The OU compliance office outdid its duties when it self-reported a violation claiming three student-athletes put too much pasta on their plates, although more frivolous reports can be expected from the department.
Compliance officers reported that players received food in excess of reasonable refreshments at a graduation ceremony in May, according to a document obtained by The Oklahoman.
Snacks and soft drinks are considered reasonable in an NCAA bylaw.
According to OU’s statement, “spaghetti does not fit within the definition of a snack.”
The NCAA issued a statement revealing Oklahoma had not committed a violation.
“The NCAA does not govern portion sizes,” Meghan Durham, a spokesperson for the association said.
It is unknown who turned in the over-eaters but Pete Moris, football sports information director, said Sooner fans should appreciate the report.
“We’ve made a commitment to being diligent no matter how trivial it may seem,” Moris said. “Even when it may seem inconsequential, we have an obligation to report on it.”
Moris expects an increase in secondary violations, such as the pasta incident, to be reported because of the compliance office’s large size, whereas smaller schools don’t have the staff to closely monitor their student-athletes.
OU’s compliance team consists of nine members.
Oklahoma’s last major NCAA violation came in 2005 when quarterback Rhett Bomar was paid for hours he didn’t work at a local car dealership.
By self-reporting as much as possible, the school is working to reduce its risk of being punished by the NCAA again.
“Our history would indicate that we’re thorough when reporting secondary violations,” Moris said. “There’s been a precedent set.”
Gabe Ikard and Austin Woods, who admitted to being two of the alleged eaters, just finished their senior season on the football team and were each required to donate $3.83 to a charity of their choice — the cost of pasta per serving, according to the report.
Both players took to Twitter to confess. Ikard said he and Woods were proud to be two of the “infamous pasta eaters.” The pair of linemen donated more than the required amount.
“That was some great pasta,” Woods tweeted. “We felt we ate more than $3.83 so we donated $5.”
The 246-page report that outlines dozens of secondary violations consists mostly of text messages and phone calls from coaches to recruits during impermissible periods.
