By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - As Ohio State prepares today to respond to the NCAA's allegations against Maurice Clarett, it has barred the troubled tailback from practicing with the team and is preparing for the possibility he won't return.

The university continues to uncover new problems concerning Clarett, athletic director Andy Geiger said, and the sophomore is seemingly exacerbating the situation with his unwillingness to cooperate.

"We are still dealing with some issues and I think will be for a while," Geiger said. "I am not optimistic about the number of games Maurice Clarett might be available to play this year."

The NCAA and Ohio State began an investigation in July into Clarett's claim that more than $10,000 in merchandise, stereo equipment and cash was stolen in April from a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Clarett had borrowed from a car dealership. Clarett later said he had inflated the value of the items.

Yet Geiger said that incident is now only one element involving Clarett in an increasing number that are being investigated. OSU's response to the NCAA allegations - which Geiger expects to submit today, including a suggested length for the suspension - has been slowed both because of other findings and because Clarett hasn't cooperated.

He said Clarett's wrongdoings involve NCAA Bylaw 10, which compels athletes and coaches to answer truthfully during university or NCAA questioning, and Bylaw 12, which concerns amateurism and illegal benefits.

"It is far more - in terms of the number of things we are pursuing - than the police report and all the things that people have focused on," Geiger said.

OSU originally had declared Clarett ineligible indefinitely. It reinstated him to the team Aug. 22, making him eligible to return to practice, which he did last week as a member of the scout team.

Yet Geiger and coach Jim Tressel, the latter of whom made the decision to bar Clarett from practice, seem to be losing patience with Clarett.

Clarett did on-air interviews Saturday with both ESPN and Columbus' WCMH-TV without asking school officials. They had asked him not to do interviews, and Geiger indicated that disobedience was a minor part of why Clarett was disciplined Tuesday.

Asked about Clarett's failure to be forthcoming, Geiger said the investigation "might have been over in July" had the tailback cooperated.

"We put great stock in forthrightness, and straightforward answers to questions bathed in truth," Geiger said. "We have yet to get there (with Clarett), and that's distressing.

"We have a ways to go on the concept of (Clarett's) understanding the seriousness of it and the scope of it."

Tressel met with his assistant coaches before deciding to end Clarett's stint as a practice player.

"It's a coaching decision," Tressel said. ". . . It's what's best to do right now."

Clarett, the Big Ten preseason offensive player of the year, set an OSU freshman rushing record with 1,237 yards last season.

Teammates were mostly ambivalent when asked about Clarett's removal from practice.

"There's a point where being patient with an individual starts to be detrimental to the team," senior tight end Ben Hartsock said.

Said senior safety Will Allen: "It's (Tressel's) decision. We have to keep marching forward."

Geiger said he thought it might take a few days for the NCAA to respond to OSU's proposal.

Up next

Game 2: San Diego State at Ohio State.

Kickoff: 12:10 p.m. Saturday.

Radio: WBOB-AM (1160), WPFB-AM (910).