Apr 24, 2015 03:19 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Upon completing its investigation into Oklahoma State University's (OSU) football program, the NCAA placed the program on a one-year probationary period.

According to ESPN, the NCAA supported the school's self-imposed recruiting sanctions while levying an $8,500 fine and the suspension of the Orange Pride hostess program. The NCAA uncovered a lack of oversight by the OSU athletic department on drug testing and impermissible activity from the all-female Orange Pride group with football recruits.

"There were mistakes made," Greg Christopher, athletic director at Xavier University and a chief hearing officer on the NCAA's probe, told ESPN. "(But) we didn't believe there was a failure to monitor per se. Because they had a compliance program for a drug policy, they had a drug plan administrator. They had a monitor in place for Orange Pride. The monitoring was there, but it was ineffective."

Sports Illustrated published a five-part in-depth investigative piece in 2013 detailing several salacious NCAA infractions within the OSU football program. The school staunchly refuted the magazine's reporting, but expressed gratitude for the matter being closed in the eyes of the NCAA.

"We appreciate the professionalism and diligence of the NCAA Enforcement Staff throughout the process," OSU President Burns Hagis said in a statement. "We are pleased to have this matter resolved. We are eager to move forward and excited about the future of Oklahoma State football. Oklahoma State University is committed to operating its sports programs with integrity, and I am pleased with the way Mike Holder and Mike Gundy are instilling that integrity in our football program."

The NCAA did not disclose the recruiting violations OSU committed with the Orange Pride group, but suspended their use as hostesses to football recruits for four years. The Cowboys will not lose any scholarships, but will see their official visits dialed down from 56 to 30 for the next two seasons.

"The steps Oklahoma State took from a transparency standpoint should be applauded," Christopher said. "This was really one of the most cooperative investigations in recent history."

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