before games. "Against teams we knew we were going to roll, a couple of guys would get high," he admitted. "Some of the guys [it] didn't matter what game it was, they were going to get high."
SI reports while marijuana was the drug of choice, players also spoke of using cocaine and hydrocodone pills and drinking codeine syrup. Those who tested positive for marijuana were placed in the university's counseling program, a development the magazine adds came with the "extraordinary perk," of being able to continue using drugs with even less fear of penalty.
The magazine quotes a former OSU assistant coach as admitting "there's an issue with drugs at OSU, no doubt. We had all kinds of issues."
In the two first installments, Si detailed allegations of cash payments being made to players on a pay-for-play basis, with players receiving money from boosters and assistant coaches and through "sham" jobs. The second part called into question OSU's commitment to academics, with several former players telling SI the university altered grades and had tutors complete coursework for some student-athletes.
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