The Washington State athletic department has cleared football coach Mike Leach and his staff of wrongdoing in an internal review. A Pac-12 investigation is still pending.

Washington state president Elson Floyd called for a review of claims of abusive behavior by Leach and his staff toward players by wide receiver Marquess Wilson.

Wilson, the team’s offensive catalyst, cited the “physical, emotional and verbal abuse” by Leach and his staff upon leaving the team on Nov. 10. According to the review, Wilson recanted his charges against Leach by text message to Moos the same day the receiver sent a letter to the media.

Leach had suspended Wilson from the team indefinitely on Nov. 5 for violating an unspecified team rule the day after Wilson reportedly walked out of a conditioning session. Wilson, a junior, set school single-season records in 2011 with 82 receptions and 1,388 yards receiving and was an All Pac-12 second team selection.

Joe Schad of ESPN.com tweets Moos said he stopped a practice that involved a drill in which coaches used a sandbox and sprayed players with water.

The Cougars finished 3-9 (1-8 in Pac-12 play) in Leach’s first season. Leach took the Washington State job after a controversial departure from Texas Tech that included accusations of player mistreatment during practices. Leach has denied those accusations.

Wash. St. AD says around midseason he asked a practice be discontinued where a sandbox and players were sprayed with water during drills—
Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 13, 2012

The Pac-12 and Washington State are investigating abuse allegations against coach Mike Leach. (George Frey/Getty Images)

The Pac-12 will investigate allegations by former Washington State receiver Marquess Wilson of abusive behavior by head coach Mike Leach and his staff, commissioner Larry Scott said Monday.

Washington State announced it would review Wilson’s claims on Sunday.

Wilson quit the team Saturday alleging Leach and his staff “preferred to belittle, intimidate and humiliate” Washington State players.

Wilson was suspended by the team after he reportedly walked away from a workout on Sunday after drawing Leach’s ire, according to CoogCenter.com

Wilson has been ridden hard by the coaches since Mike Leach’s arrival, as they’ve worked to break him of a tendency to coast during practice. And during the spring, it seemed to work — with the star wide receiver stepping up in practice, putting forth full effort quite a bit and seemingly turning it around. But as the 2012 season began, Wilson appeared to regress at times, earning the scorn of Leach.

At more than one practice, I saw Wilson singled out, forced to do up-downs after giving an effort Leach wasn’t satisfied with. A simple image of this: Wilson was jammed and slammed into the ground by a corner who probably had little business knocking him off his feet, leading Leach to express his disgust and demand the star wide receiver do up-downs.

Wilson had caught 52 passes for 813 yards and five touchdowns this season before his suspension.

Washington State is 2-8 in Leach’s first season. Athletic director Bill Moos hired Leach after a controversial departure from Texas Tech that included accusations of player mistreatment by the son of former ESPN college football analyst Craig James. Leach has denied those accusations.

Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson left the team saying he could not endure the “physical, emotional and verbal abuse” in the locker room. (William Mancebo/Getty Images)

Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson left the team on Saturday citing in a statement the “physical, emotional and verbal abuse” being allowed in the locker room, reports the Visalia Times-Delta.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to forgo playing football for Washington State University. I realize the school is saying that I am suspended for violating team policies and may return next week, but this is a lie,” Wilson said in a statement. “This is an attempt by the athletic department to cover up what is really happening in that locker room.”

Wilson was suspended indefinitely by head coach Mike Leach on Wednesday for what he said was a violation of an unspecified team rule. Washington State was blown out 49-6 at Utah last Saturday for its sixth consecutive loss and Leach complained that the effort of his players was “bordering on cowardice.”

Wilson, a junior, set school single-season records last season with 82 receptions and 1,388 yards receiving and was an All Pac-12 second team selection. Wilson goes on to thank his teammates and finished the statement with a few choice words for the coaching staff. Wilson says the Washington State coaches destroyed his endeavor to be a winning football team.

“However, the new regime of coaches has preferred to belittle, intimidate and humiliate us,” Wilson said. “This approach has obviously not been successful, and has put a dark shadow on this program. My teammates and I have endured this treatment all season long. It is not “tough love”. It is abuse. This abuse cannot be allowed to continue.”