OSU Football Addresses Possible NCAA Violations

The university released a statement in regards to an Internet report about possible NCAA violations.

Friday, December 30th 2011, 12:05 am

By: News 9


News9.com

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – According to a report by FOXSports.com, Gannon Mendez of Perkins has refused to comply with Oklahoma State University on whether he provided benefits to NCAA players that would violate NCAA policy.

The University released a statement Thursday night in response to the claims:

"Oklahoma State University has diligently explored the claims made in an anonymous email that was sent to the university, the media and others some five months ago. The majority of the claims appear to be unfounded. We did discover a secondary infraction that was reported to the NCAA and handled another issue internally through training.

"Based on the information we have gathered, we are satisfied with our findings. We will continue our review and will continue to keep the NCAA informed."

Mendez is a 40-year-old sales representative for Scientific Resources Inc. as well as a golf club dealer with Cobra Golf.

The FOX report states that Mendez refused to comply with OSU's request to speak with him about potential impermissible benefits.

OSU director of compliance Kevin Fite told FOX Sports that the investigation uncovered that in late summer, Mendez bought a $5 drink for an OSU football player at a bar. The university self-reported the secondary violation to the NCAA, Fite said.

The investigation also revealed that two players sold their Xbox 360 video game systems, gifts from the Alamo Bowl, to athletic department employees. Fite said that secondary violation was also self-reported to the NCAA.

Two sources told FOX Sports that Mendez had players autograph items before selling them, giving the players half of the money in return.

One of the sources also told FOXSports.com that Mendez also bragged that he sold guest passes for Oklahoma State football games belonging to Cowboys players and split the money with them.

Recent photos have shown OSU players Justin Blackmon, Hubert Anyiam and former Cowboy Kendall Hunter at a birthday party for Mendez' stepdaughter. But those photos have since been removed from Mendez' Facebook page.

News9.com will update this story as more details become available.

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