STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State University said Saturday that Sports Illustrated has informed the school it plans to publish a series of articles about alleged misconduct in the university's football program starting in 2001.
The university said in a statement that Sports Illustrated outlined allegations involving inappropriate activities and actions, the majority of which occurred between 2001 and 2007. The school said the allegations outlined don't involve any current coaches or players.
The university said it has contacted the NCAA to advise it of "the accusations described," although the school did not go into detail about the allegations in its statement on Saturday. The university said Sports Illustrated didn't provide all of the specifics of the accusations.
"Oklahoma State University is deeply troubled by these claims. We will investigate the accuracy of the allegations and take all appropriate action," University President Burns Hargis said in the statement. "We do not condone or tolerate improper conduct in our athletic programs. OSU requires everyone affiliated with the university to follow the rules and adhere to the highest ethical standards."
University Vice President of Athletics Mike Holder said they're shocked by the allegations about the football program.
"We take the allegations seriously," Holder said in the statement. "Whether they have merit or not, we don't know. But we will find out."
Oklahoma State said Sports Illustrated notified the school of the planned series on Aug. 28.
The university said senior writer George Dohrmann and executive editor B.J. Schecter came to Stillwater this past week to provide details about the series.
The school's statement comes the same day that Oklahoma State beat UTSA 56-35 at San Antonio.