Maurice Clarett confirms what we all already knew about Ohio State
There is an article on Deadspin today about a new book entitled4th and Goal:One Man's quest to capture his dream written by Forbes writer Monte Burke. The subject of the book is Joe Moglia, former CEO of TD Ameritrade who gave up his lofty position to become a football coach for the Omaha Nighthawks.
The excerpt included on Deadspin is centered around Clarett, and his path through life (including high school, his time as a student at Ohio State in Columbus, and the crazy turns his life took afterwards. It is quite a tale, and interesting, even without the Buckeye schadenfreude.
The money shot (at least for me) was this gem:
He was a hard worker in practice and in games. But off the field, he was living a completely different life. "I took golf, fishing, and softball as classes," Clarett says. "Away from class, anything you can think of I did in my 13 months at Ohio State." Drugs and women were two of the things. Cars were another—he owned three of them at a time, including a brand-new Cadillac and Lexus. "I was living the NFL life in college," he says. "I got paid more in college than I do now in the UFL.
Here is the link, for anyone who is interested:
http://deadspin.com/5967649/how-maurice-clarett-lost-his-way-bombed-out…
December 13th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
Don't Big Ten rules require a player to make progress each term toward graduation? That lineup of classes doesn't sound like it.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
The NCAA requires this now.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^
the loophole are those self-directed or special studies sorts of majors, where you basically make a case that a particular unique course of study has some sort of academic merit, counselors/professors/administrators sign off on it, and you basically do whatever you want. Maybe Big Kat and Mo were "Recreational Studies" majors, which necessitated that they take golf, bowling, softball, etc.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
Here's the actual rule, which is based more on credit hours:
14.4.3.1 Fulfillment of Credit-Hour Requirements.
Eligibility for competition shall be determined based on satisfactory completion of at least: (Revised: 1/10/92, 10/31/02 effective 8/1/03, 3/10/04, 4/28/05)
(a) Twenty-four-semester or 36-quarter hours of academic credit prior to the start of the student-athlete’s second year of collegiate enrollment (third semester, fourth quarter); (Revised: 10/31/02 effective 8/1/03)
(b) Eighteen-semester or 27-quarter hours of academic credit since the beginning of the previous fall term or since the beginning of the certifying institution’s preceding regular two semesters or three quarters (hours earned during the summer may not be used to fulfill this requirement) (see Bylaw 14.4.3.1.4); and (Revised: 10/31/02 effective 8/1/03)
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As Oriental Andrew points out, and if you read subsequent sections of the rules on progress requirements, nothing is stopping any student-athlete from creating their own specialized program as long as the degree program is declared by their third year of eligibility. As there are numerous golf-related courses at Ohio State, the man who once said "It's a humbling thing being humble" at his combine interview could very well have majored in golf (if the Ohio State would have signed off on that, which they might have) and no one would be able to complain about it by the rules.
This is another rule which is intriguing for what it doesn't say more than anything.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
They must try so hard that it hurts.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:31 AM ^
Man I wish ohio would have recruited me, I could always use more money, cars, and girls. I also wouldn't mind taking a golf or baseball class. I would be a straight A student.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
You forgot the drugs.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
He needs MORE of some things... he's obviously got plenty of drugs.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^
To happen were both honored at halftime by the school and fans.
Jim Tressel is one of the biggest phonies in the history of college football.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
I'll have the opportunity to meet Mr. Clarrett tomorrow. Maybe I'll ask a follow up question for my fellow MGoBloggers...
December 13th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
December 13th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^
Fo sho.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
you'd probably be best to ask the question, "sir, how are you?"
I wouldn't want to ask a former D-1 football athlete any question that grinds their gears.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
It's in a work environment. I'll be fine.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
Pain is honesty leaving the body.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
and Tressel is gone. They don't have to worry. Bastards!
December 13th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
no one else was forced out. Only if the ncaa would have question TP's roomate...hmm??
December 13th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Probably get neg-bombed for this, but reading the article, it seems like the dude went through a lot and appears to have come out the other side a better person for it. I'm actually happy for the guy.
When people with that kind of natural talent have the world given to them, and it all happens so easy, that's when trouble starts. Particularly at a place like ohio where they're in the win-at-all-costs, sell your soul BUSINESS. He stood no chance. Good to see he has his head screwed on correctly today.
Tressell was/is a piece of sh*t. He didn't care about any of these kids. Can't think of anyone I'd want to piss on more.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
The thing that still makes my blood boil is that Tressel's entire projection was a hypocritical sham.
Even though all of this was facilitated under his watch, he's honored at halftime during an undefeated season that he personally ruined for the fans and school that are honoring him.
In spite of all of this, the fan base still acts like he's the victim.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
is that I was in Columbus for this years game and they CHEERED him. I was trying to remind people that had he not done what he had, they would be playing for a shot at the title game smh
December 13th, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^
Troy Smith did,for the betterment of tuos,fall on the sword.
I still maintain...the vest is one helluva of guy. Stadium full endorse him several weeks ago advancing my statement.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
Someone send this to Rhamzy at 11warriors.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
as Viagra for a eunuch.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
Please don't ask me to re-comb through the 11w comment section (even several of their mods are raging douchenozzles) and kill more braincells but I distinctly remember at least one poster there insisting that Tressel *did* report the Tat 5 as he was bound to do but still fell on his sword for the sake of the institution as a whole.
Even if that was true (spoiler: it's not) you still have a decade long case of Tressel at the very least consistently invoking willful ignorance when it came to side benefits and other shenaningans his players were getting. I can't argue against his merits as a football coach, but call a spade a spade - he's a sanctimonious hypocrite who built his empire on a foundation of lies, half-truths and an utter lack of integrity.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
December 13th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
and pathetic, in a really pathetically pathetic sort of way.
December 13th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
I ran into Clarett quite a few times over the summer at the gym, and he was actually really quiet and seemed to be a polite guy. There were several of guys for the Omaha Nighhawks working at at the gym I go to, fairly certain Antonio Pittman was one of them as well. Not sure if he even made the team this time around.
From what I have heard, the UFL was having a hard time even paying any of the players and missed payroll to start the year, and I think the top guys only make around $40-50k for a season.
Quite a fall from what he received at OSU from the sounds of it.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
anybody can take OSU athletic achievements seriously!
December 13th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^
Dunno what you all are talking about, I'd love to take a golf course instead of an engineering one.
December 13th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
Crazy old Maurice...hmmmmmm....crazy old Maurice.
December 13th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
a bizarre tale.
December 13th, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
Since the NCAA ignored most of their rules regarding enforcement, statute of limitations, and standards of proof with PSU, it's time for them to finally listen to Maurice Clarrett and hammer Ohio State with the sanctions they deserve for 10 years of cheating.
Two more years of bowl ban and five years of 10 schollies per season would work nicely.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:41 PM ^
By even discussing this it suggest that there is some sort of debate or unknown about what went on at OSU and the culture that exists in Columbus. Don't even give credibility to the notion that its not one huge scam operation by discussing it. This is not shock or OMG got you...it's the status quo over there. They cheat, it's acceptable. Tressel had former coaches knocking him long before he went to OSU, not only after his fall from grace. He is on of the biggest frauds the sporting world has ever seen.
The saddest part of all of the cheating Vest's shenanigans is how they robbed a great man and coach, on Lloyd Carr, of the true legacy he deserved....not to mention all those UM athletes that were robbed of fair competition.
But as per a topic of disussion or debate....only the Ohio sheep fail to see the truth about that shady program. Everywhere else, we know how tainted and filthy that program is.