Clarett is an idiot

he should have gone pro, now NFL teams are going to start thinking he is a head case and he'll "Randy Moss" his way to the bottom part of the first round.


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett admitted exaggerating the value of items he reported stolen from a car he was driving and will be kept from preseason practice while the NCAA investigates.

In a statement released from the school Wednesday, athletic director Andy Geiger and coach Jim Tressel said Clarett wouldn't participate in camp until "all issues related to his eligibility regarding his amateur status have been resolved."

The NCAA is investigating a police report filed by Clarett claiming cash and thousands of dollars of stereo equipment owned by him were stolen from the car.

The release from the school included an apology from Clarett and a statement from Clarett's attorney, Scott Schiff, who said the car was borrowed and that many of the items belonged to the vehicle's owner.

"Maurice did exaggerate and inflate the values he placed upon the reported items," Schiff said.

Schiff said Clarett used the car to attend a workout on April 17, when the vehicle was broken into. Maurice filed a theft report with campus police.

According to the police report, two built-in television monitors and stereo equipment worth $5,000, $800 in cash, $300 in clothing and 300 compact discs were stolen. The property wasn't found, and police have closed the case.

"I genuinely and sincerely apologize to my teammates and to The Ohio State University for any embarrassment this incident may have caused," Clarett said in the statement.

The license plate on the car is registered to The Car Store Inc., a small dealership on the city's north side, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It was not clear who owned the vehicle then. Messages were left by telephone and at the dealership for owner Jacob Chapa.

Despite numerous injuries last season, Clarett set school freshman records with 1,237 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. The Buckeyes, the defending national champions, open the season Aug. 30 at home against Washington.

Clarett has been under investigation by the NCAA in recent weeks, and the April police report was the subject of meetings NCAA officials had with Clarett earlier this month, Geiger said.

The stolen property is just part of the investigation, Geiger added.

The NCAA won't comment on pending investigations.

However, NCAA infractions committee chairman Thomas Yeager said athletes are ineligible whenever they receive a benefit unavailable to other students.

"If it's something like a student athlete driving a booster's car or coaches' or agents' cars, generally the rule is you're not driving other people's cars," he said. "If any student at the university could walk into a dealership and get a free weekend test drive then that kind of thing would be permissible."

 

who had any doubts that Clarett is an idiot? He's a classic example of the "look at me" player.

 

Really, who the hell leaves $300 in cash in an unlocked car? And what kind of car was this to be able to hold that boomin system, 2 TV's, 300 CD's, and cloths...I hope he was planning on living in it.

 

you know, he really is stupid, because if the NCAA really believed he had all that shit, they'd be looking into where he got it. Woops, first academically ineligible, then ineligible for taking gifts...

 

the thing about clarett was he actually graduated high school early and enrolled at Ohio State early (the winter semester)...a full semester ahead of when 99% or most freshman begin (fall semester)....OSU fans were lead to beleive the kid was trying hard academically. I know he comes from a dirt poor family...some of the other players actually gave him clothes to wear last year....including a winter coat. He just needs to use better judgement...he has the potential to be the number one pick in the draft.

 

I think that the NCAA Infractions Committee is the least of his concerns. There is a little matter of falsifying a police report and Insurance fraud. Ohio State may get hit with "Lack Of Institutional Control", possibly stripped of the National Championship, or put on probation - but that wouldn't be until long after MC is gone.

The taking of tests over the phone or academic fraud isn't seen as a major violation but if they find that any member of the coaching staff or athletic department was aware of any of these situations and didn't report it - it could be deep doo-doo for OSU.

Man, the Big 10 is catching up quick to the SEC...

 

Just so he plays against State. I'd rather win or lose with him playing.

 

yeah, I'd hate for them to have any excuses if they get upset.