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“COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was accused of displaying a gun and robbing two people in an alley behind a bar early Sunday, the latest trouble for the Buckeyes star who left the school in disgrace and failed to gain early entry into the NFL.
“Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he was informed of the incident on his way to the Fiesta Bowl news conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Obviously, my reaction to that is it’s sad,” Tressel said, “because, as I said the last few times people have brought up the subject, my hope would be that he would have an opportunity to go over to NFL Europe and make a comeback.
“Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 16 touchdowns as a freshman. He helped the Buckeyes win the national championship in 2002, but has found only hard times since.
“Clarett sat out the 2003 season after he was charged with misdemeanor falsification for filing a police report claiming that more than $10,000 in clothing, CDs, cash and stereo equipment was stolen from a car he borrowed from a local dealership. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
“It’s real troubling, Tressel said of Clarett’s fall. Not just with youngsters that it becomes newsworthy, but with any kids who don’t go the direction you know they’re capable of or hope for them. It’s one of the tough things when you compete. Sometimes things work out and you’re successful and sometimes it doesn’t. That doesn’t have you back off from competing and teaching and trying to help people.
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