Sep 10, 2013 11:59 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The title for largest pay-for-play scheme in college athletics may be heading to Oklahoma State University (OSU).

Sports Illustrated released the first of an investigative series of five parts on an alleged payment system run by the OSU football program for at least ten years. The first part, titled "The Money," quotes eight former players who said they received payment while playing on the team, some around $10,000 for a year and some as much as $25,000.

CLICK HERE to read the full article on SI.com.

The article alleges the payment system was reward-based and started in 2001 and went as recently as 2011. 2001 was Les Miles' first year as head football coach and it was the first year Mike Gundy served as offensive coordinator. Miles is now the head coach at LSU and Gundy has taken over Miles' job since he left in 2004.

If the allegations are true, OSU would be guilty of one of the most obscene, excessive and meticulously planned recruiting and payment violations in the history of the NCAA. The school will not face penalties for an investigative piece by SI, but if the NCAA finds the evidence substantial, they could launch their own investigation.

Javius Townsend was a redshirt offensive lineman during the 2010 season who said he did not accept payment for play, but witnessed others being paid.

"They figure if a player shines and you pat him on the back in an obtainable way, he's going to do whatever he can to keep getting that paper," he said.

Calvin Mickens was one of the former players who did say he was paid for his play on the field. He said he was approached by someone he did not know following a game in which he forced a fumble, broke up a pass and made two tackles and was handed $200.

"I was like, Wow, this is the life!" Mickens, a freshman cornerback at the time, said. "I'm 18, playing football, and I just got $200."

From there on out, Mickens said he was approached by different people, presumably boosters, and given cash for games in which he played well. Seeing other players receive the same kind of awards, he did not think it was a violation of any kind and assumed it was a perk of playing for a major NCAA Division I school.

Both Miles and OSU athletic director Mike Holder commented on the allegations. At a press conference, Holder apologized in advance to other athletic directors in the conference for the negative attention the school would attract. Miles denied "any improprieties while I was coaching there," after LSU's win on Saturday.

With the first part out Tuesday, "Part 2: The Academics," will be released Wednesday, followed by "Part 3: The Drugs" on Thursday, "Part 4: The Sex" on Friday and "Part 5: The Fallout" and the story in its entirety online and in print in the Sept. 17 issue.

The ensuing chapters of the report hint at school administrators turning a blind eye to academic violations and recreational drug use for elite football players, as well as the school's recruiting program using "hostesses" to have sex with players to court them into choosing OSU.

In a similar investigative piece, Yahoo Sports broke a massive report on several violations at the University of Miami, mainly involving former players as well. The NCAA ruled several current players ineligible at the time, but is continuing its investigation and the penalties could be massive.

If this plays out like Miami, OSU could have to wait years before it realizes it fate.

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