A Sports Illustrated report, the third in a five-part series, exposed the prevalence of drug use among Oklahoma State football players.

The report released on Thursday said the drug abuse spanned the terms of two coaches, namely, former head coach Les Miles and current coach Mike Gundy. One player reported not only using marijuana, but also selling it -- he told Sports Illustrated that he made up to $100 a week out of his drug deals. The said player spoke of bringing in weed from outside the state and selling to OSU students, including his teammates, who were mentioned as active grass-smokers themselves.

Between 2000 and 2011, around 30 former and current members of the team admitted to using prohibited drugs while on the roster. They also pointed to 20 other teammates, including some of the biggest names in the program.

"A couple of guys would get high," said Calvin Mickens, a former OSU cornerback, referring to his teammates' tendency to consume marijuana before games considered easy wins. "[For] some of the guys it didn't matter what game it was, they were going to get high."

Drug use was not confined to "herbal medicine,",though -- heavier drugs such as cocaine and codeine syrup were also abused. Those who tested positive were required to undergo a counseling programme. It came with a twist, though -- players who attended the programme continued to use drugs without the fear of testing or penalties.

The drug abuse situation got so bad that there were dismissals left and right. Three players admitted to drug dealing, while others were accused by teammates or the police. Even so, it seemed like the drug matter became an inside joke among the team members, with assistant coach Rob Glass encouraging a player by telling him, "Hey, why don't you come work out and then go hit your bong?"

While some players developed their drug habits while at OSU, William Bell told Sports Illustrated that he was a "borderline pothead" by the time he arrived on campus in 2004, and started dealing not long after.

Granted, marijuana use is a common problem on university campuses, but it could easily be curbed by competent counseling programmes. While the program at OSU, called the "Weed Circle" was a good start, it was viewed as more as an opportunity to bond -- players would attend sessions under the influence. In addition, assistant coach Joel Tudman, who ran the programme, did not have his bona fides in order; Sports Illustrated says that his claims of having a master's degree in counseling and athletic record at Texas A&M - Commerce were both false.

Up next on the Sports Illustrated series is a report on alleged sexual misconduct between players and booster clubs. As the series draws to a conclusion, the world of collegiate football is waiting for the fallout, if any occurs.