UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. “”mdash; The backfield at Ohio State will be
missing No. 13. At least for now.
Maurice Clarett, the star sophomore running back for this past
season’s Ohio State football team, is not allowed to practice
in the Buckeyes’ preseason practice sessions after
exaggerating information in a police report filed this past
spring.
In the report, Clarett exaggerated the value of items taken when
a car he was driving was broken into this past April.
Clarett is being held out of practice by the Ohio State coaching
staff while the NCAA investigates the police report, which claims
about $10,000 worth of items were taken, including cash and video
equipment. The NCAA has regulations regarding student
athletes’ ability to accept gifts from non-family
members.
“Sophomore running back Maurice Clarett will not
participate in preseason football camp until, and unless, all
issues related to his eligibility regarding his amateur status have
been resolved,” Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said in
a joint statement with Ohio State athletic director Andy
Geiger.
Clarett, who set an Ohio State freshman rushing record last
season with 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns despite missing some
playing time due to a shoulder injury, issued an apology.
“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 a statement issued through
his attorney Scott Schiff.
Schiff also issued a statement regarding the police
investigation.
In it Schiff states the car Clarett was driving that was broken
into was borrowed.
“It is true that on or about April 17, 2003, Maurice
Clarett used a borrowed vehicle to attend a morning workout at the
Woody Hayes Athletic Center,” Schiff said in the
statement.
“This vehicle was broken into sometime during his workout.
Upon learning of the break in, Maurice filed a theft report with
the Ohio State University Police.”
According to Schiff, many of the items stolen were not actually
his client’s property, however, the values reported by
Clarett were in fact inflated.
“Many of the expensive items identified in the report did
not belong to Maurice, but belonged to the vehicle owner,”
Schiff said.
“Maurice did exaggerate and inflate the values he placed
upon the reported items.”
Schiff did not specify to whom the vehicle belongs.
Schiff, who advertises as a personal injury attorney, was
unavailable for comment July 31.