MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Auburn will investigate claims by four former football players who told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" they received thousands of dollars while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers.

Stanley McClover, Troy Reddick, Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray told HBO for an episode that aired Wednesday night that they received cash payments -- in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season.

Coach Gene Chizik dismissed the report as "pure garbage."

Chizik, Auburn's defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2004 during the careers of McClover and Reddick, said Wednesday night he had no knowledge of the alleged payments, "and I don't have my head in the sand."

"What's disturbing to me is that they interviewed other former Auburn football players who had exactly the opposite to say but somehow or another that failed to make the air, unless I missed that section," Chizik said. "So I've got other former players that are calling me who are still playing and who are great players who had absolutely no knowledge of any of that stuff.

"So it saddens me that somebody is going to air a show with basically one side being known. I think that's pathetic. And I think it's pure garbage," he said.

Chizik said HBO did not attempt to contact him for comment. But the network released a statement Thursday saying producers called the university's sports information department and "read [the allegations] to them in detail."

Athletic director Jay Jacobs said the university will investigate.

"While HBO confirmed to us they have no proof that any of these claims are true, we contacted both the NCAA and Southeastern Conference as soon as these allegations surfaced," Jacobs said in a statement released Wednesday night. "We have engaged outside counsel to investigate this matter and will spare no resources to find the truth."

University president Jay Gogue said he is confident Jacobs and his department "will investigate these allegations thoroughly and completely."

Tommy Tuberville, Auburn's coach during the recruitment of all four players, declined comment Wednesday. He is now the coach at Texas Tech.

McClover said he "felt totally obligated" to play for the Tigers after getting money -- he wasn't sure how much -- in a book bag.

"I almost passed out. I literally almost passed out, I couldn't believe it was true," the former defensive end told HBO. "I felt like I owed them."

McClover said he later received $7,000 from an unidentified Auburn booster for a 1973 Chevrolet Impala and would get sacks of money, typically $300 or $400, after games. He said he got four bags totaling $4,000 after logging four sacks against rival Alabama in 2004, when he was a first-team All-SEC player.

The Associated Press reviewed an advance copy of the hour-long program. Efforts to reach the four former players were unsuccessful.

Auburn has been dealing with NCAA issues and allegations for months now, and Chizik once again finds himself defending his program.

"That's not what we stand for," he said. "That's not how this program is going to be run.

"I know in my heart of hearts that we're doing things the right way here at Auburn," he added.

The NCAA has been investigating the recruitment of Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led the Tigers to the 2010 national title in his lone season. Newton's father, Cecil, has admitted to soliciting money from Mississippi State during the recruiting process but said neither the player nor Auburn knew about his pay-for-play attempt.

Former Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves said he was never aware of McClover or any other teammates receiving improper payments.

"I just think it was totally and utterly ridiculous to go and say something like that about the school that gave you so much and then be mad because of selfish reasons," Groves, who is now an Oakland Raiders linebacker, told the AP in a phone interview Wednesday.

Groves said HBO contacted him and at least nine other former Auburn players for the report. He said he was never paid while at Auburn.

McClover's 2004 teammate Junior Rosegreen said McClover bought the car with money from a Pell Grant and that it didn't cost $7,000.

"That is bogus," said Rosegreen, who called McClover "a damn storyteller."

McClover, who spent two years at Auburn before turning pro after the 2005 season, also said he received cash during "money handshakes" with LSU and Michigan State and received sexual favors during a visit to Ohio State.

The SEC said in a statement that representatives from Auburn, LSU and the conference "have communicated with the NCAA Enforcement Staff" about the report.

"The involved institutions and the NCAA staff will pursue the allegations in a timely manner," the SEC said.

In a statement, Michigan State spokesman John Lewandowski said, "Our compliance office was never alerted to this alleged handshake."