Story has hit the Dispatch writers:
Cliff(ord)-hanger?
Unless the charges against Ohio State defensive back Eugene Clifford are thrown out, I would be surprised if he plays another down for the Buckeyes.
Clifford was arrested Friday in Cincinnati and faces two misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly punching two employees of the Holy Grail sports bar while the employees were trying to break up a fight (this, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, which cited police reports).
Late tonight, I could not get coach Jim Tressel or anyone from
OSU to return messages.
But consider that Clifford so far has been more trouble than he's worth, to say the least. The guy has nearly as many incidents (three) as career games played (four). That's not a good ratio.
The marijuana possession citation while still in high school was minor, but troubling. Then Clifford was suspended from the national-title game. Clearly, he was already a strike or two behind before he, Donald Washington and Jamario O'Neal all were held out of some spring ball practices for unspecified reasons.
At the time, Tressel sounded like a stern parent when he spoke of seeing how the trio acted in the summer before deciding their fates for the fall.
Well.....even a whiff of being involved in a bar fight is certainly not a good sign. As much as Tressel wants to avoid kicking guys off the team, he may not have a choice if these charges stick.
Posted by Ken Gordon on July 6, 2008 10:49 PM |
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