Sep 11, 2013 04:05 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Not even a full day after Sports Illustrated released its first part of a five-chapter series on Oklahoma State University (OSU) football team, it is being contested by some former players who said they never even spoke to the magazine.

"The Dirty Game: a Special SI Report" was released Tuesday with its first of five parts. It is an investigative report into an alleged systematic payment system based on rewarding players at OSU for their play on the field beginning in 2001 with the hiring of head football coach Les Miles.

In "Part 1: the Money," players gave accounts on receiving cash after games in which they played well. For example, Calvin Mickens recalled a game in 2005 where he forced a fumble, broke up a pass and made two tackles. After the game he said, someone he had never met handed him $200 in cash. He also said he received similar payments on other occasions and saw teammates get the same treatment.

Before SI could release "Part 2: the Academics," former OSU players mentioned in the report made themselves heard. Josh Fields, a former OSU quarterback mentioned in the article denied ever receiving payments.

"I'm in disbelief. Never had anyone attempt to give me money or saw teammates accept money," he told ESPN.

Tatum Bell, a former OSU running back, was mentioned by his former teammates as a player who had accepted cash for his performance on the field. One former teammate even said Bell was eager to brag about the money he would make.

However, Bell went on the WWLS Sports Animal radio show to defend his stance. He said he never made money while playing at OSU and that SI had not contacted him for the story.

In "Part 2," SI alleges that academic leniency on football players began when Miles took over as head coach. Miles, who left OSU in 2004, said shortly after being hired that academics came first, while holding up two fingers, and football came second, while he held up one finger.

"You heard his words but you saw what he was doing," said Doug Bond, a Cowboys offensive lineman from 2002 to '04. "So the thought process was that you're going to school just so you can play football."

Fath' Carter, a former Cowboy safety, said the goal of Miles' statement was to get the players passing grades so they could stay on the team. He also said the policy continued after Miles left and offensive coordinator Mike Gundy took over as head coach, a position he still holds.

Since leaving OSU, Miles said the one-finger, two-finger bit was "a moment of humor" and that he truly meant what he said about academics coming first.

In 2008, OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant was named to the second-team academic all-Pac-12. According to Victor Johnson, a former teammate, and at least one assistant coach, this was laughable. They said Bryant often had to be escorted to class by a football staff member and that a tutor did a majority of his classwork. Mickens said he had witnessed such tutors doing Bryant's coursework.

Still to come from SI, is "Part 3: the Drugs," "Part 4: the Sex" and "Part 5: the Fallout."

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