By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Here are answers to some of the most-asked questions about the Maurice Clarett saga:

Q. Is Ohio State's national title in jeopardy?

A. Not yet. "At this point, there's no indication of any institutional involvement," NCAA spokesperson Kay Hawes said.

That means the NCAA has no evidence OSU was aware - or should have been aware - of Clarett's misdoings during the 2002 season. This is similar to Michigan retaining its share of the 1997 national football championship even after it became clear that Heisman winner Charles Woodson accepted improper benefits from an agent prior to the Rose Bowl that season.

But an OSU panel is still looking into allegations of academic improprieties involving athletes, including Clarett. Findings there could bring back the NCAA and affect the championship season.

Also: The Division I-A national championship in football is not an NCAA-sanctioned crown, because there is no formal playoff. Ohio State won the Bowl Championship Series and finished No. 1 in both the Associated Press and ESPN polls.

"If we found an institution (that knowingly cheated), all we could do would be to have them vacate regular-season wins," Hawes said. "It would be up to the BCS to decide on the bowl."

The BCS is chaired by commissioners of six conferences - Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pacific 10 and Southeastern.

"There's nothing specifically in the BCS guidelines that deals with that," Big East communications director Rob Carolla said. "The conference commissioners would have to meet on something like that."

Q. What's Miami's reaction to hearing that OSU beat it while using a player who was violating NCAA rules?

A. It's not saying. "I think it's a logical question to ask, but it's too early to comment on it," school spokesman Mark Pray said.

But the Buckeyes maintain the victory was fair because Clarett wasn't ineligible. Though he was breaking rules, OSU was allowed to play him until those violations came to light.

"When you lined up, it was a fair fight," OSU coach Jim Tressel said.

Said OSU athletic director Andy Geiger: "I still am proud of winning the national championship."

Q. What will Clarett do?

A. There was no word Thursday on his plans. He is officially enrolled and still on scholarship at Ohio State, which begins classes Sept. 24. But his family and advisers have talked about options including transferring, challenging the NFL's early entry rule, and playing in the CFL.

He won't likely transfer to another Division I-A school, because he's have to sit out a year and also be subject to an NCAA suspension, which would likely mirror the full-season penalty OSU just handed down.

The two most often mentioned schools for a possible transfer are Division I-AA powers Grambling State and Youngstown State.

Grambling coach Doug Williams walked into a press conference Tuesday holding a No. 13 jersey and said, "We could use him." YSU is in Clarett's hometown. But officials from both schools said Thursday they haven't been contacted by Clarett or his family.

Should he opt for the CFL, his negotiating rights have already been claimed by the Montreal Alouettes. But the average salary in the CFL is about $34,000 in U.S. currency.

"We would surely welcome him if this is what he wanted to do," said Alouettes general manager Jim Popp, adding that he hasn't heard from Clarett or his family.

With any of these options, including staying at Ohio State, Clarett could sue the NFL for early admission to the draft.

Q. Why wasn't Clarett's use of a loaded 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo - which he "borrowed" from a local dealership and was broken into - cited as an improper benefit in violation of NCAA rules?

A. The Car Store, the dealership involved, reportedly had earlier sold Michelle Clarett a Navigator for $13,800. The dealership said it typically allows established customers to take out cars on extended test drives, and that it extended that offer to her son. It was reportedly the next day that the car was burglarized.

Q. Does this scandal tarnish the reputation of OSU coach Jim Tressel?

A. Yes. But it's not the first time a Tressel program has drawn scrutiny.

Ray Isaac, a quarterback at YSU when Tressel was the coach, received $10,000 from former trustee chairman Michael Monus between 1988 and '92. A business associated of Monus, the NCAA said, provided Isaac with "two or three autos."

A 1994 internal investigation - after an anonymous tip to the NCAA about a former player driving a car provided by a former trustee - found no wrongdoing in the program. Yet a further investigation in 1998, sparked by testimony during a jury tampering trial involving Monus, led to the discovery of the money Isaac received.

Though the violations were outside the NCAA's four-year statute of limitations and thus didn't have to be reported, YSU reported them and eliminated two scholarships as self-punishment.