Former OSU coach fires back against Sports Illustrated accusations

Former Oklahoma State and current Louisiana State head football coach Les Miles is firing back after accusations of financial and academic cheating in Stillwater.

A multi-part article in Sports Illustrated claims that former OSU players admit receiving exam answers in advance, passing classes for little or no work and using tutors who completed work for them.

Miles responded Wednesday during his weekly teleconference with reporters. Miles says, "The idea that someone would characterize the program that was run there as anything but right and correct... did we work hard? You betcha. Did we make tough decisions about starting lineups? You betcha. But every guy was encouraged to get his degree, stay the course and fight."

Miles and current OSU head coach Mike Gundy were implicated in the series of articles in SI that allege misconduct dating back to 2001.

Miles questions the motives of the former players quoted in the articles. Miles says, "I can tell you that people that were commenting on the state of the program weren't there long enough to figure it out. They heard me tell them attend class, do the right things and heard me routinely. I'm going to withhold further comment. I can tell you that staff, family and friends, anybody that sat in our meeting rooms, knew that this thing was done right."

Oklahoma State has launched a web site to respond to the allegations.