After weeks of nearly falling out of the media spotlight, the Maurice Clarett saga took another turn Saturday when The Columbus Dispatch reported the suspended sophomore tailback has been barred from an African-American studies class and is flunking a physical-education class.
Letters from OSU Director of Athletics Andy Geiger and university attorney Julie D. Vannatta outlined Clarett’s transgressions in both of the classes. In the African-American studies class, Geiger wrote Clarett missed five classes and dozed off in other meetings. As a result, the professor of the class prohibited Clarett from continuing the course because of “disruptive, disrespectful and unacceptable” behavior.
According to Vannatta’s letter eight days later, Clarett, an athlete in peak physical condition, was flunking a class in the principles of physical conditioning. In her letter, Vannatta encouraged Clarett to drop both classes and wrote it would be “very difficult” for him to maintain an acceptable grade-point average if he continued the courses. Clarett has elected to remain in the class, said his attorney Percy Squire.
This latest development should not have come as a surprise. Since the time Clarett was suspended by the athletic department, he hasn’t shown any interest in retaining his eligibility next season. Instead of concentrating on regaining the trust of teammates and coaches, Clarett has filed lawsuits against OSU, although it was dropped last week. He also has a pending case with the National Football League, challenging their draft eligibility concerns.
Clarett needs to quit kidding himself. He has no desire to earn a degree, at least in the near future. If he truly cared about returning to the Buckeyes next season, he would go to class and work hard to prove all of his critics wrong. Instead, Clarett has given them more fuel to add to the fire.
But after these latest problems, the university should look to cut their losses as Clarett has become a liability not only to the football team, but the university as a whole. Clarett has not stepped onto the football field this season, and it looks as if he won’t be donning a Buckeye jersey in the future.
Clarett should no longer be considered an OSU athlete, so he shouldn’t continue to benefit from his athletic scholarship. The money should be given to an athlete that recognizes the honor of being a Buckeye athletes. Let Clarett worry about his impending professional career.
