By KELLY HINES World Sports Writer on Sep 22, 2013, at 2:38 AM??Updated on 9/22/13 at 3:51 AM
Nearly a week has passed since the conclusion of Sports Illustrated's five-part "Dirty Game" expos? on Oklahoma State football.While the widespread allegations are no longer drawing attention on the national scene, it's far from over in Stillwater. Up next is an independent investigation, which will take an unknown amount of time.
What else is in store? Here are some questions and answers moving forward.
Why is it important for OSU to avoid NCAA probation?
Of course, there are all the obvious reasons, including dodging sanctions.
But, from a big-picture standpoint, the OSU football program needs to show it has broken free from a cycle.
In the past, periods of success were followed by periods of trouble with the NCAA. A Big Eight co-championship in 1976 was followed by probation from 1978-81. Immediately after a 10-win season in 1988, the Cowboys were handed what has been called the second-most severe probation (trailing SMU's "death penalty") in college football history.
OSU suffered eight consecutive losing seasons after the most recent probation. The Cowboys are hopeful the biggest damage suffered this time will be in the public relations department.
Former defensive coordinator Bill Young was contacted by the Tulsa World last week and said this: "The bottom line is I am proud of the Oklahoma State program. I think we tried to do everything the right way."
On Sept. 11, OSU president Burns Hargis released an audio statement in which he reminded fans and alumni "that we have a strong and abiding commitment to playing by the rules and we do everything we can to be sure that happens. But if for some reason it doesn't, then we have to take swift and sure action and that's what we are going to do.
"But I have a lot of confidence in our current players and really many of our former players and our coaches at OSU. They understand what the standard is - it is to do the best you can playing by the rules. We want to win, but we don't want to win the wrong way."
Could the allegations in the report affect recruiting?
After practice Thursday, Cowboy coaches were free to hit the road and go recruiting because of an open date. They are able to visit schools and watch tape and talk with coaches, etc., but cannot have face-to-face visits with prospects because this isn't the proper contact period for that.
While no one at OSU is talking to the media, it is known that assistant coaches and head coach Mike Gundy got in touch with recruits in the wake of the Sports Illustrated project. None of the 20 previously committed recruits have announced a change of heart.
"It really sounds like Oklahoma State's coaching staff has done a great job of communicating what's going on, where things are going," Rivals.com regional recruiting analyst Jason Howell said. "And they've also developed these relationships over time, so there's a trust factor between a lot of those coaches and recruits.
"From everything I've heard, the perception of Oklahoma State really hasn't been damaged too much."
Dylan Harding, a Scout.com three-star safety from Jenks, said he is still "extremely happy and excited" about his commitment to OSU, despite the allegations.
"I didn't pay too close attention to it because no major decisions have been made (by the university as a result)," Harding said. "But it's something I'm not worried about at the time."
Broken Arrow four-star linebacker Gyasi Akem, who has been committed to the Cowboys since April, also said the Sports Illustrated report has had no effect on his perception of the program.
Will the university's response help restore its reputation?
Three days before the first installment was published, OSU issued a statement saying the university would investigate the allegations and was committed to "playing by the rules."
That proactive move earned the approval of sports public relations expert Stephen Dittmore, an associate professor at Arkansas, as did the website ( tulsaworld.com/OSUresponse) created to house OSU's media releases and video statements tied to the investigation.
"OSU was in the unenviable position of not being able to deny the allegations, nor wanting to apologize for specific allegations," Dittmore said. "When a news outlet spends nearly a year researching a story, it is impossible for the organization under investigation to respond to each allegation in a timely manner.
"The best OSU could hope for was some balance and context in the SI stories, which SI did not provide. Given that lack of balance, I think OSU has done as well as it could have."
The athletic department, including Gundy, has not addressed in detail the allegations and instead has left comments to university spokesmen and officials, who announced Monday the hiring of Chuck Smrt as independent investigator.
"The consistent message from President (Burns) Hargis and other administrators has been to demonstrate a concern for the nature of the allegations by immediately identifying an independent review to determine what claims have merit, while simultaneously protecting current players and staff," Dittmore said.
What's the best thing to happen because of the SI project?
Everyone gets to take a look in the mirror and see if they can do better.
Before the first chapter of the series was unveiled, athletic director Mike Holder made it clear that if things are wrong, he wants to fix them.
"We're all committed to playing by the rules and doing things the right way, and for people to say that is not what's happening is very disturbing," he said. "Our goal is to separate fact from fiction, and then we can start dealing with it."
Holder braced OSU fans that they were in for a "rough few days" as the series was released. They read about allegations related to money, academics, drugs and sex.
"But we hope to make you proud of the way that we deal with it and how we stood up, didn't make any excuses and didn't try to cover anything up," Holder said. "I'm the guy in charge. Ultimately, the buck stops at my door, and I'm ready to accept responsibility for whatever is being said."
Up next
At West Virginia11 a.m. Saturday
TV: TBA
Radio: KFAQ am1170
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452 Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: What's in store in wake of SI report
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