thito_da_skins_fan Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Tuesday, November 9, 2004Clarett claims cash, cars among benefits By Tom Friend and Ryan Hockensmith ESPN The Magazine Ending six months of silence, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has told ESPN The Magazine in this week's edition that he "took the fall" for the school during a 2003 NCAA investigation and that he's talking now because he wants to "clear his name" with National Football League owners and general managers. Clarett says that while he was at Ohio State in 2002 and 2003 head coach Jim Tressel, as well as certain members of his staff and boosters, provided him with improper benefits. He says he covered up Tressel's improprieties during the NCAA investigation and afterward, Ohio State "blackballed'' him from the football program. According to Clarett, Tressel arranged loaner cars for him and Tressel's brother, Dick, found him lucrative landscaping jobs that he did not even have to show up for. He says members of Tressel's staff also introduced him to boosters who'd slip him thousands of dollars, and the better he played, the more cash he'd receive. He says boosters eventually began inviting him into their homes or would meet him out in the community "When you'd leave, [the booster] sets you straight," Clarett told The Magazine. "They say, 'You got any money in your pocket?' They make sure your money's straight." Clarett also says he likely would have been ineligible for Ohio State's national title season of 2002 if the football staff had not "aligned'' him with an academic advisor whose goal was simply to keep him eligible. He says the academic advisor enrolled him in Independent Study courses and also put him with hand-picked teachers who would pass him whether he attended their classes or not. He says his advisor also introduced him to a tutor who prepared outlines and told him what to write for assignments. Another former Ohio State player, linebacker Marco Cooper (2000-01; Spring 2002), corroborated many of Clarett's comments. Cooper, who was suspended from the team following two arrests for drug possession, says he also had bogus landscaping jobs, that a booster helped furnish his apartment, and that he was able to borrow cars from local Columbus dealerships in exchange for signed OSU memorabilia. Another former Buckeyes player, current Maryland running back Sammy Maldonado, says he was placed in so many courses that did not put him on the road to graduation that only 17 of a possible 40 credits earned would transfer to his new school. Ohio State officials have declined to comment on many of the allegations. School President Karen Holbrook, Jim Tressel and Dick Tressel refused to respond through spokespersons, while Athletic Director Andy Geiger said he would not answer questions until after the magazine story appeared, if then. "We went through a yearlong investigation of our academic programs, everything that [Clarett] has to allege,'' Geiger said. "He vowed to me that he would do something to try to get us and this may be what he's trying to do. So he's on his own. "We dealt with this guy [Clarett] for 18 months. I just hope you've checked into the background and history of who you're dealing with.'' Clarett's former academic advisor and tutor also declined comment. The NCAA, which investigated Clarett for potential academic and financial irregularities in the summer of 2003, said it is against its policy to discuss the Clarett case. Clarett, 21, who gained 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2002, his only collegiate season, says he was asked during the 2003 NCAA investigation whether he received a loaner car from Tressel, and, to protect the coach, he says, he answered no. He says when he was asked about other indiscretions, he answered, "I don't know" or "I don't remember," which was a violation of NCAA Rule 10.1, requiring forthright answers. "What would have become of Ohio State if I said everything?'' Clarett told The Magazine. "Half the team would have been suspended, and it would have been worse for everybody. I was like, 'Why don't I just take it?'" The school suspended him for the entire 2003 season, and when Clarett asked to be reinstated for 2004, he says the athletic department systematically "blackballed him" by taking away the teachers and tutors. Clarett then tried applying for the 2004 NFL Draft, and was first ruled eligible and then ineligible, because he wasn't the requisite three years removed from high school. He says he was "depressed" by the court's ultimate decision to ban him, but is now working out in anticipation of the 2005 draft in April. He says he is hoping this winter to play in this winter's East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl, all-star invitationals that would be his first football games in two years. Several pro executives say, as of now, the running back could go as low as the fourth or fifth round. Clarett contends he will change any negative perceptions at the NFL combine in February. "I'm thinking, 'NFL GMs know college players take money,' " Clarett says. "It was nothing like I stole something. Nothing like I'm running from the law or I'm dragging a girl down the stairs. No domestic violence. No nothing. [but] I got to clear myself up now, because it's affecting the minds of the GMs." http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1919059 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSkins Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I believe that OSU is a little sketchy, what with the football classes they offer for credit. But I just think it's funny that every young RB that Jim Brown "tutors" ends up making a career-threatening mistake, or a career-ending decision. The only one that hasn't so far is Curtis Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thito_da_skins_fan Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by JoeSkins I believe that OSU is a little sketchy, what with the football classes they offer for credit. The difference between Ohio State and any other major college football program is Ohio State got caught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins0128 Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by thito_da_skins_fan The difference between Ohio State and any other major college football program is Ohio State got caught. Exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDawg Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Clarrett comes across as a whiny little kid here, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by thito_da_skins_fan The difference between Ohio State and any other major college football program is Ohio State got caught. yep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 That doesn't suprise me...Clarett speaking about it does! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thito_da_skins_fan Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by afparent That doesn't suprise me...Clarett speaking about it does! I agree. I don't believe this will help his "image" with NFL GM's as much as he thinks. It would seem to me the less attention, the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicealot Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Not to minimize any wrongdoing by OSU if, in fact, it occurred...but Maurice Clarett is a bitter young man who got caught up trying to beslick. His tricks and efforts to circumvent the spirit of the system did not work and now he is retaliating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1919059 Clarett claims cash, cars among benefits-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tom Friend and Ryan Hockensmith ESPN The Magazine Ending six months of silence, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has told ESPN The Magazine in this week's edition that he "took the fall" for the school during a 2003 NCAA investigation and that he's talking now because he wants to "clear his name" with National Football League owners and general managers. Clarett says that while he was at Ohio State in 2002 and 2003 head coach Jim Tressel, as well as certain members of his staff and boosters, provided him with improper benefits. He says he covered up Tressel's improprieties during the NCAA investigation and afterward, Ohio State "blackballed'' him from the football program. According to Clarett, Tressel arranged loaner cars for him and Tressel's brother, Dick, found him lucrative landscaping jobs that he did not even have to show up for. He says members of Tressel's staff also introduced him to boosters who'd slip him thousands of dollars, and the better he played, the more cash he'd receive. He says boosters eventually began inviting him into their homes or would meet him out in the community. "When you'd leave, [the booster] sets you straight," Clarett told The Magazine. "They say, 'You got any money in your pocket?' They make sure your money's straight." Clarett also says he likely would have been ineligible for Ohio State's national title season of 2002 if the football staff had not "aligned'' him with an academic advisor whose goal was simply to keep him eligible. He says the academic advisor enrolled him in Independent Study courses and also put him with hand-picked teachers who would pass him whether he attended their classes or not. He says his advisor also introduced him to a tutor who prepared outlines and told him what to write for assignments. Another former Ohio State player, linebacker Marco Cooper (2000-01; Spring 2002), corroborated many of Clarett's comments. Cooper, who was suspended from the team following two arrests for drug possession, says he also had bogus landscaping jobs, that a booster helped furnish his apartment, and that he was able to borrow cars from local Columbus dealerships in exchange for signed OSU memorabilia. Another former Buckeyes player, current Maryland running back Sammy Maldonado, says he was placed in so many courses that did not put him on the road to graduation that only 17 of a possible 40 credits earned would transfer to his new school. Ohio State officials have declined to comment on many of the allegations. School President Karen Holbrook, Jim Tressel and Dick Tressel refused to respond through spokespersons, while Athletic Director Andy Geiger said he would not answer questions until after the magazine story appeared, if then. Maurice Clarett says he received improper benefits during his time at Ohio State. "We went through a yearlong investigation of our academic programs, everything that [Clarett] has to allege,'' Geiger said. "He vowed to me that he would do something to try to get us and this may be what he's trying to do. So he's on his own. "We dealt with this guy [Clarett] for 18 months. I just hope you've checked into the background and history of who you're dealing with.'' Clarett's former academic advisor and tutor also declined comment. The NCAA, which investigated Clarett for potential academic and financial irregularities in the summer of 2003, said it is against its policy to discuss the Clarett case. Clarett, 21, who gained 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2002, his only collegiate season, says he was asked during the 2003 NCAA investigation whether he received a loaner car from Tressel, and, to protect the coach, he says, he answered no. He says when he was asked about other indiscretions, he answered, "I don't know" or "I don't remember," which was a violation of NCAA Rule 10.1, requiring forthright answers. "What would have become of Ohio State if I said everything?'' Clarett told The Magazine. "Half the team would have been suspended, and it would have been worse for everybody. I was like, 'Why don't I just take it?'" The school suspended him for the entire 2003 season, and when Clarett asked to be reinstated for 2004, he says the athletic department systematically "blackballed him" by taking away the teachers and tutors. Clarett then tried applying for the 2004 NFL Draft, and was first ruled eligible and then ineligible, because he wasn't the requisite three years removed from high school. He says he was "depressed" by the court's ultimate decision to ban him, but is now working out in anticipation of the 2005 draft in April. He says he is hoping this winter to play in this winter's East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl, all-star invitationals that would be his first football games in two years. Several pro executives say, as of now, the running back could go as low as the fourth or fifth round. Clarett contends he will change any negative perceptions at the NFL combine in February. "I'm thinking, 'NFL GMs know college players take money,' " Clarett says. "It was nothing like I stole something. Nothing like I'm running from the law or I'm dragging a girl down the stairs. No domestic violence. No nothing. [but] I got to clear myself up now, because it's affecting the minds of the GMs." In a related story, the Dallas Cowboys will be using one of their 1st rounders on this young Gent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 merge http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80455 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 POOF!! There goes his draft slot down to about the 5th or 6th round. Which GM is going to trust him to keep his fat mouth shut about what goes on behind the scenes at an NFL team now ?(crickets chirping) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 thanks, my apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrfriedm Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 :cry: poor Clarett :cry: You are an adult, and you new it was wrong, so now you have to acceptt you responsablitys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasEagle Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by Yusuf06 POOF!! There goes his draft slot down to about the 5th or 6th round. Which GM is going to trust him to keep his fat mouth shut about what goes on behind the scenes at an NFL team now ?(crickets chirping) That's what I was thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 If they actually investigate this and find some truth in it....... OSU could be in deep doo-doo. Clarett is already a punk, can he become a bigger punk? perhaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thito_da_skins_fan Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by Son of Sniglet If they actually investigate this and find some truth in it....... OSU could be in deep doo-doo. I believe there is always some truth to every scandal. Especially when it involves a major college football program. Ohio State will get in some trouble, I assume, but nothing serious. As always, it will get covered up someway, somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaudry Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I like how Clarrett things that opening his mouth now will help him. He would have been better off saying nothing at all. I actually believe his story, though. College football is as corrupt as any business in the country. You would think that this landscaping job would be tracable, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mookie0720 Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 He'll get drafted. If not somebody is going to get a very solid FA pick up. Character issues in college are beginning to mean less and less in the pros as you have guys like Fred Smoot, Randy Moss, Ray Lewis who were passed over in the draft because of character issues and became superstars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illone Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by thito_da_skins_fan I agree. I don't believe this will help his "image" with NFL GM's as much as he thinks. It would seem to me the less attention, the better. That's what I'm thinking. "If he rats on them then who is to say he won't rat on us for shaving points." - NFL GM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartskins Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I always thought that the movie 'The Program' was an exageration of reality...maybe not as much as I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGS_DADDY Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by JoeSkins But I just think it's funny that every young RB that Jim Brown "tutors" ends up making a career-threatening mistake, or a career-ending decision. The only one that hasn't so far is Curtis Martin. Doesnt Jim Brown work with youth who are in trouble to begin with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Sounds like Mo watched the Program a few times. But seriously, I'm sure some of this happened while he was there and I actually don't believe it happens with EVERY program. Or at least not as frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltsBacker Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by thito_da_skins_fan The difference between Ohio State and any other major college football program is Ohio State got caught. Yep, not even major teams, here at San Diego State I know former players that say the same stuff, its sad but a part of sports in college and being competitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvan Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Originally posted by thito_da_skins_fan The difference between Ohio State and any other major college football program is Ohio State got caught. I must of missed something. What did OSU get caught doing??? Clarett is trying to bring down OSU because they didn't fall to his knees and worship him. They suspended him for taking cash and cars and wouldn't reinstate him. However given the fact that college stars do get this special treatment and for him to open this giagantic can of worms only hurts him in the draft. Plus if he does get in he will be a big target for breaking that unspoken trust.:2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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