Former OSU QB Fields, Other Players Sound Off

Many former OSU football players are challenging the allegations in Sports Illustrated and speaking out to defend the university they love.

Among those players is former quarterback Josh Fields, who stands accused of accepting pay-for-play cash. Fields tells News 9 the allegations are nonsense. Fields is a Stillwater hometown hero and a Cowboy star with an overall good reputation, so imagine his surprise to see his name in the article.

9/10/2013 Related Story: Sports Illustrated Releases First OSU Football Investigation Article

"I actually kind of started chuckling a little bit when [I saw] my name … in there because I know that none of that is true on my behalf, so it's kind of hard to take it seriously when you know the truth," said Fields.

A firestorm of heated reaction continues to flood Twitter and Facebook. Many say the truth is somewhere in the middle, but former players don't agree.

"Either I'm blind or I'm naïve, but I didn't see anyone get any money in the locker room or on the walk," Jeremiah Burton, former OSU running back said.

Burton claims boosters were never allowed in the locker room but other players say that's not true.

"It just doesn't make sense," said former OSU linebacker Andre Sexton. "It seems like Thayer Evans just has an ulterior motive -- an agenda … and he's just trying to give us a black eye right now."

Some players interviewed by Sports Illustrated claim they were misquoted or statements were taken out of context. Sports Illustrated did not answer News 9's request for comment Tuesday.