kn1f3party said:
I didn't see what was said but I recall an SI.com article declaring Jim Delany the #1 most powerful person in College Football.
Here it is...
Big Ten commissioner criticizes ESPN for Clarett reports
Sunday, November 21, 2004 Bruce Hooley
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany joined with Ohio State officials Saturday in criticizing ESPN's reporting of former OSU running back Maurice Clarett's allegations against the football program.
"The Clarett kid has got issues," Delany said from his seat in the Ohio Stadium suite of OSU Athletic Director Andy Geiger. "Anyone who has watched the story unfold realizes there are issues. Maybe Ohio State has issues, too. That's going to be determined by the NCAA."
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>Delany volunteered to speak with reporters before the OSU-Michigan game to address ESPN publishing and airing Clarett's charges that he received both cash from boosters and other improper benefits and that the school assisted him in committing academic fraud.
Delany said those matters were investigated thoroughly by the NCAA last summer and that OSU was cleared of wrongdoing.
"I'm looking for the corroboration," Delany said. "I'm looking for a document. I'm looking for something other than a regurgitation of broad statements that were made, discredited and then remade.
" . . . Having said all that, the NCAA may conclude that Maurice Clarett is a great witness with lots of integrity and his facts can be backed up. If that's the case, then Ohio State has issues."
Delany made clear he doubts that will happen.
"I've been watching and working with Andy Geiger for a quarter-century," Delany said. "Some of the comments the young man has made with reference to Geiger don't pass the smell test, as far as I'm concerned.
"Geiger, if anything, is a builder, an honorable guy. I've seen him in many tough circumstances and never once have I seen him finesse a tough situation related to an NCAA violation.
"It's 'investigation, self-disclosure, turn yourselves in and deal with the reality.' For [Clarett] to imply that something other than that is going on in this case doesn't make sense."
Delany is a former NCAA investigator.
"At the end of the day, the NCAA is going to be the determinant whether NCAA violations occurred," Delany said. "Not Ohio State. Not Jim Delany and not ESPN.
" . . . You can make a case without Maurice Clarett, if there's something wrong. But you can't make a case on Maurice Clarett alone, because I think he's a discredited witness. . . I do think it's fair to raise questions about unvetted, uncorroborated allegations made by a person who has an agenda."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4748
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.