While OSU administrators carefully chose their words in reaction comments, Gundy did a touchdown dance: “(Investigators) combed us through and we were clean. They came in and combed this place ... (and) that’s all they found? We ought to be having a party.”

While Freeze’s plight seems far more severe than OSU’s in 2013-14, Gundy shudders at the memories of the investigation process.

“The biggest pain in the butt was that we had to go through all of those discussions (with NCAA representatives),” Gundy said. “We had to go to Indianapolis and sit down with those people, and I had to address the accusations made against us. I got a little frustrated at that point, and it probably wasn’t good.

“They questioned me for four hours, and then they came to Stillwater and I talked with them for three or four hours at a time during (multiple sessions). If they want to talk, you have to drop everything and do it. They don’t care what your schedule is. But it all came out like we said it would.”

Gundy would love to have signed Treadwell and would love to have prevailed in the Sugar Bowl, but Ole Miss was loaded with advantages. Three of the Sugar Bowl Rebels — Tunsil, Treadwell and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche — became first-round NFL draft picks.

While OSU’s Sugar Bowl trip was less than satisfying, Gundy and other coaches can be appreciative of the Ole Miss reminders that it’s easier to comply with NCAA rules than to deal with the fallout of alleged violations.

Bill Haisten 918-581-8397 bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @billhaisten

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