Doesn't it seem that taking a player with known issues is a lot different than taking a player who might be a problem child? I don't remember hearing a lot of bad stuff about Clarett before he came to
OSU, and, while the things he did are scoffed at by many, did he really do anything more than display major immaturity?
Osborne got in trouble with Phillips when he didn't come down on him after indescretions in college. Was he in lots of trouble before going to Nebraska? I'm certainly not familiar enough with him to answer that. I believe a man deserves a second chance, but Coach Osborne probably gave him too much rope.
Obviously Coach Pruett felt Moss was worth his indescretions, and that relationship seemed to work out for both parties. I'm not sure that is the right way to look at it, but that seems to be the case.
Football is a violent game. The men who play football are tough, driven to compete, have egos, risk serious injury, for the sport they love. All football players have various levels of emotional and mental stability. My guess is these types of people are not always easy to evaluate. Some send lots of signals, like Mr. Ohio Football from Benedictine, and you stay away from them. Others certainly look to be legit, then have problems. I seriously doubt Ohio State can have the kind of on-field success the booster and alumni expect with 85 preacher's sons on the roster. It's a balancing act for sure, and when a bad egg turns up for Tressel, Carr, Bowden, Stoops, Carroll, Saban, Paterno, et al, tons of self-rightous nay sayers are going to be all over them. It's hard to have your cake and eat it too.
