Sports Illustrated’s report on Oklahoma State actually helped recruiting

Maybe there isn't such a thing as bad press.

In September, Sports Illustrated released a five-part report on some serious lack of institutional control involving the Oklahoma State football program. One report surfaced per day for five days, and they involved money, academics, drugs, sex and the fallout from the previous four. The report was mired in controversy, with claims of poor reporting, lack of credibility and the questioned journalistic makeup of Thayer Evans, one of SI's writers on the story.

But when the season started, in conjunction with the questioned validity of SI's report, the news cycle passed over the report faster than it was rolled out. There has not been an NCAA investigation, nor has there been really any discussion about the findings since Week 1: Oklahoma State is currently No. 10 in the BCS standings and has a high profile matchup with Baylor on Saturday.

After weeks of nothing, Oklahoma State football head coach Mike Gundy was asked how the SI report affected his program. He told the Tulsa World that the added publicity helped his recruiting:

Gundy on SI aftermath: "I think it (report and how team responded) helped us in recruiting." Hmm. #okstate

— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) November 18, 2013

Gundy says OSU had more recruits interested after SI project and doesn't know why else except the added publicity of the program. #okstate

— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) November 18, 2013

Not only did SI's report fail to cause any repercussions as far as the NCAA is concerned, it increased the national awareness of the Stillwater, Okla. football program.

Cash benefits? Sex with recruiting hostesses? Cheating on tests? Drugs? And a top 10 program in one of the nation's premier football conferences? Sign me up. 

[Tulsa World]