Clarett did not talk to the NCAA
Officials had questions about his OSU allegations
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The NCAA says it tried repeatedly but was not able to contact Maurice Clarett about allegations he made in an ESPN The Magazine article last November.
The "notice of infractions" sent to Ohio State on Monday was reached with no input from the former OSU running back, the NCAA acknowledged yesterday. Only one of nine infractions listed deal with the football program, and it doesn’t involve Clarett.
"Not once did Mr. Clarett respond to our repeated requests to meet with investigators or provide information," the NCAA said in a statement.
The governing body of college athletics said it tried but failed to reach Clarett via "cell phones, relatives, former legal representatives and friends," as well as in person.
A source close to Clarett confirmed the NCAA’s position and said Clarett avoided the NCAA.
"I think the magazine found Maurice at a low point in his life, and he said things he wishes he’d never said," the source said.
"More than anything, I think Maurice is ready to move on. He was getting ready for the NFL draft at the time (the NCAA wanted him to talk), and I think he was ready to put the Ohio State stuff behind him."
Clarett was taken in the third round of the NFL draft in April by the Denver Broncos. His agent, Steve Feldman, did not return calls seeking comment.
An Ohio State spokesman declined to comment.
Clarett’s refusal to talk with the NCAA may have hampered its attempts to investigate the football program, but the NCAA does not have subpoena power and therefore could not require Clarett to speak.
It is not known whether the NCAA would launch an investigation based solely on a magazine article. A spokesman wouldn’t answer that question yesterday, except to say: "We can investigate better if the interested party is willing to talk."
On Monday, the NCAA identified nine allegations in its investigations of Ohio State’s football and men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Ohio State has until July 26 to respond. In the fall, the charges will be aired before the NCAA infractions committee. Any sanctions will be announced within a month of the hearing.
Seven allegations involve the men’s basketball program under coach Jim O’Brien and assistant coach Paul Biancardi, now head coach at Wright State.
Another involves reports that women’s basketball players received free or discounted dental work from a Columbus orthodontist.
The one involving the football program concerns a $500 payment from booster Robert Q. Baker to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith.
Ohio State, which learned of Baker’s payment to Smith in December, suspended Smith for the Alamo Bowl and the 2005 season opener against Miami University.
In the ESPN The Magazine story, Clarett alleged a slew of NCAA violations by football coach Jim Tressel and the OSU football program, including loaner cars, cash from boosters and money for no-show jobs.
The Ohio State hierarchy — president Karen Holbrook, athletics director Gene Smith, legal counsel Julie Vanatta and director of compliance Heather Lyke Catalano — was clearly relieved Monday when the lone football infraction was announced.
Former NFL player Vince Marrow, Clarett’s cousin and confidant, said he spoke with Ohio State compliance officials and NCAA investigators.
"They did a thorough investigation, I can tell you," Marrow said. "If there was something there, they weren’t trying to cover it up. I can tell you that, honestly.
"The questions they were asking made it seem like they were really trying to find stuff on Tressel if it was there. (Lyke) may wear scarlet and gray, but she went about it like she was an independent investigator."
