Oklahoma State University has announced it will investigate whether Dez Bryant did anything to taint his amateur status during the summer of 2009 before the wide receiver was suspended by the NCAA for lying to investigators.
Accepting large amounts of jewelry on an I.O.U. (that may or may not be paid back) would constitute a violation of NCAA guidelines.
Kevin Fite, the school’s associate athletic director for compliance, told the Tulsa World that the school will look into the matter. It’s unlikely any sanctions could come against the program.
“The first I heard of it was when you guys heard of it (this week),” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “Those issues are very delicate and they're hard to speak to ... When it hit our office, it was news to everybody on our floor.
"It saddens me that (Bryant) is in that situation, and it saddens me that a (former) OSU player is tied in with it and it's negative.”
Bryant is taking on water as an avalanche of criticism comes his way. Charles Barkley is the latest to fire on him.
"It was high-maintenance with Dez toward the end, but the issues we had the first couple of years were very minor," Gundy said. "I have more memories of what he did (on the field) ... all the plays that he made."
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune