Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Football follies: I read with interest ESPN The Magazine's story on former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett.
Here is a link to the story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1919246
Clarett alleges he took money and cars from boosters and had tutors ensure he remained eligible for football, which really is understating it.
The story itself really does not surprise me. At many big-time schools, especially one that is successful like OSU (they won the National Championship during Clarett's freshman and only season there), there certainly are going to be temptations like these. But my question, and the question of many sports writers now, is why is he saying all this stuff? This doesn't make him look better to NFL general managers who will have the opportunity to draft him next year. If anything I think it raises many more questions. Integrity is a big character trait pro football officials look for now.
The interesting thing in this whole discussion is Clarett was never considered a high draft pick, even before all this happened. During the Buckeye's title run, there was talk about whether he would leave school after his freshman year. Everything I read and heard was he was projected a 4th or 5th round draft pick.
Is this payback to Ohio State? Clarett says the school let him down after he protected them during the NCAA investigation. There is no question OSU will take some heat over this. But really the only person who will be hurt here is Clarett. OSU football will go on. OSU will remain a Big Ten school that will continue granting degrees and turning out quality graduates.
But Clarett likely will have trouble breaking into the NFL. He says in the story that he is getting his body in shape for the combine next year, when he is eligible for the draft. I can't help but feel a little sorry for Clarett. It seems the deck is stacked against him no matter what he does.
Here is a link to the story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1919246
Clarett alleges he took money and cars from boosters and had tutors ensure he remained eligible for football, which really is understating it.
The story itself really does not surprise me. At many big-time schools, especially one that is successful like OSU (they won the National Championship during Clarett's freshman and only season there), there certainly are going to be temptations like these. But my question, and the question of many sports writers now, is why is he saying all this stuff? This doesn't make him look better to NFL general managers who will have the opportunity to draft him next year. If anything I think it raises many more questions. Integrity is a big character trait pro football officials look for now.
The interesting thing in this whole discussion is Clarett was never considered a high draft pick, even before all this happened. During the Buckeye's title run, there was talk about whether he would leave school after his freshman year. Everything I read and heard was he was projected a 4th or 5th round draft pick.
Is this payback to Ohio State? Clarett says the school let him down after he protected them during the NCAA investigation. There is no question OSU will take some heat over this. But really the only person who will be hurt here is Clarett. OSU football will go on. OSU will remain a Big Ten school that will continue granting degrees and turning out quality graduates.
But Clarett likely will have trouble breaking into the NFL. He says in the story that he is getting his body in shape for the combine next year, when he is eligible for the draft. I can't help but feel a little sorry for Clarett. It seems the deck is stacked against him no matter what he does.
